Pavi
Wedding of Shuddha is in two days and all the elders are busy in preparations. Shuddh is my best friend, we have been together since childhood, and also our father and mother are best friends. Dad and Ramesh uncle are college Friends and started business together. They consider me as his daughter. I have recently completed my masters in Environmental engineer and currently I have decided to do research in soil and water treatment plants. I haven't told this to my parents because of sudhha's marriage, they are too busy in it. So once marriage is over I will tell them about it. I have applied to New York University because I have to live in NYC for at least two years and the remaining two years can be done by online attention, even though the University agreed. I have taken this highly risky decision because they never allow me to leave from their sight. And there are chances that they will agree because James' uncle lives in NYC. I hope it will work.
I remember James uncle was only a business partner for one collaborative project in India but after that they all got so attached to each other that James uncle comes here to visit us every month. Stella aunty comes occasionally because she can't handle long distance traveling.
This is an arranged marriage; arranged marriages in India are very common. Shudhha is getting married to sheer. He is the son of Ramesh uncle's friend. Both families are happy. Except, James ' uncle. He was very angry that she was going to get an arranged marriage. He refused to let her marry to shree.
It nearly took three months to convince him for marriage, dad and Ramesh uncle refused marriage without his blessings. When he found out about this he thought positively about shree and kept a close eye on him, and then he agreed for marriage. He just gets a little paranoid when it comes to me and sudhha.
He will never forget to spoil us. Even when our parents complained about us to him, he always took our side. When we want something that our parents already refused, then only call James uncle, he gives a long lecture to our father.
He has a son whose name is--I don't know his name. He never told me and I never asked, he always made mention of him as his son. Uncle always complains about his working habits and neglecting family and friends. Dad and Ramesh uncle told James uncle to bring him here for a visit but he always refuses and I know this time also he will refuse but his friends are coming for this wedding.
My parents also want my marriage to be arranged and I have seen how they delicately decorated their dream about my potential husband, besides my grandfather is a traditional man. He also wants my marriage to be arranged by my family so why get hurt if you canât get married to your boyfriend. I have seen lots of couples fall in love after marriage. My cousins had arranged marriage and they are genuinely happy with each other and I have never felt drawn to any man. Never fall in love, have I always busied with my study and my research work for any kind of relationship in college
Yesterday was a sangeet ceremony. Done today after lunch, we applied henna to sudha and after dinner, all our friends and cousins were going to apply henna, but we refused to apply henna at that time because we decided to prepare a dinner for all. Now, I am starting preparation for dinner. We all decided to prepare a Royal feast. Puja is washing vegetables. I give milk to boys for sweets, Rekha keeps rice to boil and pour flour in a large pot for rotis and naans.
We were cooking for almost 3 hours, and suddenly Prachi told me that the floor was finished, so I told her to continue with the other work. I will bring it for her. I got out of the kitchen and started approaching the pantry. But suddenly someone called me. I turned and saw one helper. He told me that James sir is calling me and he is sitting in a garden and asked him to leave and I started walking towards the garden.
I saw dad and James' uncle chatting in the garden. As soon as I got there their faces lit up.
âYou called me uncle." I asked him as I approached him. He flashed a big smile at me and indicated his hand to take a seat near him. I sat down near him.
âYes my princess." He always calls me princess. He once told me that I look alike to someone. I never asked him as dad told me that it is a sour topic for him. Only, dad knows about it and he forbids us to talk about it to him.
"What is uncle?â He sounded excited for some reason.
âI heard that you are going to cook something delicious, can you tell me the menu." Ohhh, thatâs the reason for his happiness. He always enjoys my cooking and always demands different things and he wanted to know, what am I going to cook?
âThatâs a surprise; you have to wait; besides it's only half an hour for dinner." I didnât tell him, as we were preparing special; dishes for them and wanted to surprise them with that. We talked for a bit and then I walked away from the garden. I remembered that flour is still in the pantry and we will be late for dinner, so I started walking faster. As I was going inside the palace I saw one man strolling in the corner of the garden, talking on the phone. He wasnât paying attention to where he was walking. He is American and his one leg is trodden by the small plant. I got extremely furious and I started walking towards him.
"Hay, you American monkey "This got his attention, but he didn't say anything. His face only shows shock. He hung up his call immediately without saying anything.
âLook where you are going, you destroyed a poor, vulnerable plant."
Then I looked at his leg and understood and removed his leg immediately and tried to find his word to speak. Whatâs wrong with him? He is behaving weird. He took a few moments to compose himself. His face was showing disbelief, like no one can take the side of a plant.
