“You are religiously and legally mine” … And the rainbow vibes of change gets spluttered all around…that sensation of transition, those beautiful fluttering butterflies in stomach, that numbness when you have a zillion thoughts and don’t know which one to single out and concentrate on…
The sounds of hulhuli is accompanied by blowing of shankh(conch shell) warding off evil spirits, signaling for the beginning of a new season, its growing red shoots marked with passion. Colorful thermocol tattwas are being decorated with that enormous fish embellished with gold ring, seasonal fruits and ever-so-deliciously-famous bengali sweets. The heavy toys like sacred tattvas are being carried off downstairs in festive spirit by family and friends with childlike excitement. Visibly uncomfortable with all this noise and confusion, and more so for being dressed in a 3 piece - "towel, vest and Dhuti", the groom stands in a corner and acts responsible by sending off the gifts just in time for his bride's Gaye Holud.
Months of courtship stand in between like a beautiful journey. A wish that was granted, a dream that came true…He could not ask for more…That “perspective match”, “friend”, “best friend”, “guide”, “special someone”, “fiancee” now ready to become “life”…He wonders how meanings change over time…Once “aunty” is becoming “Mom”, once “uncle” wants to be called “Dad”...everybody wants to know how he feels but words are failing…people assume he might just be too happy to say anything, but that happiness is not able to sort itself into what to tell whom…
So there are more than 256-value palette (2^8 = 256) colors possible. And that my friend, you only know when you look at all these vibrant saaris. Who knew he was remotely capable of noticing these details! 5 hours of patience to get the ladies of the house all dressed and ready to go, and while struggling through Kolkata's narrow streets, we proceed... Or as they call it, The Bor Jatri...
There have been transitions, from prep to school, to college, to a new city, to a new job, new people, new countries…but this one is HUGE…Though he knew this from like years… he fantasized in like a thousand dreams…The plan was ready, all set…But still it feels like time has run extremely fast, that he is only a kid, mom scolding while he adamantly keeps playing cricket out in the scorching sun… how can this happen so fast…
Bliz, Glitters, Shimmers and flashes. Stars wont illuminate the night sky today, reflections from this wedding lights decorations will. Seated at the Chadnatolla, waiting for a glimpse of her...Dude! this anxiousness will be captured on Camera!... And this struggle to act levelheaded will also be captured in pictures, recorded in videos and whispered in hearsay...
Lo and Behold, here she comes, beautiful as if descended directly from heavens, how would he ever manage to concentrate on anything else but her...
Two pairs of beautiful eyes go blank and their reflection in the camera lenses inform everyone clearly that sleep won’t come to them for many many days to come…The water-proof makeup sustaining in spite the heat of Kolkata feels like the most awaited touch…The swing on the stage welcomes them to sway between the past and the future, between old and the new relationships, between apprehensions and anticipations…
Is this tradition of Saat Paak influenced by Sun and Earth or Earth and Moon? I wonder.
In any case, its for ever and ever, and so we bless this love, association and holy matrimony to be... Witnessing Mala Badal and the final emotional ceremony of Sindoor Daan, we say goodbyes and commence our journey back to Bengaluru...
Like me, they keep pondering over thoughts and questions, only to conclude that this was destined to happen…for best...And then again, they try not to drown into the future written in depths of their eyes, but in the sounds of hulhuli, fragrance of love, and clicks of cameras all around…
