Inactive for a few days..

Days ? well, it is actually months.
will restart soon :)

Wedding Story - Part X - Last Part

[Last part of the series]
Day10 - Monday , Sep5



The alarm woke me up.

Time was just 5 in the morning.

Lakshmanettan was expected at 5.30.

It was raining hell..



Brushed and had a tea.

Lakshmanettan arrived late , by 6.15.

Went straight to Shenoy's . Thats the place where we had ordered for the

garland and bouquet (aargh.. never thought this thing had such an awkward spelling)



Bad news greeted us.

The garland comes all the way from Mysore.

And the bus has not arrived till then..

Waited for 10 minutes.. No use.



We left to the nearby hotel, where the breakfast order was placed for 60.

Got it packed into the car and back to Shenoy's.

Still no good.. No news about the bus..

After consultation with dad, decided to pack an ordinary garland and leave

the place.. Packed it nicely in a 'kotta', paid the bill and we were about to leave.

Just then, came the angel, with the special garland from mysore.

A quick unpack - pack and off we left for home.



Got a dose from Uncle Sam for not informing them that we had got the correct garland..

:-)



Decorated the groom's vehicle - Uncle Sam's green zen.



Left for Surya Narayana Kshethram in Zen - Cousins, chettan and me.

Back in 20 minutes.

Had breakfast.

Dressed up.

And needless to mention - I shined in my outfit.

Had to answer many a question from uncles and aunts..

:-) (Will jot down the question towards the end)

Dressed up the groom.

Tradition says that the groom should be dressed up by his friends and cousins..

And when we came out of the house, the camera was focussing on me ;-)



Chettan, cousin, mom and chechi in Zen.

Rest of the party in 2 buses.

The party left at 9.30

Muhurtham between 11.40 and 12.30



'Swapnakkudu' film in the bus.



I had Unni, Binoy etc for company..

Two and a half hours of journey and we reached Alakapuri Guest House.



Accompanied the groom to near the mandap.

Bride's dad came to me.

"Evide maalayum bokkeyum?"

"Oh.. Njaanathangu marannu.."

Odippoyi eduthondu vannu..



Appo Pujari "Thaali maala evide"

Njaan "achante kaiyil kaanum. (iyalkippo athenthinaa?)"

Pujari "Kondu varu.. Poojikkaney?"

Njaan "Benam benam.. ipppa kondu baraaammm..."

Kondu koduthu.



Time for the bride to be escorted to near the mandap.

She came in a maroon color saari, in full glamour, accompanied by her mom,

aunts and sisters..



Some pujas by the Pujari..

First the groom was called upon the stage.. err.. mandap..

followed by the bride..



Thaali kettu at 12.11.53

(time engane ithra krithyamaayi orthu vechu ennaano ? ithu photo edutha time-aa :D

ente oru puthhi..!!!!)

Thaali kettu was followed my maalayidal, and some other formalities (paalu kodukkal,

pazham kodukkal.. anugraham vaangal...)



A quick photo session.

And it was time for lunch.

The bride and groom were accompanied on the lunch table by me, binoy and cousins.

Lunch was majestic.

Lots of dishes, 3 pappadam, and 2 payasam..

Superb..

Post-lunch, one more photo session..

With relatives..

With friends.

Single..

In Pair..

While this was happening, my camera went down. No it dint fall. The battery got

exhausted :(



Meanwhile, a Sumo full left for home.. To arrange for welcoming the couple and party.

Packed up the camera along with that team, with instructions to charge the cell.



2PM

Time to go

Thats the time when Uncle Sam came to me..

"Alla kuttaaa... nee car decorate cheytho ?"

Njaan "jab.. glub.. gb.."

"Pinne enthinaa aa rose muzhuvan vaangi vechirikkunnathu?"

Njaan "ditto"



But then, there was a small delay in the buses coming to the boarding point.

I had the cello tap along with the flowers with me

Fetched a blade quickly.

Me, Binoy and Unni completed decoration in record time.

