My friend's wedding-4

Lali and her husband went to take some special pics. There the photographer was asking her to pose like this and that- “Mam one more…mam one more…mam your face should be like this…mam you must be only half seated…’ She said she can’t make it all because of her sari. But everybody insisted. Lali tried but at the end she got frustrated and said, “Now I can’t do it at all pls have mercy on me! How can you expect me to do all these in sari and heavy jwellary?” Everybody laughed secretly at her ice-cream like anger.

We were getting hungry but we decided we’ll take lunch with Lali only. Chakudi and Chashmish were secretly making plans of having ice-cream which we overheard and gave a glaring look to them. After these small fun, we asked Chakli when her wedding would take place. We warned her, “You must tell us at least 3 months ago the date so that we’ll book train tickets. And it should not be so simple, ok? We want all kind of functions, garba, music and bachelor party too, is that clear?” Chakli replied, “My wedding is in 2012 December, I am informing you ppl 1.5 years ago. So now don’t blame on me.” Chakudi said, “Hey, what we’ll do is, instead of shehnai(a musical instrument played in marriage), we’ll have ‘chi chi’ music for Chakli…hehehe…chichichi chi chi chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii” Chashmish said, “And we’ll have bachor party with DJ. And pls don’t play your fav oldest songs in the world. I and Chakudi will manage DJ with chichichi music :D” I added, “Now Chakli will say, ‘I dnt like DJ, I dnt dance’. But we’ll not listen. We’ll fetch you and jiju for dance.” Chashmish said, “We’ll dance in baraat too.” I again added, “Yeah, in your marriage too, you’ll dance everywhere, even if we stop you” Chakudi: “In Tameti’s(Chashmish) marriage, we’ll decorate things with tometos instead of flowers and in card too we’ll write-Tameti wedding Tameto…heheheh” Our discussions went on like this and we could not stop laughing. Now Chakudi and Chashmish were fed up with sari and wanted to change(they’ve brought extra dress) but we all denied, then they secretly went to moms for asking and they said a big NO too J With sad faces, they returned. Chakudi started acting like crying and roaring, “I am hungry and uncomfortable in this heavy sari…I thought bidai was at 3 o’clock and its already 3 and nobody has even started lunch.” I said, “Yes you fat glutton, you are always hungry, now stop crying.” Chashmish said, “I can’t face her in bidai(a ceremony of bride getting separated)’ Chakudi said, “Have you brought the bucket to handle your tears? Whole river will flow…hehe”

Once Lali started taking lunch, we too started. Lunch was really superb. The heavy ritual started now-bidai…Lali was crying like anything. She could not control herself when she hugged her parents. Her mom too was crying heavily. Relatives were calming her down. We were still standing far watching this drama which happens in every girl’s life. Moms became sad remembering their bidai and we became sad for Lali thinking we will have to face this situation too. I thought we will do some joke and calm down Lali but when she came nearer to bid goodbye to us, we all became emotional and could not say anything. I had one thought in my mind since morning-“I am seeing Lali for the last time. God knows when we’ll meet. I am seeing Lali for the last time…” With heavy heart she left in the car…

When I came back to Chandigarh, I got a call from Lali! I was happily shocked. She was calling every mithu member for thanking that photo-diary. Actually we gave diary to her mom after her marriage to give her a small surprise and she was heavily surprised too! She was so happy for the gift that she almost talked with everybody for half an hour. She told everything about the marriage and how we looked great and how we managed for gifts and everything. 

Now she’s in Bharuch with her husband and having wonderful era of her life. A song for you dear Lali:

"Mubaraq ho tumko ye shaadi tumhari,

sada khush raho tum dua hai hamari"

Now who’s next??

My friend's wedding-3

“After all its Lali’s marriage and we should not look any lesser then bride herself! So we all gonna look beautiful-wearing saris and doing mehendi, ppl should whistle when mithu arrives! No arguments in wearing sari pls.” – kind of statement Chakudi made, nobody dared to argue too! When we reached Ahmedabad, we started searching for the suitable sari and jewelry of mom(and neighborhood aunt’s too J) After seeing all the possible options, me and my sis shortlisted some to select dynamically at runtime. Chakli also gave instructions to her mom remotely for sari and jwellary. So many preparations for 1 day, it was as if we were getting married and not Lali…hehe…

We all reached Ahmedabad Friday morning. Chakli was to come that night. We went to Lali’s home to meet her and ask her mom in case she needs any help. As usual we got open armed welcome with ice cream. Lali seemed to be happy and tired too. She said she has been running here and there since many days and hardly got sleep. We told her all our plans for her wedding. She told her plans- Pooja in morning, then to get ready to her aunt’s place, then to marriage hall, then after 3 o’clock bidai ceremony, then to in-laws, then next day reception, then to Goa,then next week Bharuch, then job…long long plans.

