Strong wind blew onto my face... What a windy day! Though it looks sunny and pleasant, I'd rather stay indoors to get away from the chilly winds. Anyways, such an awesome outfit a saree makes! Wow... I love the color too. Deep yellowish orange. But imagine managing a saree, out on a windy day and that too with my hair flying in all directions! Thank god! it was matter of just 2 mins between the parking lot and the entrance of the hall. I quickly hurried into the hall looking out for a restroom to set my flying hair straight. Once I set everything right, I came back into the lobby where my husband was waiting for me. Then we entered the Party hall!
Midhun's ex-colleague had a son recently and they planned on celebrating 'Annaprasana' for their son on this particular weekend. We were invited 10 days in advance and so were others!
I entered the hall with lot of joy, energy and gala and it took me less than 30 secs to put a blank face! And so was the hall - blank! At one corner I found the father of the child on phone and directing a couple of youngsters to do some decoration. These youngsters were using all their creative grey cells to do the job. At another remote corner were the child's maternal and paternal grandfathers, heartily having a conversation probably about their good ol' times. As soon as the host realized that we are in, he warmly welcomed us. Midhun with all his brilliance went and greeted him and I followed suite. After 'Hellos' and 'How are yous?' the host calls up his house to hurry the ladies up to bring the hero of the show - the Kid. He then whispers gently to both of us in a matter-of-factly tone "Generally here in NJ, all the guests show up atleast one hour later than the time mentioned in the invite!". We looked at each other and sneered, partly because we were bewildered and partly because we were embarrassed. However, we spoke and sat together for some time and then Midhun went and introduced himself to the senior folk there. He immediately engaged them in a hearty conversation regarding their village, politics, news and all possible topics under the sun. I was sitting there watching the colorful decorative items they had brought and anticipating to see the child soon.
Meanwhile another family of early birds had entered. Visibly Tamil! They too spoke to the host initially just as we did. They had a son, about 7 - 8 year old running around the place and having fun. Little later, the lady came and joined me at my table. I would have started the conversation but she seemed to be more curious. Before I said anything she asked me "Are you newly married?". Initially I was surprised at the question because that is not what a stranger would first ask me and secondly, what should be my answer? Me and Midhun have been married 8 months then... would that still qualify as newly married!? I wasn't so sure how to define 'newly married' at that point of time. So I simply said "Yes." She gave a typical 'aunty'ish smirk and said, "Only newly married couples come to parties on time!" and she started laughing slightly. I didn't know what I should react like so I just gave a very hesitant smile to her. She went on and told me about her first party experience after wedding, which was a birthday party where they were invited at 12 noon. The hall was booked between 12noon and 2:30pm. She and her husband went at sharp 12 and rest of the crowd came at 2pm. They then hurriedly cut the cake & quickly had lunch and everyone dispersed by 2:30pm. So thatz when she thought she'd never go early to parties! Today unfortunately they have to leave early because of some other appointment and thatz the reason she came here this early!
She then suddenly asked, "Are you planning for kids?". Bouncer!!! But the answer was out of my mouth even before I realized I was actually answering it!
R: "Not now. Not anytime soon!"
M: "Oh ya! You guys are recently married right! But I think you should go for kids before you start working fulltime. That is the best for you. Else once you start working you need to take a break again. So you have kids now so that you can work continuously later without breaks."
R: "mmm" (helpless smile!)
M: "And also let me tell you this... for first kid it is very easy. Everything happens very easily. But for second one it is very difficult."
R: "So, are you planning for the second kid?" (the most idiotic question I ever asked!!!)
M: "No... actually we tried a lot few years back. Now we stopped!!"
I did not know what I should be telling / reacting / where I should be putting my head!! I went into the blank mode to save any further rapport.
M: "So what does your husband do? .... blah blah... ta ta taaa... te te te..."
And her questions firing session continued. I wasn't obliged to giving her all that she wants to know but she never stopped asking me 'bouncers'! At one point of time her kid asked what the time was and very unscrupulously she pulled my hand to look at my watch. Man! some decency is required here! You don't pull a person's hand to see the time, especially not when you are talking with someone for the first time and that too in someone else's party! One curious maami she was! Our dialogue broke only when the star of the day entered. The child! Meanwhile some more people had come and all the aunties flocked around 'Krishna'.