"Sorry, extremely sorry." He was perplexed and confused looking at the plant. He is gust, I shouldnât have yelled at him. Look, poor guy. How strange is he? I should leave now.
âItâs ok, just be careful. It also has life." I didnât say anything further to avoid any conflicts. I was about to leave but his voice stopped me.
âIt seems that you like gardening." He was smiling cheekily at me.
âIt seems that you are Uncle James's son's friend." I copied his tone and he started laughing loudly.
âYa, Xandar here, looks like you don't know the name of my friend." He questioned me. I knew they were going to come. I nodded at his response.
âYa, I don't know. I am glad that at least you came to attend the wedding, unlike someone who always finds reasons to avoid getting together and submerges him into files.â He looked surprised by the mention of his friend. At least, he will enjoy the wedding.
âYou know him well, when you both mate before? He never told me." He asked with a curious gaze and came close to talk to me. I shook my head in a negative way, while waving my hand in the air.
âWe never mate and I don't expect him to come here. I don't even know his name, besides I have a job in the kitchen. I will take your leave, bye." I answered him while leaving hurriedly as I remembered that I am late and due to this dinner will be served late. I am technically running towards the pantry. Once I reached I told one of the helpers to bring a bag in the kitchen and I carried a large metal plate filled with flour.
I don't want to be late and don't want to keep people waiting for dinner. At that time lots of things were going on in my head and I wanted to hurry so I again began running towards the kitchen. Uncle James and Xandar took up lots of my time. I don't know what happened. Suddenly one wall came in front of me at the corner of the corridor, and a plate full of flour flew over the wall.
Strong metallic sound resonates throughout the corridor and fog like flour is in the air. After a moment I realized that it wasn't a wall but a very tall man nearly six foot and 5 inches. My face comes only at his chest level. I was terrified that he was going to grill me alive, so I covered him from top to bottom. Most important thing is that he is only staring at me without saying anything. Is he so angry that he can't even say anything? Taking advantage of this I muttered a quick sorry and ran away with the fastest speed I could.
With uncomfortable breathing, I reached the kitchen and seeing me in this state they started asking me nonstop questions. Pooja gave me a glass of water. After drinking I told them all honestly. They started laughing at me because I ran away from them.
âThis is what happens when you never have a boyfriend." Snehal laughed while moving dishes in the utensil.
"Ohh come-on I was scared.â I answered, while trying to control my heavy breathing due to running. I approached the napkins to clean flour from my hand and dress.
âAnyway, I already found a flour bag in the bottom rack, and everything is already prepared. We are just keeping food on plates." Prachi stated.
âYou go get cleaned out, I told everyone to come into the dining area." Pooja orders me. I got in my room and cleaned myself and joined all of them in the dining room. My mom asks me about dinner.
"Mom, we have prepared everything.âLooking at everyone I started describing the dinner.
âToday we have prepared shahi bhoj for you guys." I saw the questioning look of Uncle James and Aunt Stella. Then I decided to translate it for them.
âRoyal feast" I said looking at them. They smiled when I translated it for them. Both of them were surprised as they arched their eyebrows at me.
" And today's menu is Malai kofta, Paneer butter masala, mix veg, veg kofta curry, roti , butter naan, green salad, carrot salad, buttermilk , mango chutney, guava chutney, hyderabadi biryani, kashmiri pulav , kheer and gulab jamun." I continued with the menu. There was a pin drop silence in the room. Is something wrong? We all started looking at each other. Don't know what to do now.
âAll this is done by you all?â Ramesh uncle was shocked by our list of menu items. We all were happy that we were able to surprise them.
âYes uncle, we all stated proudly, Giggling at them
âWe all are so proud of you allâ my mom said, her eyes shining brightly.
"Friends let's get started." And we all started serving everyone food and put other food plates in front of them. I served sweets to all and lastly stopped in front of James uncle and gave him his share.
âDear, he can't eat sweets." Stella Aunty jerked in place as I put a bowl of sweets on uncleâs plate, but uncle was beaming like he won something important. Dad was laughing at his reaction; because he knows that Aunty wonât allow him to eat.
âI know aunty, I made it especially with sweetness not sugar especially for him, and so he can eat them." Their faces lit up and Uncle James thanked me. I know he is diabetic and he really misses sweets.
When everything was served they started eating. With every bite they were morning. All praised our food, all were eating blissful.
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Reyana.