I got up early, and had my complimentary breakfast at the hotel, and got back to the run to get dressed. Ma, although she wasn't really feeling well (feverish and stomach upset), got up early and dressed me in the sari, and put on some makeup and stuff. And when she asked for a smile while she took a photo, all I gave was a frown, and told her to hurry up! I don't even know why I was that irritated! Sometimes I think I'm the most ungrateful child ever born. My parents do everything they can to keep me happy, and I repay them with a frown and angry words. Every time I do this, I resolve never to do it again, but I just cant seem to help it!
While dressing, I got multiple calls from my friends, questioning the delay, since I was supposed to be in their hotel by max 8 am, but it was 8.30 am and I still hadn't reached. There was actually (!) a stunned silence on the phone when I told them I would come already dressed, as initially I was supposed to get dressed in the hotel with them, and a lady was supposed to come to drape the sari. Apparently, the lady had closed her parlor since she had to come to dress us, and so she would take the decided upon amount, whether the work was required or not!
Anyway, Pa walked me to the hotel where my friends were getting dressed. When I entered the room, at first I thought I'd got the wrong room, due to all the unknown faces staring at me in the doorway.But on going further in saw my friends. The unknown faces were the parlor ladies. Anyway, there was a lot of chaos in the room, stuff thrown about and girls in saris running around looking for things. Everyone was almost ready, and were just applying the finishing touches (of makeup). I spoke to the lady about the sari, and she agreed to do my hair for the amount she would have charged to drape the sari, so that wasn't a complete waste.
Anyway, when everybody was ready, we had a quick photo session, and left for the wedding hall, which was just across the road.
This was a typical Marathi style wedding, so not a lot of noise, but no dancing at all. The groom arrived soon after us. When he first reached the hall, the bride's mother welcomed him with aarti and stuff. For that, he needed to remove his shoes, and step on a small platform stool kind of thing. When he removes his shoes, the girl's side people (cousins, siblings, friends) snatch his shoes, and then ask for money in return for the shoes. Its tradition! I missed most of this since I was on a call, but one of our friends got the groom's shoes, getting scratches and cuts while doing it! She actually fought the groom's cousins and screamed "My Sari! My Sari!" when they tried to gt near her!! She was my hero!
Colored rice to be thrown on the couple (like confetti?)
Anyway after that the wedding ceremony started. All the pooja, pheras and everything. We didn't get to see much of it since it was taking place at the front and people were crowding there. We just sat back and tried to take photos. After that a fabulous lunch, and it was time to leave.
Some of us:
The Couple
We went back to the hotel where I was to share a room with Mag. So, the two of us went to our room, and had yet another quick photo session, after which we washed and changed and went off to sleep. After we got up and had some yummy chicken sandwiches, it was time to get dressed for the wedding reception. There wasn't much chaos this time around since most of us weren't wearing saris, so we all got dressed in our respective rooms, and left for the Reception, which was at the same place across the road.
We wished them again, another photo session and went to dinner, which was pretty uneventful. Caught up with some other friends who came late. With our stomachs overfull, we left the hall to say buy to the bride.
It was a very emotional farewell for her and her parents, lots and lots of crying and hugging, I don't really know why. I mean its not like ancient times, she'll keep meeting her parents and even staying with them and all. Anyway, to each his/her own.
We reached the hotel and with not much time to sleep, since we would be leaving for the bus stop in like 4-5 hours, we all gathered in one room and got to talking shit and stuff. That was fun, but I fell asleep halfway through! I guess everybody was getting sleepy after a point, so we just moved to our rooms and slept for like an hour. Got up and half asleep we left for the station. Back to Pune and back to work!
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