Diplomacies in an Indian Marriage !!!

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii !!!!

Well…that statement very well illustrates the excitement that has wrapped me. Hope you guys are having a wonderful time too, be it at work, university or vacation. It was a wonderful weekend for me. My uncle celebrated his b’day with the entry of a brand new car. He gave me a chance to drive it. It felt like I was driving some chariot on the dusty, bumpy and crowded roads of Chennai. My aunt certified that my driving was neat and patient, a comment that I am craving to get from my own mother!!! When I drive the car, you can literally tell that my mom’s BP is at its peak and she would anytime break out with a heart attack. Since my dad has taken the driver’s seat for more than 20 years now, she will take her time to accept me as the driver and I shall wait, patiently and eagerly until that day dawns.

On Sunday, along with my uncle’s family we went to my eldest uncle’s place. Our family get-togethers are such fun. Mockery, uncles and aunties into heated discussions about our mischief, cousins’ secrects, tea sessions, plans for a family outing to the beach or a movie and much more. This Sunday was not those “yet another regular family meetings”. It was one of those days I have been waiting for, so eagerly in life, yet something deep within my heart silently says – “Plz, let this not happen. Let us be just like we were”. The fear that I might not be able to relive those precious moments we spent together with grandpa, grandma, all uncles and aunties, daddies and mummies and our dear cousins broke loose last evening.

Let’s first get to the lighter half of the story. The excitement began, as all of us settled comfortably in an air conditioned room, with papers scattered all around and our conversations constantly being disturbed by half a dozen mobiles, each ringing with a peculiar ringtone!!! Then, the topic arose – Ashok’s marriage. We were all waiting to grab it. Frankly that was the purpose of our visit. My uncle, his two sons (Ashwin, Nithin) and myself began to rag our eldest cousin, Ashok. Usually, we are the ones who are literally tortured by his unending teasing sessions. But this time, very surprising, he portrayed himself as a shy, dignified man - gentleman, who would simply sit by and watch us mock at him. For all the fun we were having at his cost, he simply returned the gratitude with an unassuming handsome smile. However, the air lacked its usual exuberance due to his silence.

Two months back, my grandpa had called him separately and enquired his age. Quickly realizing the hidden meaning in this question and well aware that he would definitely escape, he has bravely answered. But little did he realize that his answer would backfire. Grandpa has exclaimed, “Oh!!! I got married when I was just 18 years. So its time you get married too!!!” Belonging to a middle class, mildly orthodox Hindu family, all elders in the family have begun a serious search for a girl. We are still in the 1^st level of the hunt, that is, exchanging horoscopes and advertising our hero!!! We are yet to set out on a tour to the girl’s house with our hero and discuss each others’ family background, boy and girls’ interests and demands. The previous marriage of our eldest cousin has given all the elders some experience in this regard. So everyone knows that this will take some time and requires lots of issues to think about and analyze.

Of all the people, I am the one who shows maximum interest in getting my cousin married. Though I get some innocent and selfish happiness in that, I cant afford to miss it - I can boss around as the hero’s sister, dressed with new clothes, eat a scrumptious marriage luncheon and most importantly, according to the Hindu custom, the bridegroom’s sister ties the 3^rd nuptial knot and this great responsibility would be mine!!! To think of this makes me feel as though I am the “most-wanted”. I have been pestering that they finish off the marriage before I leave for S’pore, but I know quite well that its not such a simple matter afterall. However, I have no regrets, I would be more than happy to take a break from university and proudly tell my friends that I am going back home for my brother’s marriage and that I am the most important girl for the function apart from the bride!!!

When I seriously come to think about what is going to happen, my heart begins to feel lonely, as though everything in life came with a tag that says – “Temporary”. One day, I too would be gone, with my own family, in some part of this world, far away from my dear people. I would miss all our weekly meetings, the fun that I had with my cousins. The episodes of today would soon become memories of yesterday. We have been more like brothers and sisters, rather than cousins. I feel so elated when they share so much love and care with me, feel for me when I take my flight back to S’pore, and eagerly await my return, to narrate family updates and enjoy every moment they spend with me. I truly, deeply wish that the love we share lasts forever, the bond that exists never melts and that we get back to these days, mock and tease one another, with the same feeling, no matter who has entered our life…

p.s.: This post is dedicated to all in my family.

Funky Restaurants !!!

