Thursday, December 10, 2009

Happening Week- Part 2

Day 2. Somehow managed to get up early (verrry early) in the morning (4 am) to catch the flight to Agartala. This time there was another British family of 5 members- Husband-wife and 3 kids. Kids were cute and the parents handling them so nicely. Anyways, this time did not bother much and caught my “dear sleep”. Layover of 30 minutes at Kolkatta and I thought, now the flight may not be much crowded. But I was wrong. The flight was again full with passengers travelling to Agartala. The moment I stepped out of the flight, I could sense that yes, I am far away from my South India or even the West India and the “dulhe raja” (Babla- his pet name) himself had come to pick me up. He dropped me to his fiancĂ©'s home... I met her after 1 year and 11 months. Unfortunately, Babla was not allowed to enter into the house. Something was different about the house. May be Agartala touch. Met her parents, freshened up and had lunch, specially prepared chapaati for me. Got a beautiful saree from her mother (Babla also gifted me a suit and Chinchu's mom gave another saree for my mom...wow). I could clearly see how tensed Chinchu (Mitun- her pet name) was. Went in to see her dahej. So many bangles but interestingly, not in pair. Only two mandatory types of bangles were in pair, which are meant to be worn by each married Bengali lady- 1 red bangle pair and another white bangle pair (made out of elephant tusks).
Throughout the day, were so many ceremonies, thanks to which Chinchu was dead tired by the end of day because of regular change of sarees and lack of sleep. Most of the ladies did not know Hindi or English but men and children could easily talk to me. But still, everyone was trying to talk to me and making me feel comfortable. For some time even went to Babla's home.
One unique feature of Bengali ritual. Whenever ladies would give blessings or some auspicious task is being done, all the ladies would make a sound from their mouth, called Jokaar. Had seen that in movies, but when I saw this the first time, I was, frankly speaking, scared. But after witnessing this 2-3 times, I got used to it.
I managed to eat rice very neatly with my hands, though the speed was drastically slower than the others, but I did not back off. Thats the spirit. Ha ha ha...Chinchu's cousins made arrangements for dance party in the night and yes, even I danced and my “snake dance” was already made popular there, so showed off my skills to them.
Then came the wedding day (Day 3). I was made to accompany Chinchu for her make-up and dressing up and when the final product came out, I was awestruck. My Chinchu had turned into a beautiful Bengali BRIDE... Finally Babla had arrived and hard to imagine, but he was looking awesome Bengali GROOM, and yes, trying to act as if he is shying. He was made to sit in another room, where I also joined him, and people would peek into his room, as if he is an object in a museum. Whereas, everyone went in to congratulate Chinchu where she was sitting and was loaded with gifts. After a brief puja, Babla was made to go through few more minutes of embarrassment. He was made to sit in a cage-like structure and the entire gathering surrounded him, as if he is a resident of zoo (sorry Babla, but thats what I could relate this with). Then came The Bride and she was made to encircle him some 7 times, while he kept sitting there and the exchange of garlands took place. Another 2 hours of puja and then they were Man-and-Wife- officially and finally. Then some games and then the dinner.
Next morning, I met them and left Mrs and Mr Chakraborty, for my South India. Slept like anything throughout the journey and at Delhi airport my dear in-laws were already waiting for me. Somehow managed to look alive and active in front of them and had nice lunch and chit-chat session with them. At Bangalore was picked up and dropped at home by dearest....ha ha ha...you must know by now :)
Now eagerly waiting for the wedding photos and wish all the happiness of the world to the newly married couple. Muuaaaahhhhh....CHEERS !!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Happening Week-Part1

The last week (not the weekend, but the week) was so happening. I travelled from South to North-east, all alone, for my two best friends were getting married (finally) at Agartala (Tripura). And the moment I would mention “Tripura”, everybody would raise atleast one or both the eyebrows as if I just had committed some murder. Specially my mother. Actually had to fight with her to convince that Agartala is also just another city in India. If bombs can go off there, so can at Jaipur as well. If flights can be delayed or missed or cancelled for Agartala, so can be for any other city. I really don't understand that even after travelling to so many places alone, by all means, why can't someone have just a bit of faith on me that I WILL take precautions for safe journey?
Anyways. To take off from office during the week is the most satisfying feeling and yes, I left for Delhi after office on Monday. In this post, I may just describe this small flight from Bangalore to Delhi. Can't say if it can be categorized as funny or horrifying.
I got the aisle seat of right side and to the left side came a “small” punjabi family, comprising of a very old man (83 years old- A), another elderly couple (61 years- B and 58 years- C respectively), their daughter- a middle age woman (37 years old- D) and her son (8-9 years old- E). Thanks to them, I could not sleep or relax for even one single moment:

1. All of them, except A, changed and swapped the seats among themselves and other passengers. C was the most difficult to move around, thanks to the excess usage of ghee/butter/oil that she must have done in her life, but she was the one who changed the seats maximum number of time.
2. By the time, I reached Delhi, I knew why and how they had come down to South and now going back (because their voice levels where nowhere near to whispers). It was D's brother's wedding. A Punjabi who must have married a South Indian girl, at Mysore.
3. I also know that the family had got the Spinach-Corn sandwiches packed from the CCD on the way back to Bangalore from Mysore, but still had the heaviest bill with the GoAir catering service. Yes, apart from their own packed sandwiches, they bought other sandwiches, nachos, juices from the airline caterers.
4. C and D were typical of Punjabi Gossip Ladies, addressing other ladies present in the wedding by their weight, size, saree color or makeup thickness.
5. C and D took time off from their gossips to look at the Items on sale in the airline and in 5 minutes asked Mr. B to handover mere Rs. 1100 for a purse.
6. Finally, E became alive after having nachos and swapped the seat with dear grandma (C) to sit with dearest grandpa (B) on the window seat.
a) The moment I loosened my seat belt to relax, bang came his first question – “Nanaji, what if another plane comes from this side and breaks this wing of our plane”. My instant reaction was to fasten my seat belt.
b) Without waiting for the answer came another question – “Nanaji, if there suddenly appears a hole on the floor of this plane and someone puts his leg on that hole, what will happend?”
c) Mind it, Mr. B was trying to answer him, but he had no time to listen to any explanations. There were so many randomly thought questions, which even God would not bother to answer. Does anyone reside on North Pole? If not, then why at the first place is it there on the earth? We should cut it off from earth.
d) Which are the best and the worst Domestic and the International airlines according to you?
e) Is this window having double layer of glass? Why two layers, when only one layer could have sufficed? What if I break this window? If this plane is to crash, how will we be rescued? Can I try opening the emergency exit (this is where I actually began sweating)?
f) Are we actually going to die in 2012? He then calculated the age of each member in 2012 (that’s how I could tell their ages in the beginning of the post).
g) Have you ever played Xbox?
h), i), j).......z)
Now was the time when Mr. B called up his wife to accompany him but mind it that E made it a point that I was constantly under threat with his never ending random questions.
When I was waiting for my bag at the luggage belt, E arrived again by my side. I actually changed my place for he might just ask, What if this airport is bombed at this moment?
At the Delhi airport, though, I got one of the most pleasant surprises (will not mention what, but yes, it was a big surprise). My aunty had prepared Sarso ka saag and Makke ki roti, which I had not tasted since past two winters. This was just the first day of my happening week. More in the next post...CHEERS !!!!!!!!!!