At night I, Chakudi and Chashmish gathered at R3 mall, for mehendi at around 10.30pm. Chakli was on the way. She was coming directly to my place instead of going home(like Devdas went to Paro’s place J) After doing bargain of 75rs per hand for half hand mehendi. I as usual was keep on asking about Chakli and selecting mehendi design and Chakudi and Chashmish was banging their heads by my questions. Chashmish almost shouted, "Her flight has landed on time, she's on the way to your house, she'll take dinner and change and then will come. What else u want to know?" Just then Chakli arrived. Chashmish said, "Thanks to God you came, I was about to get headache by her questions, she wants everything to be planned!" We all laughed at her angry mood. When mehendi started, we started talking about our usual life, Lali and comparing the mehendi, gifts and this and that. We all reached home at around 12. After an hour or so, I got tired with my mehendi so I cleaned my hand. And ppl, taking its advantage, started ordering me for tea and snacks as if taking revenge of my previous harassment. We have decided that we’ll harass Chashmish by rejecting her every sari(like we did for her patiyala in convocation :P) but she was saved coz didn’t bring her sari(must’ve got the intuition) After talking and giggling, we were all tired so slept earlier for a change after deciding to leave at 10 o’clock for next day.

Finally the auspicious day came. We all started getting ready. I wanted to wear something in red or maroon color and selected one bandhni sari of mom. But ppl said it’s not much suitable. Again I started harassing ppl by showing them different combinations of sari and finally came back to same sari with green blows. Chakli’s mom and neighborhood aunt also came to make us ready. We almost took 2 hours(quite early actually!). Chakli also wore a bandhni silk orange sari, she was looking like old time heroine and my sis wore cotton silk multicolor sari in which she was looking like big mom herself! Chashmish was in her usual teacher(masterni with big specs :P) style with multicolor silk sari. I as per my habit, started taking pics of us. I have pics like “before(taking bath) and after(getting ready)” At around 11 o’clock we started towards the venue.

When we reached, Lali just came there. I couldn’t recognize her at first glance! She was looking so different in her makeup and heavy jewelries and sari. I asked Chashmish to confirm whether she was Lali only. Suddenly she was looking so much like matured woman and not collegian girl. She waved at us and left with her mom. We entered into ac hall. She was amazed to look at all of us in sari and mehendi. She seemed to be nervous, after all the day has come when her life will change forever. We sat with her, she said how she got ready and how is the sari and the chunni and all. Her younger sister Tini was looking like angel in her fairy type of dress.

We went out after sometime and started taking pics of us in different poses(with Chakli peeping in-“we should not behave like this”…hehehe) We were going to and fro from Lali’s room to out. Then the baraat came and we were finally able to see Lali’s tall Lalo(or we now tell him ‘Kumar’) sitting on horse wearing shervani with turban. I told Chashmish-“See how magnificent he looks! We are bound to tell him ‘Kumar’ only”. Actually 'Kumar' word is used at many places as respect by in-laws. Then usual marriage rituals started. Lali was nervous till time but when she met her ‘Kumar’ she seemed to get relieved from tension. Though they had cameramen and all shooting facility, Chashmish asked me to take pics, “You know Lali-the most busy person in the world! On marriage day, we were able to see her hubby, God knows when we’ll be able to see the pics! Better we take it.” I started taking pics and once or twice I asked Chashmish or Chakudi “Now why don’t you stand up to take up the pics?” but lazy girls just sat on their chairs-“You are doing great job faithfully, carry on…we don’t want to interfere.” We were talking and looking at rituals. When Lali was taking ‘fera’(rounds for marriage), we started harassing them by throwing big flowers directly on their faces...hehehe.

