So this school friend of mine is getting married tomorrow. Well, technically, today. I've been attending her pre-wedding functions since monday and let me say, I am blinded by all the bling I have witnessed in past few days. She's a Sindhi, and with all due respect to the community, there is only this much bling my eyes can take.
Not that it's a bad thing. Gujarati weddings are also colourful affairs. Just that we have less bling, and more colours. I, personally do not like dressing up. I am usually the odd one out at most weddings, with simple cotton dress and some kajal as makeup. Last few days I felt so out of place, I was hiding myself in the corners because I thought everyone will keep staring at me for wearing something so simple.
In the meantime, one grandma was chatting up with me in Sindhi for good 10 minutes before friend's mother pointed out that I don't understand the language, and I think she cursed me before ignoring me completely for the rest of the function.
And then the dance. These guys just do not get tired. Yesterday, at one point, everyone broke into a Garba, and the only Gujarati under the roof was sitting in one corner, tweeting how everyone is dancing on Garba beats. That is how socially awkward I am. :|
And then, today was the "ring ceremony". I have learnt my lesson in past few days that none of the functions start on time. If they say 7:30 pm onwards, it means if you reach at 7:45, you will be the one supervising the hotel staff in arranging chairs. Family will also come in fashionably at 9:00 and the bride and groom make a grand entrance at 10:00 pm. Abbe, khana kab khilaoge?
So today, for the 7:30 pm onwards wala function, I went at 8:30. I had a talk with friend's sister who gave me directions to the venue. As soon as I was parking, I see a couple of people getting off a taxi, wearing heavy dress get off. I quickly parked the car and followed them.
As usual, I could not find the family members or one or two familiar faces I saw daily. I looked around, and then found myself a secluded corner and made myself comfortable. I looked up my twitter timeline, and generally acted busy. We all know the benefit of smartphone. I was offered watermelon juice and some vegetable crispies, which I devoured. Hmm. And then, it hit me. Everyone around me was talking in Gujarati.
Wait, what?
I looked around. EVERYONE WAS TALKING IN GUJARATI!
Panic attack. What? Where am I! No bling bling outfits, but red, green, yellow bandhanis. (pls google bandhani - it's a lovely saree style). I quickly put the watermelon juice on the floor and walked out. I called up friend's sister, and asked her where they were. She told me they had already reached and the function was about to start. She almost laughed while asking if I got lost again. I said no, because I was in the premises of the stupid hotel.
And then I saw it. I was attending "40th wedding anniversary of Jayantilal and Maniben Patel". Ring ceremony of my friend was in *another* banquet hall, next to the one in.
:|
I had half mind to go and wish Mr. and Mrs. Patel on their achievement, but I could not get over the fact that I had just gatecrashed a party. :|
Of course, the rest of the party that I attended was of my friend, which was fun. Except for the part where they were playing "happy birthday to you" instrumental when they were exchanging rings. Turns out only I noticed the song and no one else found it funny.
On that note, I will watch You've Got Mail, again, while munching peanuts, because after those vegetable crispies, I was too shocked to eat anything there. And I'm hungry, and I don't want to go and make maggi right now.
Not that it's a bad thing. Gujarati weddings are also colourful affairs. Just that we have less bling, and more colours. I, personally do not like dressing up. I am usually the odd one out at most weddings, with simple cotton dress and some kajal as makeup. Last few days I felt so out of place, I was hiding myself in the corners because I thought everyone will keep staring at me for wearing something so simple.
In the meantime, one grandma was chatting up with me in Sindhi for good 10 minutes before friend's mother pointed out that I don't understand the language, and I think she cursed me before ignoring me completely for the rest of the function.
And then the dance. These guys just do not get tired. Yesterday, at one point, everyone broke into a Garba, and the only Gujarati under the roof was sitting in one corner, tweeting how everyone is dancing on Garba beats. That is how socially awkward I am. :|
And then, today was the "ring ceremony". I have learnt my lesson in past few days that none of the functions start on time. If they say 7:30 pm onwards, it means if you reach at 7:45, you will be the one supervising the hotel staff in arranging chairs. Family will also come in fashionably at 9:00 and the bride and groom make a grand entrance at 10:00 pm. Abbe, khana kab khilaoge?
So today, for the 7:30 pm onwards wala function, I went at 8:30. I had a talk with friend's sister who gave me directions to the venue. As soon as I was parking, I see a couple of people getting off a taxi, wearing heavy dress get off. I quickly parked the car and followed them.
As usual, I could not find the family members or one or two familiar faces I saw daily. I looked around, and then found myself a secluded corner and made myself comfortable. I looked up my twitter timeline, and generally acted busy. We all know the benefit of smartphone. I was offered watermelon juice and some vegetable crispies, which I devoured. Hmm. And then, it hit me. Everyone around me was talking in Gujarati.
Wait, what?
I looked around. EVERYONE WAS TALKING IN GUJARATI!
Panic attack. What? Where am I! No bling bling outfits, but red, green, yellow bandhanis. (pls google bandhani - it's a lovely saree style). I quickly put the watermelon juice on the floor and walked out. I called up friend's sister, and asked her where they were. She told me they had already reached and the function was about to start. She almost laughed while asking if I got lost again. I said no, because I was in the premises of the stupid hotel.
And then I saw it. I was attending "40th wedding anniversary of Jayantilal and Maniben Patel". Ring ceremony of my friend was in *another* banquet hall, next to the one in.
:|
I had half mind to go and wish Mr. and Mrs. Patel on their achievement, but I could not get over the fact that I had just gatecrashed a party. :|
Of course, the rest of the party that I attended was of my friend, which was fun. Except for the part where they were playing "happy birthday to you" instrumental when they were exchanging rings. Turns out only I noticed the song and no one else found it funny.
On that note, I will watch You've Got Mail, again, while munching peanuts, because after those vegetable crispies, I was too shocked to eat anything there. And I'm hungry, and I don't want to go and make maggi right now.
1 comment:
reminds me of a not so similar incident...was with two other friends at the first birthday of another elder friends' kid...finished decorating the community space booked for the occasion hall and was resting..there came a desi guy with food trays which we helped out of his car and talked to him about food...he replied in general too...we thought he was the catering guy while he was the bestie of the guy (our friends' hubby) :P poor sod was appalled and later asked if he really looked like a caterer....we escaped saying that even caterers looked posh in the US..
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