Last week, Nikky, a cousin of mine got married to his long-time girlfriend Winny. Now, Winny's family is rustic
Punjabi while Nikky's is traditional
amchigele. The resulting fusion of cultures over the two-day long festivities churned up some real good food ( see footnote below) and a couple of hilarious incidents. Sample the following piece of conversation between an aunt of mine, whom I refer to as S and an aunt of Winny's whom I refer to as R. Now, S has been studiously trying to avoid any contact with Winny's family while R is hungry and I am helping her to the dining hall. On the way, this fortuitous encounter between the two ladies.
S:
"hahahaha" ( always begin conversation in a universal language )
R:
"hahaha" ( see? it works! )
S:
"aapki Punjabi thodi alag lag rahi hai" ( Now, R is actually one of the few true-blue Punjabis around and is visibly embarrassed that someone has accused her to be non-authentic, that too based only on her laughter).
R:
"err.." ( silently cursing the saas-bahu serials on TV for falsifying Punjabi accents )
S:
"haan, I understand now...aapke yahan Marathi jyada bolte honge na?" ( ok, now wait for it..)
R:
"Paranthe? nahi - humhare yahan to roti hi jyada banti hain" (hunger and accent have taken it's toll on R, she hears Marathi to be Paranthe).
(At this point, I convulse with laughter, much to the chagrin of R and S. Next, even more unbelievable, as I walk away, I hear R and S ditch this happening conversation on linguistics and proceed to one on recipes for
methi paranthas.)
At another time, I was dragged by Winny's brother into their
sangeet - which is some sort of traditional song-and-dance function. An elderly uncle of the bride takes up the
dholak and doles out cheesy Bollywood numbers and everyone dances. I did too. In fact, I think I must have been in the mood because the videos show me doing my dirty Bollywood number. Anyways, so the next day was the reception where there was a DJ belting out some contemporary tracks. For some reason, I didn't feel like dancing this time. However, an aunt of mine, lets call her T, suddenly became, how shall I put it gently..wild. And she seemed to want me to partner her in whatever tribal dance she was now initiating. If it were not so embarrassing, it would be terribly funny - I am sure all my cousins had a good laugh watching me escape T.
Meanwhile, far away from all the glitz and glamor, my grandfather lay on a hospital bed with grandmother by his side. As I shuffled between the wedding hall and the Hospital to carry food - and news - to them, I couldn't help but marvel at the silent romance in the air. One that seems to be thriving long after all the lights and flowers must have been withdrawn from
their wedding hall. Love must be. Like wine.
Get well soon, ajja. And congratulations! Nikhil and Winny.
[Examples of good food during the wedding: marvala-pana phodi (wild leaves dipped in a batter and deep-fried ), sanapolo ( type of dosa usually consisting the seeds of a vegetable, walwal ( mixed vegetables in coconut milk gravy) and dudhpaak (you should be knowing what this is). OK so this was only lunch. For dinner, we would have all possible chaats plus the regular biryani and paneer gravies. Haha. I hope Nikky and Winny celebrate all their anniversaries in similar style! ]
