For one of my very best friend, as we share a special bond which is hard to define.
Hands half covered with Mehendi, face radiant with pre bridal gold facial and a huge smile. From Boy cut to shoulder cut, from jeans to sari and from tom boy to shy bride such is a change love brings to a woman as she progresses in her life. She has been one of the most intellectual gals I have ever known. We always used to talk about further studies, career and a bright future and strangely guys were never a part of any of our conversations. She has been a friend, a philosopher, a guide, has made me smile when I was dull and wished me success at every mile.
It was an exciting occasion for me to attend for two reasons, one to meet her after 2 years and second to see her sport a saree. Am sure she would have practiced wearing it around 20 times. When I landed in Mumbai, I was greeted by a happy Punjabi family full of fun and enjoyment. The evening was all set for “Geet Shangna de” and I had done my homework by revising some Punjabi marriage occasion songs. Mehfil was already in full mood when I joined the group singing songs. “Madhorama pencha vey”, “Charkha channan da”, “Main chali piya pekdey” were some of the number I could encourage everyone to sing along a with a song where I made a boy dance with a chunari based on theme, where bride tells her mom that she doesn’t want to go to her husbands house.
2 performances were a hit in the function, one by me where I put up a sale for each member of the family for “Dhai Aaane” and another was from her bua ji who had created a medly of old songs and matched them up with couples in their family. It had combination of songs where the elderly couples like Nana ji and Naniji actually performed a disco number. I was amazed to see how well a preparation was done for such a special occasion for her and this must be the kind of love she spreads in her family.
Night ended with a lot of chit chat with her relative aunties who told me stories of how they felt when they got married and catching a glimpse of the magnificent view of Mumbai, where sea was right in front of me, blushing with reflection of light.
I woke up at 5 AM as was hardly able to sleep and so was bride to be wide awake concerned about color of her Mehendi and all convincing her it would be right for the occasion. Everyone was hurried as the mahuarat for the havan was fixed for 7 AM when she was to wear chura which is worn for 40 days in Punjabi marriages. Being appointed as a “Sarabali”(bride mate) I was on my toes and had to be next to her at all times. We quickly got ready to reach the venue as it was in Mulund around 1.5 hours from bandra and soon hit the road cutting our way across the Bollywood city of India. Poster of upcoming movies, Amitabh, Shahrukh, aishwarya entertained us on the journey to a Marathi wedding.
The boy’s family greeted us with great affection and with a lot of rituals which I have seen for the first time. Clad in Marathi silk saree, my friend looked a beautiful doll while she walked towards the mandap. Her parents looked so happy when the couple exchanged rings and continued to perform the rituals, but her mum had a little tear in her eye. In the festivities and emotions my mind just circled back to the watch and it was already time for my flight. I wished the couple a happy married life and her family goodbye.
9th November 2010, will always be a special day in my life and every year when I wish her a happy anniversary, the memories of this occasion will make me smile!!
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