Hello people!!! Hope you guys are really enjoying the summer showers and having a wonderful time. I am doing great. Eating, sleeping, freaking out and in short, wasting time. May and June have passed silently. I have begun my countdown already. One more month to go and I will be off!!! Leaving behind all loved ones here. Ready to start another semester, all alone, with memories of people and home haunting my dreams every night. Anyways, it’s the life I adopted for myself and I am happy this makes me realize the importance of each and everyone who have touched my life in some way or the other. Ok, let’s move on…

I am not someone whose inbox is loaded with forwarded messages. And if at all it happens to land in my inbox, its apparently from my dad!!! My dad is a wierd character. If he has got to show me some interesting article that has appeared in the newspaper, he will immediately look up for it in the net and forward the article to me. Dat's probabaly because i am hooked up with the computer most of the time that, he feels i will check it for sure if its in my inbox. Now, last evening, i got one of these forwards from my dad. It pictures some of the wonderous restaurants in the world. Initially i thought they were true. But now i am beginning to feel these are picture tricks. What say eh???

This would be one hell of a place to dine. Can you see the little cable car to the right linking to the restaurant?? One big wave or tsunami and you are washed away with you food!!!

This seems better. Very picturesque environment to lunch. A banquet in a castle!!!

Sccccchhhreeeecccckkkk.... If u hear this sound, u can be sure the tree is giving away and you can have a wonderful free fall. The secrect of Newton and the apple! Amazing suspension dynamics nonetheless ;)


Gulppppppp!!! I would have to force food down my pipe if i were to eat in this place. Climb the tiny ladder up to your restaurant!!! The first time i saw this pic, my heart literally skipped a beat!!!

This reminds me of Titanic. Seems a cool place, but again, one big ship comes its way, you would probably sink with a burger and a cup of tea in your hand!!!

Wasnt that amazing!!!??? I have a few more breathtaking pics. I have shared the best ones here. One day, i wish we could all lunch in one of these places!!! ;) Anyways, Have a wonderful weekend. Take care all of you and hugggggggggggzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Been there, Done that, Hated it !!!

Hi guys!!! I am back after a wonderful weekend and a great Monday. My friends came home and we had a roller coaster ride into our school days. We visited school, met all our teachers, juniors and most importantly our old class rooms. Awestruck by the new look it had now, we stood there stunned by the presence of a large LCD screen and a computer installed in each class. They had been put up to give the students a “Seeing is Believing” effect. But we were happy such things were not there when we were in school. Guess why??? If we had to view those slide shows and audio clips, our teacher had to take us to the Audio Visual room, which was just across the playground and 2 buildings away. A walk which will take less than 5 mins, would take a solid 15 minutes or even more for us. A very common tactic employed to “eat away” valuable class time!!!

So, I passed off my Monday with friends and teachers. Later, towards the evening, as I was watching a match with my dad, he suddenly popped up with a strange plan. Puzzled by such a thought, immediately I protested. My dad and mom, both have been through the experience, both have not enjoyed it. In fact, none of us would enjoy it. Now, they were pushing me to this. Why do they want me to go thru this too??? I have been a good girl, though I brush my teeth only once in a day, I don’t think they are bad enough to be certified by a dentist!!! Yes, my dad wants me to get my teeth cleaned and braces set up!!! My teeth are neither so expertly aligned, nor are they in total disarray. I am happy the way they are. Then why put me thru this crisis???

My previous visit to the dentist, about a year back, was a very unpleasant encounter. My dad had developed a very bad cavity and had to get a root canal therapy done. This is supposed to be the most dreadful treatment that you can give yourself that you would better wish you had no teeth at all!!! My father had been through the whole treatment and I accompanied him to the last sitting, where he had to fix a crown on worked-up tooth. We were waiting in the lounge, observing patients walk in and out, holding on to their cheeks. As usual, being a health conscious father, my dad began his advice. Being to the dentist for the first time in my life, a 1 hour wait was enough to give me a panoramic idea of what to expect. Finally, when we were ushered into the room, I walked in behind my father.

My dad and the dentist exchanged pleasantries and my father settled in the dentist’s chair. As if I had landed in an alien land, I looked around the place curiously. I watched as the dentist fixed up the crown for my dad. I was waiting to get off the place and finally when it got over, or at least I thought it was over, my dad turned to me and casually said, “Get your teeth checked Preethi. Let’s see if it needs a cleaning.” I was left speechless. I stood there rigid, not knowing how to react. My heart pounding. Utterly terrified. A tempest raging in my mind. Given a chance, I would have barked at my dad, unfortunately, I stood there, tongue tied. I stared at him with desperate eyes and a how-can-you-do-this-to-me kinda look. Finally, when my gaze shifted to the dentist, I saw that he was already getting ready to attack me and with a “warm” smile gestured that I take the seat. I returned his smile with a nervous smirk and took my seat, with a feeling I was going to be crucified in a workshop.

