I know I KNOW! I had dissappeared again. 
When you're working with absolute buggers with whom you've got to fight nail and tooth to get your rightful income in your hands- it's a stressful time.
My February, in short, has been the most fucked up month. (And the year has just begun!) 
Thankfully March is here and I can look forward to new opportunities coming up. Am job hunting these days. Freelance work comes in but is sparse in comparison to the years before.
I believe it is time to dig out happy memories before I go into a depressive mode. 
Et voila! I shall describe the wedding I attended this January, made new friends and solidified old friendships.
I shall put this post in two parts.
Part I
(names have been altered)
Nike had been a long standing acquaintance for many years before we moved to become firm friends. We had known each other since school, lived in the same neighbourhood but only had a nodding acquaintance then. Besides, we moved in totally different circles.
We met again a couple of years ago and since then have been very good friends.
Nike had been in love with his college sweetheart since the last six years. Last year, he mentioned that he'd like to get married. He decided it was time.
What was to stop him then? With the blessings of parents from both sides- they got married this year, with great pomp and fare, on the 27-01-08. 
Indian marriages are noteworthy not only for their customs but also cuz it is a roller coaster of emotions that come pouring out in this time.
Family bondings can be seen at their best. 
Nike's wedding also went through the same mold. A three day function full of laughter, fun and mingling with friends and family was the saga of the wedding.
The wedding was to take place in my hometown which also happens to be Nike's hometown.
Here's how it started:
25/01/08
Go to an Indian wedding and you'll realise that Indians can dance at the beat of the DHOL (a musical instrument) anytime. 
A wedding in Gujarat is never complete if there is no traditional dance night before the wedding. The same held true here.
This night was the "garba" night. Garba is the folk dance of Gujarat, danced at the tune of melodious folk songs. Although in Nike's case, it was also his engagement ceremony function. (This is a custom adopted from the Western culture, with an Indian touch)
Dressed up in finery, I reached the plot where the garba dance was to take place. I felt quite nervous attending this function. (I had not attended a single function in my hometown in the last ten years and dreaded the questions that would be asked once I met familiar faces.)
I was thankful that it was to be kept as a strictly friend and family function. Whew!
I was looking around for some inconspicuous company when I saw Nike's friend-AJ.
AJ apparently used to study with Nike and his girlfriend Pretty and knew them really well. No one could doubt his sincere affection for them. He spoke about the times that all three had spent together with a happy expression on his face.
To me, it also looked like he was going through an internal battle with demons of his own. (not that it could be seen on the face but as I found out later, I was right.)
AJ also mentioned he shall be getting married soon. A fine acquaintance then! I get invited to another wedding while attending one! 
Next, Pretty made a grand entrance. Pretty was wearing a Kanjivaram Saree and looking every inch of her name.
The first impression was an instant liking for her. She comes out as a charming and friendly girl, a kind soul, very sensitive and caring. Her love for Nike shined in her eyes. I saw her in person for the first time, made my impressions and was very happy for my friend.
Once they exchanged rings in front of the family (YES SIRE,THIS IS THE INDIAN TOUCH), Pretty was loaded with gifts from her loving in-laws. She was then, sent away to change for the garba.
A musical party had been hired to sing and play music. They started with romantic songs from Bollywood which had everyone dancing in pairs. Many of us cheered the couples who were dancing. Mind you, these were all "happily married for long couples".
Whoever said romance whiles away with age!
Everybody sang with the songs, waiting for Pretty to come out which included my impatient friend Nike.
He wore a Pink Kurta and had applied a "teeka" (a long line of Kumkum) on his forehead. Nike was being teased from all sides as his impatience could plainly be seen. 
At last Pretty came out, dressed in a heavy dress, looking radiant bride-to-be. The dress must have weighed at least 10 kilos!!
I wondered how the poor girl was coping up. (she did mention later that the dress made it very hard for her to dance)
The music started again and this time, everybody could be seen dancing to the tune of the songs known from old.
Pretty was being snatched from one person to the other with Nike always at a close distance.*snigger*
I danced for a while with many a different partners, enjoying myself to the brim, until around 1:30 in the morning.
Exhausted, I decided to call it a day.
*NEXT COMES THE THREAD CEREMONY AND MAKING AN INTRIGUING NEW ACQUAINTANCE DURING LUNCH*
