Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Like the time
.. I left out some very amusing parts of the wedding.
I was re-reading the previous post, and realised that there are a couple of hilarious moments from our wedding that I had left out. Given that the world can certainly do with some more laughter, here goes.
Like the time my dad said "It's alright, bring her!"
So there is a ritual where I'm supposed to pray to a certain deity and not talk to anyone. Not because of divine ego-issues, but because I'm supposed to concentrate on the prayer and my husband's long life and things like that. Right after this silent-praying is when I am supposed to be walking shyly to the mandap to be married. In between this prayer and shy-walking, I was supposed to change into a saree that is about six and a half yards (!) long. Very obviously, it takes time to tie these things. Doing it in about a minute and a half is a feat that, we discovered, is beyond the combined effort of even four people. Added to that, was the fact that I had to wear an elaborate hairdo and assorted jewels. My dad, whose attire consisted of a veshti (a length of cloth simply wrapped around the waist) and an angavastram (again, a length of cloth worn much like a stole), could not understand why it was taking people oh-so-long to get me ready. So while
I was re-reading the previous post, and realised that there are a couple of hilarious moments from our wedding that I had left out. Given that the world can certainly do with some more laughter, here goes.
Like the time my dad said "It's alright, bring her!"
So there is a ritual where I'm supposed to pray to a certain deity and not talk to anyone. Not because of divine ego-issues, but because I'm supposed to concentrate on the prayer and my husband's long life and things like that. Right after this silent-praying is when I am supposed to be walking shyly to the mandap to be married. In between this prayer and shy-walking, I was supposed to change into a saree that is about six and a half yards (!) long. Very obviously, it takes time to tie these things. Doing it in about a minute and a half is a feat that, we discovered, is beyond the combined effort of even four people. Added to that, was the fact that I had to wear an elaborate hairdo and assorted jewels. My dad, whose attire consisted of a veshti (a length of cloth simply wrapped around the waist) and an angavastram (again, a length of cloth worn much like a stole), could not understand why it was taking people oh-so-long to get me ready. So while
- my aunt, snowbeak, doofus and two other helpers were tying my saree;
- doofus's mum was doing my hair;
- my mum was carrying out another ritual on the side (talk about opportunism);
- my sister was putting my jewels on
- and a cousin was trying to convince me to at least powder my nose before going out,
my dad barged into the room and yelled things like "What is taking you people so long? They are asking for her. It's almost time" at anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in his way. To this, Doofus very reasonably said "Uncle, her saree is only half-done.." and my dad goes "That's alright. Bring her!".
Well, this obviously resulted in a Doofus whose expression was somewhere between utter amusement and panic and my mum yelling at my dad to see reason behind the fact that the bride can't come out with half her saree trailing behind her.
Like the time when the shy walking went out of the window.
As mentioned earlier, once ready, the bride is expected to walk towards the groom and eventually be married. Flanked by a couple of my aunts, I was supposed to be the personification of shyness, some coy looks, nervousness and some sorrow, given that I was leaving my parents' house forever. But glad to be out of that stuffy dressing room, I set of at a brisk pace, grinning at all and sundry. My aunts, who were supposed to be escorting me, were obviously not prepared for this display of sudden determination and were left behind looking at each other with disbelief, while I happily walked on; not realizing that something was amiss until I spotted someone gesturing frantically at me to slow down. Once my aunts caught up, they held on to me fearing another display of 'shameless eagerness'. I have a picture with both of them holding on to me and me grinning happily at the camera.
Like the time my hairdo and I went separate ways.
This'll be long, so please bear with me.
This is my absolute favourite part, and I'm ever so thankful to my stars that this did not happen during the wedding. In an earlier paragraph of this post, I mentioned a hairdo. This hairdo was supposed to have been tied around my hair and we discovered this fact some three minutes before I was scheduled to do my shy-walking. Now obviously, we had no string whatsoever to tie this thing with. Resourceful as ever, Doofus's mum found a bit of string that is usually used to tie the mouths of gunny sacks, and tied the hairdo around the false hair. Well, since the bride cannot be seen with such unbecoming strings poking out of her hairdo, this was covered with a bunch of fresh Jasmine flowers. "Very nice", you might say; but then, I'm allergic to Jasmine and can't be in the company of the pretty flowers for more than ten minutes without having a terrible headache.