There stands the green Zen, decorated all around with Red Roses. Wow !

Me happy, Uncle Sam happy, all happy :)



Got into the bus.

Saw the rest of the film.

Reached home at 4.50PM



Valathu kaal vechu puthan pennu veetil keri.

Some more formalities, anugraham vaangal, photosession..



Girl goes for a dress change. comes back in an orange with ash border sari.



6.30PM

Girl's family and relatives come home. This is also part of the formalities.

They come with a bag full of goodies :-)

Cake, biscuit, anganey pala pala items..



Treated them with juice, followed by tea and snax, and later with ice cream.



They left by 7.

Close relatives left by 7.30.

Camera crew also left by that time..

Wedding Story - Part IX

Day9 - Sunday , Sep4



The great day.

Guests kept coming in early in the morning.

But I could not welcome them.



I was at the poultry farm 'enjoying' the sight of 62 odd broiler variety

of the flightless birds getting slaughtered.

Let me not spend more time narrating this section..

I need readers :-)



I was woken up at 5 in the morning by uncle sam

He had come with cousin for hen-fetching.



180 kg of chicken in big bronze vessels (2 of 'em) is INDEED A BIG DEAL.

Some how managed to get it loaded into the Mahindra Maxx.



Downloading was done by the cook's team..

Next up , go to fish market, get 3 kilos of 'sraavu' - wonder what this

is called in English - shark ?! who knows...



Its already 7.30 in the morning.. Guyz would've landed..

So on the way back home, paid a visit to Paris Presidency.

The receptionist confirmed the arrival of the guyz..



Knock Knock..

Kiron at the door..

"Hi , Hello" and he started keeping safe distance.

"Eda.. chettante kalyaanamalleda... Ennaalenkilum onnu kulichoodey?"

:-S



"Kiraa.. Njaan athu .. market.."

"Onnum parayanda.. ninne onnum paranjittu kaaryamilleda.."

:-SS



Packed up from there quickly.. More dicoles would mean more goals..



Back home.. gave the fish to cooks..

They werent happy with the size of the pieces..

"kurachoode cheruthaakkaamaayirunnallo kuttaa..."



Enikku chorinju vannu..

(kulikkaathathu kondaayirikkum)

:D



Salt mango tree ready. In the same dress, had a plate ful.. with banana and

sugar. That was breakfast.

The guyz needed to be picked up from Hotel.

Had arranged Biju and his qualis for that task.

Biju was the one who brought us to Bangalore while house shifting...

One short little nice guy..

(chey.. dont hav a pic of his.. he never comes in front of camera..)



Called up Dipu

"Da.. oru vandi arrange cheythittundu.. Eppo varaan parayanam?"

"Hmm.. let me see.. ippo time 8.30.. Nee oru 9 o'clock inu vidu.. Allenkil

venda.. 9.15 nu vitto"

"15 minute kondu nee angulathi.. onnu podey.. 9.15 nu vandi avide ethum"

"OK"



Guyz had their breakfast by that time..

I had this smart plan working at the back of my mind..

"Lesser The Time Guyz Spend At Home, Lesser The Damage To My Image"

:D

And I executed the plan, rather smartly.

Biju took the guyz to Muzhappilangaad Drive In Beach

Asias Longest Drive In Beach (Guyz hav heard this for umpteen times)

:-)



But the sad part of the story is that... it was raining :(

So.. why is it sad , if its raining ?

ITS SAD BECAUSE BIJU TOOK THE GUYZ STRAIGHT TO HOME

:-S



I'm usually very bad at remembering nursery rhymes (I'm No Alex Joseph)

But I painfully recollected "Rain Rain Go Away. Come Again Another Day"

(I'm still not sure whether I got the second line correct..)



Greeted the Guyz with Colgate Mahaa Shakthi smile

The guyz - Jam,Jaf,Vim,Dipu,Sho,Kir,Jins - had this grin on their smile..

"Jackie chaaney kalari padippikkunnoddaa..."

Avar athu choyichillenneyullu !