The seat was set high and inclined as if it were an easy-chair. The dentist adjusted the chair’s height hoping he was making me feel comfortable. He tried to develop a conversation with me. But I sat there, uneasy, holding the hand-rest tightly, as if it were my only saviour and answered in monosyllables. And then, it all began; my visit to hell couldn’t have been any closer. He placed a “saliva sucker” on my tongue (guess that’s what its called), focused the light right onto my mouth and took out a metal rod kinda thing. My mouth wide open, eyes set on the pale dusty ceiling, jaws slowly beginning to ache, a suction effect on my tongue and someone staring right into the intricacies of my teeth – Nothing could have been a more undignified posture. The doc came up close, gently placed a metal tool on my teeth, and I felt a chill run down my spine.

I am such a sensitive character, that even when someone scratches a painted wall with their sharp nails, I can feel that tinge of “something” pass thru the corner of my teeth. I got the same effect when he scratched my teeth with the drilling gun trying to remove some tartar. Occasionally, I raised my hand requesting the doc to let me close my mouth for a minute and gasped for breath. My palms were beginning to sweat and I was losing grip of my only support. I wished the whole world would simply melt around me. Finally, he asked me to gorgle and said it was over. I heaved a sigh of relief and quickly got out of the chair hoping that my dad wouldn’t come up with anything more. I thanked the doc for the “wonderful evening” and we turned to leave. As if all this were not enough, the doctor professionally exclaimed, “Come back after 6 months!!!”

Invisible… Yet… Invincible :)

Hi guys!!! Hope you are all enjoying the FIFA matches. I am having a great time watching them too. Now, to reveal my new love, its none but Lionel Messi, the youngest guy in team Argentina. Might not be as good as Ronaldo, Beckham or Ronaldinho, but definitely someone to watch out for in this World Cup. Great talent. I am loving his game…Thoroughly…

Ok… getting to something serious this time. Three solid months of vacation and I have done nothing useful apart from attending a 2 week training in genetics, 16 sessions of music class and a bit of blogging. Apart from all this, one thing worth giving myself a pat for is, I have been taking real good care of my health and body. Something I have been striving for, something that gets the smile on my parent’s face. Two months have passed since I came back home and I cant believe that time has been so cruel on me. Its been speeding really fast. Last night, my dad asked me which date he had to book my return tickets to S’pore. Shocked! So soon??? Only then, I turned to the calendar hung behind me and realised that we were already nearing the end of June. Horror struck me. Only one more month and my lonely counterpart will be waiting to take over. Damn It!!! :( Hard times ahead of me, but I must only remember this – “At times of distress, behave like a duck, stay calm and unruffled on the surface, but keep paddling away like crazy underneath.”

The worst part of my vacation has been that, I have still not had a gathering with my friends. Its either that most of them are not in town or else they are hooked up with their books preparing for exams. Even my close friend who stays just a road across hasn’t had the time to come home. I go to her place almost every evening and chat for a while. I have a whole semester of stories to be narrated. Unfortunately for me, she has been doing most of the talking when we meet, and my ears have been as sincere as ever – doing all the listening. After all it’s during these times when we meet, that she gets a break from her books, so why bother her with my musings??? I am just holding my feelings - so many thoughts fighting their way out of my head, like a bee buzzing desperately inside a closed bottle…

A very disturbing truth in friendship is that sometimes friends do not realize that just like every rose comes with a thorn and still we yearn to smell its freshness, admire it beauty and enjoy its presence, each friend comes with something you might not like, but still you will enjoy their presence and without whose company, life can be miserable. Being a very sensitive character by nature and a demanding friend, some things really hurt. Afterall, who would not love to have such demands ??? A friend… the freak-out kind… the lets-sit-by-the-fireside-and-chat kind… who truly loves the relationship that exists… one who would regard each other’s thoughts, actions and feelings… trust you as much as you would… one who opens up everything to you, just like you would… one who would sing that song you have forgotten… one who would know well in advance that something is bothering you, just by the look of your forlorn eyes… one who would join you in your celebrations, sorrows and lend a chest to hug and cry… or more-so, one who would wish not to see that drop slid down your cheek…

I’m sure each one of us would have someone like that in our life... someone in whom we would confide every single secret… And yes, I do have one such person. Its just that she has been too busy and stressed. Its now my turn to give her that enthusiasm and boost. So my stories will have to wait. But, I guess I have been telling you guys almost everything that has been flashing my mind. Most importantly, its like I have a set of invisible friends who, though connect to me through wires, share with me this amazing relation called friendship. I love you guys for being there, speaking out, criticizing, congratulating, encouraging and letting me be myself. Thanks a ton!!! Take care and lots of huggggzzz comes your way from me!!! :)