An invitation to attend the wedding of a close relative in Calicut meant an opportunity of meeting relatives settled in various parts of India and abroad, who came down for the wedding. These are people, whom otherwise I wouldnt be able to see, besides the huge number of relatives from my maternal side. Weddings always promise a memorable and exciting time, besides sumptuous vast array of food two days prior to wedding, the wedding and for coming few days as well. For weight watchers, the temptation would find them succumbing and throwing away all the self restraint and the underweight will begin to look quite healthy. Perhaps its the loving, humour filled and enjoyable company of friends and relatives that ignites the joy and endless happiness, a chapter in one's life so unforgettable and unknowingly one consumes more food in good company.
As the Air India flight landed in Calicut and I disembarked, I couldnt wait to meet everyone. It was soul touching to meet every uncle and aunt, cousins and friends. Uncles and aunts have aged, but not in spirits. Their sense of humour has never died. They are in their hearts exactly as how I remember them as a child, full of love and hospitality. For a week, it was like a vacation for me, where I had so many people doting and doing things for me, labour of love!. I was introduced to some relatives I have never met and the bond was formed immediately. It was suprising to know a favourite female cousin of mine was married to a person from my father's Tharavad.
The wedding went beautifully and I was busy all the time. The bride and the groom looked resplendant. Its a most memorable and important event in a person's life, when he/she gets married. The bride and groom , techies employed in Technopark looked their very best. I didnt know how the bride managed the weight of a heavy brocade saree, vast amount of gold on neck, hands, hair. I never quite understood the need for our kerala brides to adorn so much gold.
One of the most memorable experience was catching up with old friends and cousins, an unforgettable reunion. As kids we used to run around in Grandmother's vast premises, play badminton, climb walls and trees, share secrets, squabble and make up, play carroms, sing hindi and malayalam songs, draw and paint. Now all of them are married with grown children. Yet we go back into time and behave like children in each other's company, which we perhaps never do with anyone else we meet later in life. Childhood friends and cousins are special and will always will be.
I spent a memorable time with my brother and his family. I felt proud to have an absolutely talented little 4 year old nephew who can sing a variety of malayalam songs. Iam a fan of children who love to sing, dance, draw, paint...any form of art. He sang a number of songs for me and the little boy is endowed with a beautiful voice, a gift he got from my brother and father, the gift of singing. My uncles reminded me of how my father used to have singing sessions with musician Babu Raj whenever my father came down on vacation during his Army days as they were good friends. A Mohammed Rafi song rendering from my brother took me back into time, when my father used to sing for pleasure and enthrall friends and family. I especially used to enjoy his Mohammed Rafi songs and other ghazal renditions.
I was fortunate to spend such wonderful time with my favourite uncle from Ireland and his Irish wife. She enjoyed the wedding so much and revelled in a pink saree and moved around in utter comfort to my surprise. I made a new friend, a Konkani lady , close friend of the groom's father my grand uncle. She looks asif she has walked right out of a Raja Ravi Varma painting. The konkani lady had lost her only daughter who had some genetic growth defect and was bedridden from birth till age of 9. I feel touched as she showed me pictures of her child. A miracle that replaced her child is a young man, her nephew, whom she adopted as he was given to her to overcome her pain of loss of her child, by her cousin brother. Her nephew calls her 'Maaji' and that makes her a proud and fulfilled mother. He visits his biological parents once a year and lives with this lady and her husband.
With sufficient memories and experiences to write a book...I returned to Trivandrum and as the Kingfisher flight took off from Calicut - Karipur airport, I felt a strange void leaving the land where my parents and their ancestors hailed from. As much as I enjoyed the wedding, I had enjoyed being with all the wonderful people I hold close to heart. The void faded as soon as I saw my son waiting for me at the airport with a warm smile.
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