19/100. Bengalis and Marwaris. Another legendary Kolkata duality – much like Mohun Bagan- East Bengal or South Kolkata-North Kolkata. Be it the other’s food, clothes or general demeanour, each community professes to abhor the other. But, any attack by a third party and watch each leap to defend the other. And this very intriguing – and integral – thread of Kolkata life is finding expression in more and more ‘Bong-Mero’ marriages.

Case in point – Shruti and Saurav. They met at a wedding – of her best friend with his childhood buddy. She made him dance to her tune at the sangeet. And not only did he go on to steal the show from right under the noses of some very talented dancers, he stole the girl’s heart as well. A year and a half on, it was ‘ formal engagement’ time.

All of us friends turned up in sarees. And each and every saree was – curiously enough – a harmonious bend of opposites. One friend wore a saree that looked like a bridal Benarasi but was actually a red georgette with golden ‘work’. Another wore a white black and yellow sequinned number.

My saree was a simple crepe Bandhej in the colour of strawberry ice cream with French knot roses prettying up the blush-pink border and palla. The saree was tie-dyed by master craftsmen in Rajasthan and then embroidered by skilled Kolkata kaarigars.

For me, this saree was perfect for the occasion. Just like Shru and Saurav are perfect for each other. * Touch wood*