2 States The Story Of My Marriage (32 page)

‘He won’t agree. We’ll have the wedding without him. Aren’t mom’s side

relatives enough?’

‘They are more than enough. Each talks more than ten of my relatives. Still.’

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‘Ananya, you can’t get everything in life. Your parents, my mom, relatives – we
have enough blessings. My father is not required.’

‘You should talk to him though. He’s your father,’ Ananya said.

‘Isn’t the food great?’ I said as I rubbed butter on my paranthas.

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47

Minti’s final wedding ceremony gave new meaning to the expression over the top.

Real elephants and ice sculpture fairies greeted us at the entrance. The boy’s

side had not yet arrived. Patient ushers waited with trays of flower petals. We

shuffled through landscaped gardens with two dozen dolphin-shaped fountains

to reach the main party area. The caterer had chosen a world theme. Food stalls

served eight cuisines – Punjabi, Chinese, home-style Indian, Thai, Italian,

Mexican, Goan and Lebanese – with at least five items in each genre. Apart from

these, there were two chaat stalls – one for regular eaters and other for health-

conscious guests. The regular counter served samosas and tikkis, while the

health counter had sprouts-stuffed golgappas. My aunts took both, one for the

taste another for health.

There were two bars. The first bar had a giant Johnny Walker Black Label

magnum cask. All uncles congregated here and waiters kept bringing in a regular

supply of paneer tikkas and hara bhara kababs. The second bar was the mocktail

bar, nicknamed the ladies bar. It had a large display shelf with two dozen glasses

of different shapes and filled with psychedelic fruit drinks.

‘Beautiful, Rajji, you have held the family name high,’ my mother said,

admiring the flower arrangements on the bridal stage.

‘These orchids have come from Thailand. Just landed two hours ago from

Bangkok,’ Rajji mama said.

‘Fifty thousand is just the flowers bill’ Shipra masi said. We raised our

eyebrows to express suitable awe.

My cousin Rohan came running in to tell us that the baraat had arrived. We

went outside and stood next to the elephants to receive them. Rohan gave me a

pink turban, something all brothers and close male relatives wore to receive the

groom.

‘You look cute,’ Ananya grinned.

All turbaned men posed for pictures with their equivalent counterparts from

Duke’s side. I had a picture clicked with Prince, Duke’s cousin. Minti’s father

grinned as he hugged Duke’s father for a picture. Duke’s father frowned.

‘Why is the boy’s father so serious?’ Ananya said.

‘Maybe he is hungry,’ I said. We soon found out I was wrong. Duke’s family did

come inside and sat on the sofas. However, they refused to touch anything to eat.

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‘One cold drink-ji,’ Kamla mami begged Duke’s mother, who shook her head.

“We are not hungry,’ Duke’s father said. Duke, his parents and a dozen close

relatives sat on the sofas next to the stage. Half a dozen waiters stood by with

trays but the boy’s side ate nothing.

‘The snacks are not hot, go get fresh ones,’ Minti’s father screamed at the

waiters. His anger was misplaced. The boy’s family had not refused food because

of its temperature.

‘Ask what’s the matter. Something is wrong,’ Shipra masi said.

‘Who will ask?’ Rajji mama said. ‘They are not saying anything.’

Kamla aunty wore a worried expression. Ten minutes passed.

‘What’s going on?’ Ananya said.

I shrugged. Shipra masi told the younger cousins to move back. She folded

her hands and went to Duke’s father. He looked the other way.

Ananya and I stepped back a few metres. We could see the elders but not hear

them.

My mother and her two brothers folded their hands in front of Duke’s parents.

Like a landless farmer, they waited for the feudal lords to respond. A few minutes

later, one of Duke’s aunts spoke to my mother.

My mother nodded as she listened carefully. After Duke’s aunt finished, my

mother came back to huddle with her siblings.

‘This is too much drama. I have to know what’s going on,’ Ananya said.