To this day, I'm thankful to Doofus's mum for doing up my hair, which looks quite decent in the pictures. Of the splitting headache it gave me (which was aggravated by the fact that I had not eaten anything since I had woken up), the less said, the better. Anyway. Once married, we had promised to visit my 90-year old grandmother and my mum, dad, husband and yours truly piled into a tiny car and set out. Given that all four of us can't fit into the back seat of a car by any stretch of imagination, I was sitting on my mum's lap, and she was holding my hairdo in place.
Try to picture this.. my mum discussing the wedding with my dad seated on her left, and me talking to A sitting on my mum's right. Once we reach the destination, I get off the car and walk away. My mum, who is still chatting with dad feels her lap become considerably lighter, but does not realize that I've gotten off, since the hairdo is still in her hand!
Like the time.. well, I could go on and on, but since this is where I can stop without my imagination adding to fact, I shall.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Almost a year later..
I think that it is perfectly shameful that this is only my second post after the wedding. That my blog overall has very few posts is also very shameful, but then.. we'll tackle one thing at a time.
Now, this is as far as I usually get. After this, my mind either goes blank, or I realise I have to wash clothes/do the dishes/clean the house and so on. Since it is one of those nights when I can't get to sleep, whatever I try, here's a post about the wedding..
Like all other grand plans of mine, this one also began with neat lists and to-dos and precise budgets and so on. This was phase 1. Where the thoughts in my head were something like... " Oh, we have to get the perfect tailor!"; "Let's find the perfect green saree for the reception"; "Should we think of a theme for the wedding?"; "Let's go shopping to all the new malls, so we know we have covered everything".
This lasted till exactly one minute into my saree shopping when I saw the unbelievable choice in just one kind of silk in the first shop. Yards and yards and yards of silk to choose from. Colours, patterns, price ranges.. My mum, I think was the only one who truly had the time of her life that day. My sister was disgruntled about the jazzy colour combination and my dad was mostly having nightmares about the bill. As for me, I felt so lost, I could have given Lord Emsworth a run for his money. Ten minutes into this, and the idea of covering all the other malls went right out of the window.
After phase 1, the thoughts in the aforementioned head were mellowed, more stable. phase 2 thoughts were something like "Okay, so I've got all the main clothes, so there's really no need to waste more time in the malls"; "Let me ask Mamta if her tailor will do a decent job"; "Any colour for the reception will do, as long as it is not flashy".
After a few more days of shopping and planning and meeting caterers, contractors, florists, decorators - began phase 3. And phase 3 had only one thought - "Let's be Practical". This lasted the longest, I think. About a couple of months. That's when all the major arrangements fell into place (with the invaluable help of my very dear friend Doofus and her family).
A week or so before the wedding is when phase 4 began. Now this is the phase when the relatives descend on the house and confusion reigns supreme. Now and then there are panic attacks and frequent prayers to various Gods are heard. This phase really does not have many thoughts associated with it. All I remember is smiling at people and fending questions about the boy, his family, where we're planning to stay, what he does, if we've decided on our honeymoon, if I've bought lingerie (!!) and what I'm going to name my kids..
The night before the wedding is when phase 5 settles in. This is "The daze". You are sleep deprived, not allowed to eat till the wedding is over, you have strangers coming and congratulating you and the priests ask you to go over so many rituals you feel like you are in some kind of a drill. The only thought associated with phase 5 is "Do we have the right guy? Ok, let's go."
Among all of these, are moments that you'd like to stay in forever. Like the time my dad oiled my hair after several years; the time right after the wedding when my sister hugged me and cried; the time when my mum had tears in her eyes when they were 'giving me away'; the time when my dad tried so hard not to break down; and finally, the time when after it was all over and we were dead tired, my husband held my hand and smiled at me.
Worth all the tension in the world, I'd say. :)
Now, this is as far as I usually get. After this, my mind either goes blank, or I realise I have to wash clothes/do the dishes/clean the house and so on. Since it is one of those nights when I can't get to sleep, whatever I try, here's a post about the wedding..