My friend's wedding-2

After all excitements got over, we returned to our usual life, dreaming of meeting all again and doing lots of fun and dance in Lali’s marriage. It was somewhere around  June starting. I was waiting for my last day at Infy which was on 14^th June. But one day, suddenly(again!) Chakli called me that Lali’s  marriage is on 11^th June. She just mailed on mithu. I was like what, why, how so early and this and that. I checked the mail and it was true. I called up Chakudi to tell the news. Her reactions were also similar. We all had idea that her wedding would take place in September and now to come to Ahmedabad on 11^th June, in such short notice, seemed to be next to impossible. Everybody had their reasons and confusions.

Me: As I mentioned, I applied for resignation on 14^th June and formalities for this was going on. Also, I already had taken unplanned leaves and project required me for last moment knowledge transfers and all. And most imp, since I was in Chandigarh, train tickets were not available. I had to come there by plane from Delhi. Going to Delhi airport from Chandigarh by bus and metro and all was a big task itself coz I have never done that. That too just for 2 days.

Chashmish: She was in Pune, she had to come by bus. Though it was relatively easy for her to come, she has adjusted her assignments for the Saturday i.e. on 11^th June itself! She had to readjust it.

Chakli: She and her fiancé had planned to visit Ahmedabad next week from Lali’s marriage so that they could meet. During that week, it wasn’t possible for him to come. If she comes in that week, she has to take lot of leaves.

Chakudi: I don’t think she had some problems, maybe she was confused whether she will get leaves or not.

I called up Lali, asked her all “wh” questions. She told me that she has got her job and joining in June end. So the families and all decided for this date. I told her all the problems we have in coming. I was angry and confused and scolded her too for giving such short notice period, harassed everybody else for seeing plane and train tickets whichever available. Till 2-3 days, we discussed what should we do. I felt many times like not going. Everybody was in same state of mind. Actually apart from our problem, we got disheartened coz we have dreamt a lot about marriage that we would wear this, we will dance like this, we will sit next to the bride and tease her, will come 15 days before to help, we’ll eat this, we’ll manage the reception and all ceremonies, will have great time and this and that and what not. But we will not be able to do so and Lali’s wedding was to be done in simple manner.

Whatsoever it was, finally we all decided to come whatever it takes. After all, “hum ek bar jite hai, ek bar marte hai, shaadi bhi ek hi baar hoti hai aur pyar bhi ek hi baar hota hai.”(a dialogue from Kuch Kuch hota hai) Lali many times told us that it would be all right if you ppl don’t come, but we said, “Lali, it’s YOUR marriage and it’ll come only once in lifetime. Tara mate maan chhe, tane kya bhaan chhe…we’ll come even if you don’t tell us.”

One decision making process got over and second started. GIFT??? Gift was in discussion for 7-8 days!!! Gold, bags, any electronic instrument, mobile, sari, dress all kinds of options were suggested and discussed deeply in mithu’s mail chain, on phone, with friends, with our parents, with Lali’s parents and with Lali too J Lali’s usual reply was-“I don’t require anything, I have everything. Whatever you give, I will surely like it.” I actually made a table of what gift had what pros and cons(as per my habit)

Gift	Pros	Cons
Gold/Silver earrings k sikko/American dimond nu kaik	Saru lagse	It may become out of budget
Mobile	Lali ne finally saro mobile malse, budget ma b avi jase jevo joito hy evo. Am b e navo kharidvani j chhe.	Ene mongho joie chhe k sasto e nath khabar. I called her up to ask her. She said, she doesn’t have any idea abt it. But she’ll inform us
Ipod	Eni pase jo mobile nai ave to b at least gito to sambhli shakse.	Lali navo mobile levani j hy to ene ipod nib au jarur nai pade.
Sadi/dress material	Bahu j badha options mali rese	Eni pase already gift ma avani hase ghani badhi.

