My Friend's Wedding

Today am going to narrate the story of my friend’s wedding. As an old saying goes - Marriages are made in heaven and they are only recreated on earth. Just a month ago I and my friend were working on the same project. The topic of marriage was nowhere to be seen. All of a sudden he came in and announced he is getting married. Well, it was a sudden revelation, happy news too. I helped him chose his marriage suit and other things too but wasn’t able to help him with a certain things as I had few doubts what to do on the first nights:-/.

So the said day arrived and I don’t know why, I was a bit more excited than him. I wore my best attire and I went to my best friend’s marriage at Masjid where the NIKAH was to be held. I came in and saw the whole atmosphere had been scented with roses. There were few groups hugging and congratulating each other’s and I joined in to congratulate too, but found out that there were two NIKAH been held on the same day and this was not my friend’s marriage. Anyway, I hugged the groom and said happy married life. He asked me, “Am I from the girls or boys side? I said; I am a neutral observer who came and wanted to congratulate him on his marriage. He saw me with an odd look on his face. I avoided his stares and joined in the group where my friend’s marriage was held. Started on the wrong foot:-/.

By getting marriage there were lots of documents to fill up and other formalities to be done which was totally unknown for me. I felt an odd man out. Anyway, I would have felt the same on any marriages because I attended seldom a marriage’s function and I don’t know the procedures. The marriage was completed after the groom and the bride signing in the documents , and everyone hugging and congratulating the groom like the first scene marriage ceremony I joined in, but this time I hugged the right person, and I told my friend “ Have a happy married life”. This time the girl’s father hugged all the groom’s friends and while hugging me too , he asked me on whose side I am from, I don't know why - . I told him, I am from the groom’s side and he gave me a disbelief look, I don’t know whether he believes me or not . :-/. I don’t know why, maybe people think I am just a neutral observer . :-/.

All the formalities were over and we came to the function hall. I could smell the food had been cooked. My stomach was empty and it needed something to digest in. I controlled myself and engaged myself in a discussion which I had nothing to do with marriage or even food. Then suddenly,  I saw a worried look on my friends face. I couldn’t make out his oddness, he too understood me I suppose and told his oddness to one of my other friends. My friend told us that there has been a mistake done on signing the marriage document and that while the bride was signing the document there was no witness from the groom side. Well, I didn’t understand the consequences but I understood if there is such a problem usually the dinner would be delayed and already there was a Tom and Jerry show going on inside my stomach :-/. To make matters worse it started to rain. An indication even God also crying seeing my pain or as my grandma will say don’t eat raw rice or it will rain on your marriage day. I couldn’t make out if my friend ate raw rice making this rain or it was other sign. Each passing moment saw me surrender to the deep urge of my hunger became irresistible. So I went out to smoke calming my nerves.

When I came back inside the function hall the situation didn’t improve much and neither did my hunger. And as I felt all doors close, I saw the front door open and saw my friend entered in his marriage suit. An indication that the matter was resolved. He was accompanied by his brother-in-laws. Soon everyone came and congratulated the groom and the dinner started.

As a vegetarian I couldn’t appreciate the non veg delicacies. I stuck to whatever looked vegetarian to me. I could see the brother-in-laws trying to serve my friend with respect and love. I thought then. That maybe a month ago they would not have known my friend that much. Yet today in the holy matrimony of their sister, to my friend they stated to love and respect a total stranger. Well, that’s what the elders say marriage is never between two persons it is between two families. Where we get new relations, a new friend and a new compassionate. Where things that we considered alien could now become reality and things that looked tough to be solved by a single person now could be solved with two families together. That’s the beauty of arranged marriages. Well, as they say “MARRIAGES ARE MADE IN HEAVEN, AND RESCREATED ON EARTH” I saw the recreation of my friend’s marriage. I wanted to marry too. Well, all of you are cordially invited to my recreation when it will be held.