I pulled my mother aside.

‘It’s the Santro,’ my mother said.

‘What? It doesn’t start?’

‘Be serious, Krish.’

‘Sorry, what happened?’

‘Some misunderstanding has occurred. When Rajji gave the Hyundai keys,

Duke’s parents thought it was Hyundai Accent. But it was a Hyundai Santro.

Accent costs five lakh, Santro only three lakh.’

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‘I thought it was a gift,’ Ananya said.

If my mother found Ananya’s entry into the family conversation odd, she was

too preoccupied to dwell on it.

‘Yeah, wasn’t it a surprise?’ I said.

‘What do you think this is Krish? A birthday party? Everyone knows the

surprise. Duke’s parents had already announced the Accent to their family. They

are feeling insulted and cheated.’

It is amazing how people can feel insulted even after being welcomed by

elephants.

‘Now what?’ I said.

‘Nothing, they are saying no wedding until Rajji changes the car.’

‘Can he?’ I said.

‘He is already broke doing this wedding. But what choice does he have? He

has promised them he will.’

‘Then why are they sitting there with sullen faces?’ I said.

‘They want a guarantee. Duke’s father wants the difference in cash right now.’

‘Now?’ I said.

Ananya’s eyebrows went up and stayed there as she didn’t know how to react.

Shipra masi called my mother again and the elders held animated discussions.

‘Is this for real? I am so pissed off,’ Ananya said.

‘I am as stunned by it as you,’ I said.

We went to the ladies bar. I ordered two mocktail daiquiris.

‘What are they discussing? Why don’t they call the police?’ Ananya said.

‘Ananya,’ I said, ‘are you stupid?’ I handed her a glass.

‘No, I want to send some criminals to jai. Is that stupid?’

‘Yeah, if you care about Minti’s reputation. Plus, what about all they’ve spent?’

I pointed to the various stalls.

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‘Oh, and nothing about the little fact that your sister is going to marry into a
family of total jerks.’

‘This kind of stuff happens. The elders will resolve it,’ I said.

‘We should be with the family at this time,’ Ananya said as she kept her glass

down.

We moved back to Drama Venue. Rajji mama had placed his pink turban at

Duke’s parents’ feet. They ignored him. He offered a cheque, Duke’s parents

refused it. Rajji mama called his friends for cash. No one could come up with

such a large amount at such a short notice. Meanwhile, new guests were arriving

at the party. With them, Rajji mama his his stress and smiled and hugged all of

them. Meanwhile, the ladies came up with a bizarre plan.

‘Quick, Kavita, take your jewellery off,’ Shipra masi said and removed her own

necklace. My mother struggled to remove her bangles. Kamla and Rajni mami

took off their jewellery sets as well.

Shipra masi put all the ornaments in a plastic bag and gave it to Rajji mama.

‘Give this to them. Tell them to keep it until the car is replaced,’ she said.

Rajji mama fell on Shipra masi’s feet.

‘Are you mad? You are my little brother. Minti is our daughter,’ Shipra masi

said. All her siblings broke into tears. Duke’s father, still sofa-bound kept looking
at us from the corner of his eye.

‘Now go,’ Shipra masi said.

‘I’ll check with them first,’ Rajji mama said. He went up to Duke’s father.

‘I can’t believe this,’ Ananya said.

‘Shsh, everything will be normal soon,’ I said.

Rajji mama returned after meeting Duke’s parents.

‘Shipra didi, they’ve agreed to keep the extra jewellery as security,’ Rajji mama
said.

Rajji mama collected the bag from Shipra masi.

‘Uncle, wait,’ Ananya said.

All eyes turned to her. This isn’t your business, I wanted to tell Ananya.

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‘May I suggest something,’ Ananya said, ‘before you give it to them, Rajji

mama.’

‘What?’ my mother said to Ananya, surprised.

‘Aunty, you elders have had so many meetings to resolve this. Can the

younger cousins talk to Duke?’ Ananya said.

