Marriage

Last week I went to a friend's marriage. Well Best friends marriage. "RG weds VR". Both of them were/are very good friends of mine since college time.
The thing started when one fine day I got a call from VR that finally the marriage is being fixed. Dates finalized. I was threatened with deadly consequences if I don't turn up. So I called up the others (those who got similar threatening) and planed out the trip.

AJ and RS were supposed to meet me in the night and then we were to leave for the shaadi (Marriage) on a train. Both were drunk when I met them. RS was (more) drunk and fell asleep as soon as he got on train. AJ and I started chit chatting. Then in the night (at around 1 AM) our destination came. AJ tried in vain, to get RS up. So I pinched RS hard. He got up. "Chal oye RS Moradabad aa gaya"(Moradabad is here lets go). To which RS replied "Aane de" (let it come) (some thing like that add of chote nawab ke bahaduri puruskar add). I tried again and this time he said "so what" and promptly went back to sleep. Trust me even Kumbhakarna (only the sleep part) was better I think. Some-how we got him off the train. AJ was kind of skeptical as we never got any invitations or no one was there to pick us up from station. But then what are friends for. On reaching VR’s home and initial bharat milap all of us were fell asleep.
Next day we got up, freshened up and had a gastronomic breakfast comprising of jalebi and Moradabadi dal. Then started the celebrations! Now let me tell you VR and family lives with many other relatives in a joint family system. And it is a very big family. When all of them come together it seems like the full barat. So people start poring in the small hall where all the rituals were supposed to take place. AJ was made the official photographer. It was almost like one of those K type serials. With lots of chachs and the chacis, buas and the phuphajis and their kids (we call them chilar or change in English) and god knows how many more relations. There was a new lot of chilars since last time. (Ok you dirty mind readers don’t get ideas…….) The day passed by quickly. In the night we were discussing who will go get K and SS. K doesn’t need any one to guide him. We also predicted that he would actually ride the rickshaw and let the rickshaw wala sit behind. SS on the other hand didn’t know any thing about the roads so some one had to go. Soon every one succumbed to sleep. At around 1:30 midnight I woke up and saw a silhouette of a giant at the door. Before I could say anything the figure launched him-self in the air and landed on one of the guys sleeping. In split seconds he was again in air, flying over my head, he landed on another poor chap leaving behind a faint oooooofffffffff (by the 1st guy he landed on). After few more jumps and few more injuries he switched on the lights. It was K around 6 feet and well builds. Imagine us poor fellows getting squashed by him. He told us that he had to ride the rickshaw making our inside full predictions come true. Then SS came in. (we all were sleeping and I think RS went to pick him up)
Day next: this is the day when all the happening things started. K, AJ and I were fighting our wits out with the entire family member to get some nechawar (you know when you take out a note rotate it in the air over the head of the bridegroom and give it to some one else) amount as the official photographer and his assistance and put it in the galla (or a sort of piggy bank). This was a good source of income but we gave a good amount to the bai (House helper) who works there and used the rest for buying the chilar party ice-creams (well there are more than 50 chilar there (approx)). Then we also started the bhai (brother) thing. Every one of us got a OM on our hand with Mehndi. Now the rule was that every one with this mark are a part of bhai cult (made only to enjoy this party) and when any one puts up the hand and say Bhai others have to show there hand and shout bhai. This was a instant hit and we did make a lot of noise like that. Then there was antakshari, pulling each others legs and what not. Now I think of it we had so much to do.
Next day was the D day for RG and VR as they were to get married. The day passed by as usual like the previous one with the addition of DS, AS, MM, SG, IL and NL. In the evening we all got dressed for the Shaadi. Boy! I must say that the girls were looking mind blowing with saree and suits. And we boys were also attracting lots of babe attention with our dresses and cool looks. (ok ok girls don’t be J ;)) The barat started at home. We all danced and had fun with lots of fireworks. We reached the final place where the garland exchange and the usual photo session happen. We ate, danced, got our pics taken, pulled each others legs, all ‘n’ all had loads of fun. Finally after the fere (going around the holy fire 7 times) they where pronounced husband and wife. (and no we dont have "now you may kiss the bride in such marriages! sad know ;))

Apart from the usual the full arrangement was too good and the bride and the bride groom looked really good. MFEO (made for each other) I say. We also felt that we all have grown up. This is the 1st marriage from our group. And inevitably we all will get married. (No I am not scared ;)) May god bless us all!