A reunion after 17 years

Ashutosh and I have been friends since grade 9 when he moved to my school. Throughout our school tenue, we would only sit with each other, which at times ran us into trouble but we didn’t care about it. After our 12^th grade, he moved to Noida for his studies and I stayed back in Varanasi to pursue my graduation before moving to Bangalore for my masters. During this time we would meet each other briefly during vacations.

Once Ashu completed his master's, he came to Bangalore to attend interviews, together we explored Bangalore for a week, before he moved to Varanasi to join his family business, after that we couldn’t meet each other as we were busy in our lives. The irony is we couldn’t even attend each other’s wedding as I had just switched job and I couldn’t take leave. We tried multiple times to catch up but our work schedule didn’t allow us and 17 years passed by but we were in touch through video and voice calls.

It so happened that I had to travel to Delhi on a business trip and I so wished if he was there so that we could meet. I just called him casually and told him about my travel plan and he enquired about the dates, and the moment I disclosed the dates, his happiness knew no bounds and I was wondering WHY? Then he told me that he too would be in Delhi at that time with his family as they attending a wedding. His excitement was evident in his voice. Then I told him that my hotel was in Greater Noida and he would have to come down to meet me as I had no idea of the places.

I also told him that I was not sure how much time I would be able to give him or if we could meet either as I was unaware of my work schedule and his response was clear if we don’t meet “ don’t ever call me” and I was like dude I will try my level best but work is also important. Finally, we decided to try our level best.

I reached Delhi on an early morning flight from Bangalore, took a cab to Greater Noida, checked in to the hotel, and left for my work. All this while I and Ashu were in constant touch with each other. My work got over a little earlier than I anticipated and Ashu asked me to come to Delhi as he was in some market. Immediately I booked the cab and left for Delhi.

After 90 minutes I reached the place where we were supposed to meet, and we couldn’t locate each other, then I asked him to share his location, and based on that finally, we were able to meet after 17 long years.

I still couldn’t believe I was seeing he was in front of me and the moment we met we just hugged each other, ignoring the world around us. Soon enough his wife also joined us, I was meeting her for the first time.  The moment she left for shopping we found a place for us to sit and chit-chat.

We were so engrossed in talking that we didn’t realize that 3 hours had already passed by and it was getting late, as I had to travel back too. We went for dinner and tried Haldiram’s as I had heard a lot about them.

After dinner, it was time to say goodbye I booked the cab and the moment the cab came, Ashu told the driver to drive safely. He even took a photo of the cab and asked me to share the ride details, which I did.

On the way to my hotel I was thinking about the travel that I undertook that day, Bangalore – Delhi – Greater Noida – Delhi and to Greater Noida again. A business trip and a wedding forced both of us to leave our home turf and come to a neutral ground where we could meet. Sometimes unplanned trips are more exciting than planned ones. 

Made in Heaven a path breaking web series

It is said that “Marriages are made in heaven but are solemnized here on earth” That’s the theme of Amazon prime latest web offering “Made in India”. It’s initial trailer seemed like the revolved around a single story but it isn’t that way. They have covered around 7 wedding stories in the entire series. Each episode covers one wedding in the series, except for the main plot, which is nerve gripping.

India diverse culture and its fascination for wedding have been well captured in the series. From the big fat Indian wedding to traditional weddings to royal wedding to church wedding to punjabi NRI wedding to the wedding of a peon’s daughter. All these different types of wedding have been covered in the most charismatic way.

 It was delight to watch all these different types of wedding in one show. Didn’t feel like was watching a web series, feel was similar to watching a blockbuster movie, that was the grandeur of the wedding celebrations. Hats off, to the creative team of “Made in Heaven”, who presented all weddings so well. That way the reason WHY all weddings were delight to watch for.

 In India, only dream that parents have for their kids, is to get them married at the right age.  Once kids are married, parents are relieved of one of the biggest and most challenging responsibilities of their life. Parents nourish this dream from the moment a child is born. That’s the reason MARRIAGES are given more importance in India. Theme of the web series was complete match to this ideology and captured these emotions in its true form.

This series was also an eye opener towards the life and functioning of wedding planners. They work tirelessly to make weddings the most amazing day in a couple’s life. Wedding planner’s primary focus is to ensure that the couple cherishes the memories of their wedding. Bride and groom is meant to enjoy the biggest day of their life for everything else, wedding planner’s are there. They are the extended family of the couple during wedding.

 Through the series is all about wedding but there is also a parallel story running in the main plot the series. Especially, story revolving around the male protagonist of the series, makers have presented it in a most dignified manner.

Actor Arjun Mathur played his part, with much ease and elegance. It was a challenging task for any male actor to take but not only did he accept the challenge but also did complete justice to the role, Kudos to him for that. This part can’t be explained in words but it has to be watched to understand the message it wants to convey to the people.

Usually web series have an open ended ending for season 1 but that wasn’t the case with Made in Heaven. I felt finale episode was complete in itself, it wasn’t like other web series where you are left to anxiously wait for the next season. About which no one has any idea about. That’s one of the reasons WHY I hate web series at times. Still end up watching them for the concept and story line.

Those of you, who haven’t watched it Made in Heaven, so watch it. It’s worth watching.

My cousin’s wedding

It was the most awaited wedding in our family. What made it more special was that, Deepak was our youngest cousin. Despite being the youngest among us, search for his bride began. Reason could be he was the only son of his parents. No sooner did he complete his studies, my sister started searching a girl of him. 

He had seen more girls than me and had motivated me and my other cousin to venture for marriage despite our fear towards it. When I landed at his house a day prior to wedding couldn’t believe, my naughty cousin is going to be a family man next day. We used to fight a lot for silly reason during our childhood days. Those fight’s has strengthen our relation to the extent that people are envy of it today.

 Guys had to sleep on floor while I took sofa but ensured Deepak to sleep next to me (didn’t want him to go away from me). We all got up in morning and tried to get ready, ensuring other to use washroom as the house was full with guests. Had our breakfast, I was entrusted the responsibility to dress Deepak for his big day.

Shirt and make up was taken up by me but “mundu” was not in my hands. That was taken care by a relative of ours. No sooner did he get ready, photographer came to start the photo shoot and Deepak had touch my feet as I was his only mama who could make it to the wedding.  It was an emotional moment for me as till date we were just like good friends who used to share all guys thing together.

We reached the wedding venue waited for the auspicious moment, I went to the mandap with him for facilitating things for my sister. With in moments he became a married man from my very dear cousin. I accompanied him back home with his wife.

By evening all wedding functions got over and it was time for me to say goodbye to him. Dad came to pick me, mom and my wife back home. Now I won’t be coming back home soon for any wedding, as all my other cousins are small and have some time left for them to enter into wedlock.