Like all other grand plans of mine, this one also began with neat lists and to-dos and precise budgets and so on. This was phase 1. Where the thoughts in my head were something like... " Oh, we have to get the perfect tailor!"; "Let's find the perfect green saree for the reception"; "Should we think of a theme for the wedding?"; "Let's go shopping to all the new malls, so we know we have covered everything".
This lasted till exactly one minute into my saree shopping when I saw the unbelievable choice in just one kind of silk in the first shop. Yards and yards and yards of silk to choose from. Colours, patterns, price ranges.. My mum, I think was the only one who truly had the time of her life that day. My sister was disgruntled about the jazzy colour combination and my dad was mostly having nightmares about the bill. As for me, I felt so lost, I could have given Lord Emsworth a run for his money. Ten minutes into this, and the idea of covering all the other malls went right out of the window.
After phase 1, the thoughts in the aforementioned head were mellowed, more stable. phase 2 thoughts were something like "Okay, so I've got all the main clothes, so there's really no need to waste more time in the malls"; "Let me ask Mamta if her tailor will do a decent job"; "Any colour for the reception will do, as long as it is not flashy".
After a few more days of shopping and planning and meeting caterers, contractors, florists, decorators - began phase 3. And phase 3 had only one thought - "Let's be Practical". This lasted the longest, I think. About a couple of months. That's when all the major arrangements fell into place (with the invaluable help of my very dear friend Doofus and her family).
A week or so before the wedding is when phase 4 began. Now this is the phase when the relatives descend on the house and confusion reigns supreme. Now and then there are panic attacks and frequent prayers to various Gods are heard. This phase really does not have many thoughts associated with it. All I remember is smiling at people and fending questions about the boy, his family, where we're planning to stay, what he does, if we've decided on our honeymoon, if I've bought lingerie (!!) and what I'm going to name my kids..
The night before the wedding is when phase 5 settles in. This is "The daze". You are sleep deprived, not allowed to eat till the wedding is over, you have strangers coming and congratulating you and the priests ask you to go over so many rituals you feel like you are in some kind of a drill. The only thought associated with phase 5 is "Do we have the right guy? Ok, let's go."
Among all of these, are moments that you'd like to stay in forever. Like the time my dad oiled my hair after several years; the time right after the wedding when my sister hugged me and cried; the time when my mum had tears in her eyes when they were 'giving me away'; the time when my dad tried so hard not to break down; and finally, the time when after it was all over and we were dead tired, my husband held my hand and smiled at me.
Worth all the tension in the world, I'd say. :)
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Toerings and Vermilion
.. and I'm married. :)
The only thing that a lot of people seem to be able to ask me these days is "How's married life treating you?"
Apart from the very obvious differences (living in a different house, no amma/appa at close quarters, no malika-madness and so forth), it actually does not feel very much different from what it was. It's pretty difficult actually, to suddenly start blushing at the mention of A's name, when I've known him for almost 15 years, and have been in a relationship for 4. My grandmother is pretty disappointed - she'd asked me if we talk to each other enough. :))
But then, it is also very silly to assume that nothing at all has changed. You're living with a different person, you'll grow old together, you'll have each other around all the time and so on. It's weird not to have amma already in the kitchen every morning, with the coffee ready. It's also very strange to be cooking and cleaning for your own household and looking after your new family member. It's kind of funny (and flattering) when you realize that in some ways, your husband has found some kind of a substitute in you, for his mother.
So, now in addition to have been schoolmates, choir-mates and colleagues; we're now husband and wife. Above all, we're still excellent friends - life should be pretty good. :)
The only thing that a lot of people seem to be able to ask me these days is "How's married life treating you?"
Apart from the very obvious differences (living in a different house, no amma/appa at close quarters, no malika-madness and so forth), it actually does not feel very much different from what it was. It's pretty difficult actually, to suddenly start blushing at the mention of A's name, when I've known him for almost 15 years, and have been in a relationship for 4. My grandmother is pretty disappointed - she'd asked me if we talk to each other enough. :))
But then, it is also very silly to assume that nothing at all has changed. You're living with a different person, you'll grow old together, you'll have each other around all the time and so on. It's weird not to have amma already in the kitchen every morning, with the coffee ready. It's also very strange to be cooking and cleaning for your own household and looking after your new family member. It's kind of funny (and flattering) when you realize that in some ways, your husband has found some kind of a substitute in you, for his mother.
