Marriage

I just returned from my close friend's wedding and I am writing this before I lose "it" :). Today was the reception, tomorrow being the actual wedding. It was a typical south-indian style reception with the bride and groom being star "performers" on the stage, a long queue to the side of the stage waiting to greet and gift the couple and those who have finished greeting and eating (hogging ? :) ) sitting in the audience.

As we were waiting for our turn, it was fun to study so many homo sapiens sapiens species under one roof. After an intense observation for about 10 mins, I came up with a profound theory: People attend weddings for 2 reasons, apart from blessing the newly weds (that being the 3rd) : "Food" and "Gossip" :). I could probably have another post justifying my conclusion. However this one is dedicated to the fact that marriage is an occasion where every one seems to be busy (pretend to be that even if they actually are not).

It is real fun to watch kids under the age of 2 brawling their heads off to get someone to pay attention to them. A naughty 5 yr old boy snatching the duppatta of a quite 3rd old girl (who starts to whine), throwing it on a grandpa sitting 10 yards away and running away before his act can be reprimanded. A 6 year old wandering on the stage, to show off a new balloon that his uncle just bought him, getting in the way of all the wedding snaps, only to be shooed away by the camera man. A 8 year old girl, busily running around in her shining new designer dress, trying to feel important in making sure her aunt's instructions are carried out in order.

A 10 year old girl sulking in a corner because she was not allowed to wear her mom's gold ear rings. A 11 yr old boy furious at having been scolded in front of all for playfully spilling some water on his grand pa's dress. A shy 12 yr old trying hard to hide her crush on the bridegroom. A 13 yr old feeling shy/self-conscious with so many people around and clumsily pretending to be an adult. A bored 15 yr old chewing bubble gum, with a look that says "Mom, I think this is the biggest mistake of my life. There cant be anything more boring. If only there were some good looking guys around ! sigh ! oh no !! not that stupid cousin of mine again. I will kill him if he tries to pull some stunt with me". A gang of just-attained-adulthood guys and gals conversing in "code" language that elders around cant understand.

A bunch of giggling 21 year olds, checking out guys and deciding who they would like to marry and how they could propose without making it obvious. Stray 25 yr olds enviously eyeing their happily married 22 year old cousins, feeling like old maidens. The newly married 26 year olds discussing their mother-in-laws tactics in extracting work. The 30 yr olds discussing kids, the 40 yrs old discussing savings, the 50 yr olds discussing retirement, the 60 yr olds discussing post-retirement-syndromes, 70 yr olds giving advice to any one who would listen, the 80 yr olds looking after their grand children, the 90 yr olds in bed.. Phew !! Well I am not sure what a 100 yr old would do. :)

Well, thats that. Marriage does keep every one on their toes :).

PS: Maiden aunts (whatever the age) have one and only one occupation - match fixing :). Rest in my next...

Day 0 - Day 4

Day 0 - 29th June 2007
Last day at Fiberlink as an intern. Successfully completed the "Grand finale" demo of my third project and won 2 games of TTT as an encore :D. I'll miss office for sure, over the next month :( .

Day 1 - 30th June
Official start of my vacation. Time to move on - from hostel to home I mean. Started packing yesterday night at 10.30, finished 60% of it by 4 in the morning, completed (22 luggages) at lunch time (with 4 hrs catnap in between) and I was back to my pavilion at 4 in the evening. Feels weird. Somehow I don't feel "at home" at home.

Day 2 - 1st July
Almost broke a second guitar (stopped with a single string) and managed to tune it to "perfection" :) after umpteen attempts.

Day 3 - 2nd July
Convocation saree hunt.

Day 4 - 3rd July
Designated as the team leader for a group of 5 at the Art of Living course.
As told by my teacher(My comments in blue) -
Quote: We pledge to follow some "voluntary" (read self-made) rules that would help you during the course. (alright). First - keep mobiles switched off in class (alright). Second - No smoking in or out of class (alright). Third - No alcohol in or out of class (hmm.. alright). Fourth - No Non-veg (hmm... wokay). Fifth - No TV, no movies, no SOAPs but news allowed (sigh.. alright). Finally, No coffee (what?!!!) and No tea (what the .... ?!! I dont think I can do it). We can break rules made by others. But these are rules that you have made yourself. So you have no reason to break it.. (oh really!!.. rules are meant to be broken irrespective their origin.. sigh.. If only I had known earlier!! too late now.. ) :Unquote

Give me a break !!

Too much of any thing is too much. So, after 6 years of "solid study", as I would call it, its now time for a change. Not that my designation is going to change from "MTech student" to "Member of Technical Staff", but that I need to re-energize and recuperate in order to take on the next part of my life. Time for a break! Have a kitkat ?!! :)