A short stint at the guest room. That was the time when mom came to

see my friends..

(This is 2nd time narration for some of you.. But bare with it.. e-yude

sthaanam maarippoyi.. shemi..)

"Ithu Dipu"

"Ithu Kiron"

"Ithu Shobin"

Amma ellaam thala kulukki sammathichu

"Ithu Jins"

Amma .. "Ngaa... manasilaayi.. Eppozhum urangunna kutti"

Jins chirikkukayaayirunno .. atho enne nokki pallirummukayaayirunno ennu

enikku manasilaayilla.. Enthaayaalum ente dinangal ennappettu kazhinjirikkunnu

ennenikku pidi kitti..



Kaaryangal onnu thanuppikkaan vendi ellaarkkum oro choodu chaaya

koduthekkam ennu vichaarichu (thanuppikkaan chaayayo?.. whatever)



Dipu spotted the table and was quick to ask "Da, ithu RUBWOOD alley"

Njaan "Yes"

"Ithinenthaa vila"

Njaan "See this is a special type of compressed wood"

"Vila ariyaamo?"

Njaan "Note the binding , this is called finger joing"

"Da, vila ariyaamodaa dashey?"

Njaan "Illa" The End



7 plate-ful of variety goodies were evenly placed on the table..

By the time I fetched the camera from the bedroom, there were only 7

'plates' on the table..

ellaathinem eneepichu vittu... Vereyum guest varaanullathaa !

Ivarey maathram ooottikondirunnaa porallo !!

Led the team to the groom's room.

From there to the Balcony.

Ellaathinem avide iruthi.. Yes , literally , iruthi..

Lunch time varey pinney no shalyam.



Chettaney avarude koode company kku iruthiyittu njaan mungi..

(Bhayankara thirakkulla aalalle njaan) ;-)

Oonu kaalamaayi.

And the distinguished guests of the day were required to sit in the first round..

Ellaathinem vilichiruthi.

Choru vilambi kazhinjappo palarem kaanaanilla..

;D



Njaan budhipoorvam vellam serve cheyyal etteduthu..

Pillerathu note cheythu.

Vim "Edaa.. ninakku valla pachadiyo thorano vilambikkoodey?"

Njan "Ivide baakkiyullavarkum kazhikkanam!"



Aakraantham moothu ellaarum valichu kayatti chor..

Paayasam ulla kaaryam avar orthilla..

Sho choru thinnu kazhinjittu veedinu chuttum oru round odi thirichu vannu.

Budhimaan. That act of his enabled him to download a glassful of payasam.



When there was nothing left on the banana leaves.. guyz called it quits.



Now it was their turn to show what they are capable of.

They took up the serving department.

And they did it nice and neat..

Hostel il 5 appam kondu 150 perey oottiyathalley .. pinneyaano !!

Lunch session kazhinju.



Piller avide ninnu parungunnathu kandappo njaan payye Bijuvine vilichu..

"Biju.. ivarey evidelum kondu poyi enthenkilumo okkey kaanikku.."

Angane 2202 regn number qualis il avar yaathrayaayi."



3.30 to 5 is the tea time.

Cake, oothappam, biscuit, chips, mixture anganey pala vidham items..

Tea had to be stopped abruptly at 5 to start the highlight of the day -

Chicken Biriyani.



All this time, cooks were in the kalavara preparing the stuff.

Ppl started pouring in , in good numbers.

But the serving department was under good control, and nobody experienced

any problems getting the items onto their plates, rather, leaves.



3-4 rounds were over, and time approaching 6.30

The guyz were not to be seen.

Their return bus is at 9 from thalassery.

And they have to first go to the Hotel to get their bags and stuff..



Anyway, they reached before 7. Hung around for some time.. and dived into

two of the empty chairs..

By that time Binoy also joined the team - and the teamsize is 8 - jus right

for 2 tables.

Kiron was dieting (thadi koodiyittu avanu nadakkaan vayya..)

He dint eat anything.. Just the dessert - ice cream.

