After again saluting him, the timid girl was led back to the inner apartments.  Then the guests were taken to a large hall where supper was ready for their delectation.  Full justice was done to the repast; and after it was over, they washed their hands in the yard and smoked or chewed betel in perfect bliss until half-past ten.  Then Amarendra Babu asked leave to return by the last train, declining hospitality for the night on the plea of previous engagements.  While saying “good-bye” he called Jadu Babu aside and thrust Rs. 30 into his hands, to be distributed among the guru (spiritual guide), purohit (family priest), and servants.  Two days afterwards, Kumodini Babu and his son went to Calcutta for the boy’s betrothal.  He blessed Samarendra, presenting him with a gold mohur (an obsolete coin worth sixteen rupees) besides Rs. 50 for the priest and servants of his household.  A feast followed on the same scale as the previous one.

Kumodini Babu’s family priest decided that Asar 28th would be a lucky day for the wedding, which was to be held at the bride’s great-uncle’s house in Calcutta.  Early on the 26th, the Gaihalud (turmeric smearing) ceremony took place.  Amarendra Babu rubbed his son’s body with a mixture of turmeric and oil and despatched a supply to Kumodini Babu by his own barber, with injunctions to have it applied to his daughter’s person before 9 A.M., because subsequent hours would be inauspicious.  On the barber’s arrival, the ladies of Kumodini Babu’s household anointed Basumati with turmeric and oil and clad her in a gorgeous wrapper.  Then they conducted her to another room where a janti (instrument for cracking betel-nuts) was given her and certain nitkits (minor ceremonies) were performed.

At 11 A.M. the presents given on the occasion of the turmeric-smearing (gaihalud) were brought by twenty servants who were regaled with a feast made ready in anticipation of their arrival.  After partaking of it they were dismissed with a largesse of one rupee each.  During the next two days presents continued to pour in from relatives of both families.

At length the fateful 28th Asar dawned, bringing a mighty commotion in the respective houses.  Shouts and laughter echoed from every side.  Amarendra Babu had resolved to marry his son in a style which, sooth to say, was far above his means, hoping to recoup himself from the large cash payment which he expected from Kumodini Babu.  On his side the latter had consulted relatives as to the proper dowry.  All agreed that Rs. 2,000 worth of ornaments; Rs. 1,001 in cash; Rs. 500 for Barabharan (gifts to a bridegroom); and Rs. 500 for Phulsajya (lit. a bed of flowers) would be sufficient.  Thus Kumodini Babu provided Rs. 4,001 and imagined that he was acting generously.