Finally, I got to meet more people and more kids and had real good time there. Looking forward to more of such interesting parties, to meet more maamis and to get to know pulse of the society :)
Midhun's ex-colleague had a son recently and they planned on celebrating 'Annaprasana' for their son on this particular weekend. We were invited 10 days in advance and so were others!
I entered the hall with lot of joy, energy and gala and it took me less than 30 secs to put a blank face! And so was the hall - blank! At one corner I found the father of the child on phone and directing a couple of youngsters to do some decoration. These youngsters were using all their creative grey cells to do the job. At another remote corner were the child's maternal and paternal grandfathers, heartily having a conversation probably about their good ol' times. As soon as the host realized that we are in, he warmly welcomed us. Midhun with all his brilliance went and greeted him and I followed suite. After 'Hellos' and 'How are yous?' the host calls up his house to hurry the ladies up to bring the hero of the show - the Kid. He then whispers gently to both of us in a matter-of-factly tone "Generally here in NJ, all the guests show up atleast one hour later than the time mentioned in the invite!". We looked at each other and sneered, partly because we were bewildered and partly because we were embarrassed. However, we spoke and sat together for some time and then Midhun went and introduced himself to the senior folk there. He immediately engaged them in a hearty conversation regarding their village, politics, news and all possible topics under the sun. I was sitting there watching the colorful decorative items they had brought and anticipating to see the child soon.
Meanwhile another family of early birds had entered. Visibly Tamil! They too spoke to the host initially just as we did. They had a son, about 7 - 8 year old running around the place and having fun. Little later, the lady came and joined me at my table. I would have started the conversation but she seemed to be more curious. Before I said anything she asked me "Are you newly married?". Initially I was surprised at the question because that is not what a stranger would first ask me and secondly, what should be my answer? Me and Midhun have been married 8 months then... would that still qualify as newly married!? I wasn't so sure how to define 'newly married' at that point of time. So I simply said "Yes." She gave a typical 'aunty'ish smirk and said, "Only newly married couples come to parties on time!" and she started laughing slightly. I didn't know what I should react like so I just gave a very hesitant smile to her. She went on and told me about her first party experience after wedding, which was a birthday party where they were invited at 12 noon. The hall was booked between 12noon and 2:30pm. She and her husband went at sharp 12 and rest of the crowd came at 2pm. They then hurriedly cut the cake & quickly had lunch and everyone dispersed by 2:30pm. So thatz when she thought she'd never go early to parties! Today unfortunately they have to leave early because of some other appointment and thatz the reason she came here this early!
She then suddenly asked, "Are you planning for kids?". Bouncer!!! But the answer was out of my mouth even before I realized I was actually answering it!
R: "Not now. Not anytime soon!"
M: "Oh ya! You guys are recently married right! But I think you should go for kids before you start working fulltime. That is the best for you. Else once you start working you need to take a break again. So you have kids now so that you can work continuously later without breaks."
R: "mmm" (helpless smile!)
M: "And also let me tell you this... for first kid it is very easy. Everything happens very easily. But for second one it is very difficult."
R: "So, are you planning for the second kid?" (the most idiotic question I ever asked!!!)
M: "No... actually we tried a lot few years back. Now we stopped!!"
I did not know what I should be telling / reacting / where I should be putting my head!! I went into the blank mode to save any further rapport.
M: "So what does your husband do? .... blah blah... ta ta taaa... te te te..."
And her questions firing session continued. I wasn't obliged to giving her all that she wants to know but she never stopped asking me 'bouncers'! At one point of time her kid asked what the time was and very unscrupulously she pulled my hand to look at my watch. Man! some decency is required here! You don't pull a person's hand to see the time, especially not when you are talking with someone for the first time and that too in someone else's party! One curious maami she was! Our dialogue broke only when the star of the day entered. The child! Meanwhile some more people had come and all the aunties flocked around 'Krishna'.
Finally, I got to meet more people and more kids and had real good time there. Looking forward to more of such interesting parties, to meet more maamis and to get to know pulse of the society :)