So, now in addition to have been schoolmates, choir-mates and colleagues; we're now husband and wife. Above all, we're still excellent friends - life should be pretty good. :)
Thursday, February 11, 2010
And the days go by..
.. 'whiz past' might be a better phrase at this point of time.
Yup. The wedding is approaching, and everyday there seem to be several new additions to my to-do list. As if that were insufficient, I have several types of to-do lists now. We (For the record - I am not being pompous and referring to myself in the third person) are graduating from 'to-do lists' to 'to-do books' at quite an alarming rate.
In the midst of all this madness, there is the usual desire to go back to being a kid. What is it about responsibility and charge that makes you want it; and then makes you want to give it up the minute you are handed some?
I want to go back to being 5. I miss the days when I could do what I wanted to (not counting homework, that is); the days when I was so pampered and did not have a care in the world. The bliss of amma supplying everything without me having to move a muscle. The choice of napping in the noon - if my older self had seen my younger self throw tantrums and refuse to nap in the noons, the OS would have kicked the YS fairly hard, I think. It's a good thing we don't have the option of time travel - yet.
Well, I guess childhood is something most of us want to go back to, but it is on the eve of a wedding that full meaning of responsibility hits you. To be responsible for a household, a family, passing on values, traditions, ethics is quite intimidating.
Anyway, I guess there's nothing to do but wait and watch. And needless to say, deal with the to-do lists. :)
PS: If any of the aforementioned sentences sound garbled, it is because I'm typing this out after a long, hard and super-taxing day at work.
PPS: My passport application was verified on Sunday. There is a God.
Yup. The wedding is approaching, and everyday there seem to be several new additions to my to-do list. As if that were insufficient, I have several types of to-do lists now. We (For the record - I am not being pompous and referring to myself in the third person) are graduating from 'to-do lists' to 'to-do books' at quite an alarming rate.
In the midst of all this madness, there is the usual desire to go back to being a kid. What is it about responsibility and charge that makes you want it; and then makes you want to give it up the minute you are handed some?
I want to go back to being 5. I miss the days when I could do what I wanted to (not counting homework, that is); the days when I was so pampered and did not have a care in the world. The bliss of amma supplying everything without me having to move a muscle. The choice of napping in the noon - if my older self had seen my younger self throw tantrums and refuse to nap in the noons, the OS would have kicked the YS fairly hard, I think. It's a good thing we don't have the option of time travel - yet.
Well, I guess childhood is something most of us want to go back to, but it is on the eve of a wedding that full meaning of responsibility hits you. To be responsible for a household, a family, passing on values, traditions, ethics is quite intimidating.
Anyway, I guess there's nothing to do but wait and watch. And needless to say, deal with the to-do lists. :)
PS: If any of the aforementioned sentences sound garbled, it is because I'm typing this out after a long, hard and super-taxing day at work.
PPS: My passport application was verified on Sunday. There is a God.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Gah!
Whoever said that weddings are the time that one gets to be the center of attention and that it's the best time to relax and things in a similar vein, needs to get his/her head examined. I suspect the head will turn out to be worth preserving and displaying in a museum under the title: The-brain-that-generated-the-most-preposterous-idea-in-existence.
Things to do (condensed - since the entire list is beyond the scope of this blog and that of my patience):
- Shop for clothes
- Shop for furniture
- Shop for things to gift one's relatives
- Shop for vessels/household things
- Shop for jewels
- Shop for... no.. Decide on caterer + decorator + photographer + Invitee list + Design of invitation cards
Phew..
Things to do (condensed - since the entire list is beyond the scope of this blog and that of my patience):
- Shop for clothes
- Shop for furniture
- Shop for things to gift one's relatives
- Shop for vessels/household things
- Shop for jewels
- Shop for... no.. Decide on caterer + decorator + photographer + Invitee list + Design of invitation cards
Phew..