J Everybody talked different things. Finally one day, my mom visited a nearby jeweler and called me to tell me that she’s gonna take pair of gold earrings for Lali. Everybody agreed. She had 2 of options-American diamond gold or pure gold. She called Lali and Lali said she would love diamond earrings hence FINALLY big gift chapter got over. And since its mithu, there has to be something special, some surprise gift, sweetest memories. So we decided to give her a photo diary with some comments written by mithu. Some of those pics were so nice, I feel like showing them to the world on facebook. After all the long discussions and confusions we were finally happy that whole mithu will be again together after such a long time. We were waiting for the moment to come…

My friend's wedding-1

Lali lali lali

Wake up my lali

If you dnt wake up, I’ll become Lali(red i.e. angry)

And you’ll become pili(yellow i.e. pale)

I dnt know why I remembered this whn I started writing abt Lali’s marriage. She is the first one in mithu to get married. This was the poem I wrote in our imaginary story in which I thought when Chashmish will try to wake up her, she’ll sing this song(hope now her husband sings this too J)

If I start from starting, one day morning Lali suddenly called me to tell me that she has got some shocking news. I just joked tht her marriage is fixed and she said yes, it is actually fixed!!! I stood shocked, stopped my every work, missed my bus and just sat on the sofa to talk with her abt this. Who is the guy, how is he, his job, his family and all those infinite questions which can come into anybody’s mind. We talked around 20 min and she told me whatever she could to satisfy my eagerness. She had to call all mithu ppl. She seemed to be enjoying herself by observing our reactions. After she hung up, I sat for a second. Then obviously being a girl I need to empty my buckets of thoughts and share my knowledge to everybody in the world! So I called up somebody else and told everything. Then again, Chakudi called me to know whether I know what she knows! And so on this calling ended till 9.15. I realized that I need to catch the last bus at least! So I started towards office. On the breakfast table, all mithu except Chakli had a conf call and discussed everything again. Chakudi said, she was sleeping, dreaming when Lali called her and she got so shocked with the news that she suddenly got woken up as if from some nightmare! My God! Such a thrill for the news! I’m sure we all must’ve started our work at around 11 o’clock day.

Lali’s marriage fixing was as good as Vivah movie. And as ideal as tht movie too! All good people, 1 or 2 meetings, some general questions and its done! Chakli was not picking up our call, so we decided to harass her by sending weird bulk messages with Vivah’s songs: “Hamari shaadi me, abhi baki hai mahine 4”, “Do anjane, ajnabi…chale bandhne bandhan”…hehehe…We were all fascinated tht whole day. I gave this news to my every friend. What a day it was! Again we did conf call at night with Chakli, she got to know somehow and her usual dialog “Tame badha bau nakama chho”(u all are good for nothing J) started. We went to sleep with a smile on our faces.

We used to joke about Lali that if she’s Lali, her husband will be called “Lalo”, child “Lalu” and her tution class’ students will be called “Lalaos” to avoid confusion(which actually created confusion when we said “Lali is busy with her lalas and Lalo will take care of Lalu”) and what not… We all talked about this till several days and imagined how life would be for her after marriage. Since her husband is working in Bharuch, she was searching for a job there. We wanted to meet our ‘jiju’ but could not since we are all apart. Sadly, nobody could attend her engagement too for this reason. But we never ceased to tease her like anything. When we were in college, we imagined that we would do a ‘mithu’ test on everybody’s to-be husband that he has to stay with our gang for a whole day and present his autobiography. He has to survive without losing his mental balance :P When we joked to Lali “This is not fair. How can you decide without mithu test? We will decide whether he’s suitable for you or not ok?” To which she politely replied, “No, actually he’s very shy. He’ll talk very less with u ppl.” We kept her asking again and again to send his pic or to make us talk on phone, but as its with Lali with “Most busy in the world” tag, it wasn’t possible. We pulled her legs, “Lali, we know ur intentions. You fear, your fiancé will run away if he dares meeting us, but we also want to see who stole your heart :P Hope it may not happen that we see him in September i.e. on ur marriage itself! At lease send us pics of ur engagements, yaar.”

Actually Lali had double responsibility after she got engaged. She had to take care of her lalas’(tuition students) exams, her joint family and now her in-laws and fiancé. She was learning new dishes from her mother tooJ I think she already cooked very nice just improving herself. She left dieting!!! When asked, she said, “Now whom do I need for? He is not expecting me to be slimmer, he tells me that I eat, drink and just chill J” Her life was mixture of everything. I can imagine, it must have been beautiful phase of her life-going on long drives, waiting for weekends to come, eagerness to meet, our teasing her, going to in-laws and knowing more and more about her upcoming family. It is really a great feeling. I’m sure she’ll remember this in her entire life.