“Ananya, this matter concerns grown-ups,’ I said.

‘It’s Duke’s marriage. We should have a word with him,’ Ananya said.

‘When the jewellery is ready, then why?’ Kamla mami said.

‘Please uncle, Shipra masi, please. What’s the harm?’ Ananya said.

Shipra masi sighed her consent.

Tinki, Nikki, Rohan, Kittu, Bittu and us sat in a separate group of chairs ten

metres away from the grown-ups. Ananya walked up to Duke’s side of the family

and identified a twenty-year-old boy. ‘Are you Duke’s cousin?’

‘Yes, myself Pranjal,’ he said.

‘Good, can you collect all Duke’s cousins and bring them to Minti’s cousins

over there,’ Ananya said, pointing to our group.

‘What’s going on?’ Duke’s father said.

‘Uncle, the younger people want to have a meeting. C’mon, Pranjal, round

them up fast,’ Ananya said.

‘Who is this girl?’ Duke’s mother said.

‘I’m their family friend,’ Ananya said and turned to the groom, ‘Duke, can you

join us?’

Duke gave Ananya a puzzled look. Ananya continued to stare at Duke until he

became uncomfortable and stood up. She asked him to follow her.

‘Krish, call Minti here,’ Ananya said.

‘Minti?’ I squeaked.

‘I’ll get her,’ Tinki said and ran inside.

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48

We made a circle of a dozen younger cousins along with Minti and Duke. The

elders gave us a suspicious looks from far, keen to know what was going on but

Ananya made sure all younger cousins had their backs to the elders.

‘We shouldn’t have allowed this,’ Duke’s mother said.

‘Of courseji, two minutesji,’ Rajji mama said, agreeing to everything Duke’s

parents said.

‘Hello everyone,’ Ananya stood up to address the cousins. I sat next to her.

Everyone returned a meek ‘hi’ in response.

‘Do you think what is happening here is right?’ Ananya said.

Duke and his cousins looked down, avoiding eye contact. My cousins huddled

next to Minti, trying to keep her calm.

Rajji mama and Kamla mami gave helpless looks to Dike’s parents as all of

them wanted to peek into Ananya’s conference. Shipra masi walked over to the

younger set.

‘What are you doing?’ Shipra masi said to Ananya, ‘Minti’s life will be ruined if
they leave.’

‘I think her life would be ruined if they stay. Aunty, please give us some

privacy. You make sure Duke’s parents stay put,’ Ananya said.

As Shipra masi left, Ananya turned to Duke, ‘Yes, you. Stand up if you can.’

Duke stood up. He was six inches taller than Ananya and twice her weight. Of

course, these anatomical facts didn’t register with my mad girlfriend.

‘What do you do, Duke?’ Ananya asked.

‘I am a software engineer,’ he said.

‘How much do you make?’ Ananya said.

Duke kept quiet.

‘Tell me,’ Ananya said in a loud voice.

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‘Ten thousand a month,’ he said, in a heavy Punjabi accent.

‘Great, I make twenty-five thousand. Still, can you tell me what have you done

to deserve a wedding like this? What have you done to deserve a car to be gifted

to you?’

‘I, I am the b … boy’s side,’ Duke stammered.

‘So? Have you seen Minti?’ Ananya said.

Duke nodded.

‘You are having an arranged marriage. That is why you are getting a girl like

her. If you had to woo her, can you even in your dreams have a girlfriend like

her?’

Duke kept quiet as he shifted his largeness from one leg to the other.

‘What?’ Ananya said.

‘This is too much,’ Duke said.

‘I am too much,’ Ananya agreed and gave Duke a Bharatnatyam-style glare.

She spoke again.

‘Do you know what Minti’s parents had to go through to do this wedding for

you? That car cost two and half years of your salary, Mr Duke! These two parties

have thrown him into debt. Now you want an Accent? It won’t be your Accent, it