Why I wish it were my wedding.

This is a शादी house and these are busy times so I will share everything in points.

Here is why I wish it were my wedding:

Scene#1: Morning. Chachi has been up for a while and is quickly finishing her kitchen chores as she rattles off the tasks each of us must do that day, all which obviously have something or the other to do with Monu's clothes, Monu's this and Monu's that. We are all standing in sloppy-military positions, yawning our heads off and definitely remembering less than 50 per cent of the tasks. Our bride, meanwhile is snoring gently under blanket covers.

Scene#2: Later that morning. There are not enough wedding cards! So at the last minute, we have to order some extra prints. Chachi is frantically making a list of guests who are still to be invited, Chacha is making calls to the printer and reading out the text from the first batch of cards to him and arguing with him about time-constraint. I am revving my scooter's engine to run to the printer's, show him the sample of the card he had originally made and collect the re-prints. Sonu is doing what she does best in crisis-situations- making tea and Soma is standing as usual-in a corner with her mouth hanging open (this is not so much a matter of surprise as a matter of habit for her). Our bride meanwhile is rubbing papaya peels on her face to rejuvenate her skin.

Scene#3: Midday. Our assembly line for folding, slotting cards into envelopes, writing names on the envelopes and putting the wedding cards into plastic sheets has resumed for the second time. Midway through, Chachi and Chacha leave the table to finish some chores. Soma is in school, the lucky brat. Sonu and I are yawning uncontrollably and force our bodies to continue completing the wedding cards even as our minds and bodies scream for our afternoon siestas. Our bride meanwhile is gently snoring in the room.

Scene#4: My room. Which has not been my room since the time we started buying Monu's married-life stuff. You know, बर्तन, पतीले etc. That stands where I used to sleep, i.e. on my bed. I am sitting down to pack everything. Soma is helping. This takes the entire day. Chachi is doing something or the other and we hope Chacha is up to something shaadi-related too. Every so often, our bride breezes into the room to check the progress of the work. I have to admit that she is generous with her praises. For the rest of the time, our bride is having a mixture of oils massaged into her scalp.

Scene#5: Evening. Sonu is making tea for the जमघट that gathers at our house every evening these days. We are all doing this, that and the other. Occasionally, we find something Monu can help us with. However, she is soon called by one बुआ or another with the loving "साड्डे कोल बै, फिर ते व्याह हो जासी या".

So that is why.