Scene 1: I enter the venue. Its Jam packed. Cramped parking, cramped Tent, cramped house, cramped sofa, 5 poor children fighting to sit on a 3 seater sofa, so much of chaos and look at me. Instead of cribbing that I generally would have been doing, I see myself smiling. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Anyway, I look around to find similar faces, so far, nobody looks similar to me, but finally I could see my aunty, looking smilingly at us. “Thank god you came, I am so happy to see you” “Sonia toh keh rahi thi ki agar appu nahi aaya to main shaadi hi nahi karungi” “I am so glad that she would not throw tantrums now” I hug her from the side and tell her, “Don’t worry, I am around”.
Scene 2: I am sitting in front of my uncle whose daughter’s wedding is going to happen in the evening. “You know how things happen around here yaar”, he shouts. “B***nCh**d , daaru nahi aayi abhi tak” “I had called that major a week back that I need 10 cartons of BP” “Nobody has the time to bloody pick that up” I smile again, and my heart is thinking, what’s wrong with you dude. “I’ll take care of it uncle ji, you relax”
Scene 3: I am running all around the house, everyone is looking for me, from the tentwala to catering guy, from the kids in the house to the aunties gossiping at the back. I just run out, get a few kids from the block, we have taken some chalks and are marking Parking signs on the road around the park. The kids are finding it funny, but I know how useful it’s going to be in the evening when there will be many more cars coming in. “Bunty, you make sure the cars are parked properly in the evening, okay?” After giving instructions to put in the signs, I rush back to the terrace of the house.
Tentwala is fixing a small tent and a few tables here, it’s the last moment decision, but I think its better to have drinks on the terrace than at the back with the halwai. Everytime some uncle or the other fights with the halwai for a pakora or two, and then get into the tent shouting. I will make sure, they are standing here separate than the crowd. And moreover, a drunken uncle dancing in the crowd is so put off for the girls. Anyway, the chairs and the tables look great, only thing left now is to arrange lighting and some music on the terrace. “Bhaiya ji, ek halogen yaha maar do” I inform the tentwala.
“Hunny, you go down and bring the Home theatre speakers and the small wala CD player here” I think I can arrange some music for our good old uncles.
Scene 4: It’s getting late, Puja is about to start and our ladies have not come from the Beauty parlour, everybody is getting anxious. I call up the driver, “Bhaiya main kya karu, abhi tak koi bahar hi nahi aaya”. “You go inside and tell them that you are going back, there’s some urgent work. Tell them either come in 15 mins or else take an auto and come back” I told the trick to the driver. I guess this should work. I go back into the house, the grandmothers and the grandfathers are all ready, I am feeling in my heart that how lucky we are to have them around us, otherwise, who else will give us blessings without asking anything in return.
Scene 5: its dark now, Baraat would come anytime; everyone is ready and has gone to the tent. Girls are getting the Thaali ready for their Jiju’s entry. “Bhaiya, ribbon nahi hai L, We need a ribbon and a scissor for the ribbon cutting, the baraat would come anytime” A girl came shouting. Don’t worry, I’ll get it, I replied. A quick run to the market and I got the things. Everything looks settled now, one last thing left, I have to get ready 🙂
Scene 6: I am almost done and I could hear the faint sound of the Band, the baraat is here. As soon as I reach the main gate, I could see uncle coming. “Yaar, Daaru kitthe hai?” He questioned. “Don’t worry, tussi Terrace jaake dekho to sahi” I chuckled. I took him along with me, round tables and chairs all around the terrace, 2 halogens had lightened the terrace completely, 3 tables at the corner makes a right arrangement for the snacks and the bar, 2 waiters standing to take order and 2 at the bar. You’ve done a good job, I am thinking and smiling at myself and then I realized, I had asked hunny to get the music system, shit…. I run to find him. 3 calls later, he is standing in front of me, facing the floor. Didn’t I ask you to get the music system ready on the terrace? I asked, he had all sorts of excuses. Can’t do much about it now, let’s figure it out, I caught hold of the music system and with the help of him,we got it arranged on the terrace, with some dance and ghazal cds. I asked him “Do you drink?” He smiled sheepishly, “Chal theek hai phir, daaru ka dhyan bhi rakhiyo aur music bhi chalata rahiyo” I kind of ordered him and left.
Scene 7: The baraat is on the door, I enter the tent, it has come up nicely, I look around to see if everything’s looking fine, I guess it is. And I could hear some loud laughter at the gate. The ribbon is getting cut. Everyone’s looking fab and have that contented smile on their faces. I am also smiling, I have met Sonia, she’s looking gorgeous and a little nervous :).
The marriage went normal, I had been running around the Tent and the terrace with a few issues here and there, everyone has now have either gone or have slept, the pheras are about to start. I am sitting at a corner of the tent and a boy comes running, “Bhaiya, puja ka samaan kam hai, Aunty aapko bula rahi hai” I went running. Nobody looked at the Puja samagri required for the pheras and now, there are a few items less in it. It’s 3:30 AM and where will you get the stuff from? “Kuch to karna padega” I tell to myself. Give me the list, after running around the Halwai and the tent wala plus a few rounds to their shops, the things are ready. Everything is done, I handover the stuff to aunty and I am about to leave.
My mother and Aunty look at me and ask “Are you happy? We didn’t see you enjoying with everyone at the wedding?”
I look into their eyes and say “ I have been managing a company for almost 2 months now, I am an Entrepreneur, I have learnt to be happy with myself :)”
Pooooooooooooffff ! !
I open my eyes, I am on my bed. The time is 4:30 AM; my son and my wife are sleeping next to me.
I close my eyes and think, “Wow, what a dream it was” The best marriage I have ever attended.
Seriously, running a company is almost has the same feeling, you are doing everything but yet you are so alone and you don’t even feel it 🙂