(Post dinner, njaan avaney adukkalayil kondu poyi kurachu items koduthu..

Kurachu pack cheythum koduthu.. Thirichu povunna vazhi thinnallo..)



Time to say good bye.

But then, chettan's bangalore friends (from sasken - saskians)

called up and said they have landed.

Theirs was a Kerala tour plus marriage trip. Two pairs and a bachelor in a qualis.

They called up from Paris - the same hotel were the guyz were staying.

So I left for Paris , along with the guyz in Biju's Qualis.

Dropped them at the hotel.. Arranged for Biju to drop them at the Bus Bay.



Picked up the saskians and came back home.

A funny bunch of ppl.. Wont keep quiet for a moment..

All the way , they were playing Anthaakshari..

Ennem pidichu oru team il ittu..

Entey aalaapana paadavam avarey kori tharippichu :D



Home at 9PM.

A small photo session , some chit chat, and they sat for dinner.

Chettan also joined 'em.



Later, my cousin Bijoy and me escorted them in Zen , back to the hotel.

I came back at around 10, and had my share of chicken biriyaani..

Yummy ! It was kewl..



By around 11, the days programs were over.

I took some snaps of the house, and the decorations..

All along the day, whenever I was doing nothing else, I was taking pix..



Slept at 12.

I felt that is too early to bed, given next day is the D-day.

But better early than late :-)



Tasks were already cut out for the next day.

An early morning wake up call was expected..



Before hitting the bed, took some pix.. One among them is the flex image..



The interesting thing about the day was that i dint brush my teeth in the morning!

To compensate for that, brushed in the night :-S

Wedding Story - Part VIII

Day8 - Saturday , Sep3



Got up at 7. And wrote all the above stuff in my diary :-)

Lest I forget !



Bro went to metro and fetched the flex.

3 small ones, and a big one - king size !



Vegetables came.

And came the banana leaves as well..

The evening was spent cleaning the leaves.

2+ hours of hard work made sure that no guest will be treated leaf-less

Made ready 750 odd leaves.

There were more. But when the expected turn around was achieved, we

called it quits.

Late in the night was the right time to erupt the flex image.

A small tube of fevicol, and a roll of double-side tape, and a few metres

of cello tape did the trick.

The flex stood in a majestic fashion on the wall..



(have to keep ready some words to answer dad, when the sticker is taken

off - along with it will come half the paint on the wall!)

The kalavara teams came in the eve.

Had to run around, to get 'ammi-kkall' and 'ural and ulakka'

The cooks' job for the day was to prepare pickle and salad..

Which they finished by 1AM

They spent the night at the home..

Wedding Story - Part VII

Day7 - Friday , Sep2

Some more shoppping at metro. Placed order for the food items at

the Bakery.



Went to the flex designer. Saw the design.. Very good one.

Asked him to get it printed..



Booked rooms for frenz..

Browsed for a while, it was raining outside.

Time was 3PM, and me and bro dint hav lunch till then.



Got the water tank cleaned up..

It was all fungus.

Wedding Story - Part VI

Day6 - Thursday , Sep1



Into September. Dad and me left to metro for getting the disposable

plates and stuff.

We had to do that big picture stuff done..

This has become a trend in this part of the world..

(I'll attach a pic of that stuff..)

It is done on a material called Flex. And hence is called Flex itself :-)

You might have seen the latest movie posters.. It is the same stuff..



Now to do the flex, we need a pic of the bride and the groom..

And great, we have our digicam with us. It has the engagement photos.

But there you go.. Dont have the cable for xfering it to a PC !



But then, luckily, I had it in my USB stick..

Got it written on to a CD and handed it over to the designer..

He said, he'll do it in 2 hours.



But we had other top priority things, and left for home..



Panthal team unloaded a load full of bamboo sticks.

And started work straightaway..

I was curious.. Marriage is on Sep5. Why is this happening on Sep1?!

But then, the info that they will charge only for one day kept me happy :-)

In the eve, bro had a dress rehearsal.

Just making sure that everything fits perfectly.

And it did.