Salim and Kayal #Watty's 2016 # YourStoryIndia #ProjectWomanUp

Nikkah and eaves dropping

Kayal's POV

Our journey to Trichy was fairly pleasant. Amma and I left in a cab because it was comfortable that way. I wore a simple green color Silk Cotton Churidhar with embroidery work in the neck and sleeves. I normally don't wear bangles. But, today Amma forced me to. She felt, I will be a disgrace to our family if I attend a wedding with my minimum jewels. She also made me wear a simple necklace along with my regular gold chain which I am never supposed to remove.

I learnt from the invite that the wedding would be conducted in Salim's home. That's really nice. We didn't have any difficulty in finding his house because, it was one of the biggest houses in the street. We went in search of Fathima. She was very happy after seeing us. She was gorgeous in her wedding attire. After our formal introductions she introduced us to her Amma. Amma was at first surprised to look at Aunty. She said, "You are Ayesha, right?"

Aunty happily grinned, "Hai, Ilakkiya. It is such a pleasure meeting you after so many years." God knows what they were talking after that, because my Amma completely forgot me and left with Ayesha Aunty. It seems they were childhood friends.

Fathima was also surprised just like me, "What a co incidence?"

"Unexpected."

"So how was your journey?

"Fine. It just took four and half hours. I was reading a novel and Amma was sleeping. I actually didn't feel tired at all."

"Great, I want to introduce you to an important member of our family. Come with me."

I was wondering, who was that important person. It turned out to be her Paati(grandmother). As soon as she saw me, she said, "Kayal, come, come, come. I have been waiting for you."

First I didn't understand how she identified me as Kayal without any introductions. Second, why is she waiting for me? I am not Queen of Chennai. Fathima is an expert in reading facial expressions. She told me, "I showed your fb picture to Paati. That is how she identified you."

"Oh. That's great."

I asked her Paati, "Yepdi irukeenga Paati? (How are you grandmother?)"

"Nalla irukan ma. Nee nalla irukiya? (I am fine. How about you?)

"I am fine Paati."

She made me sit near her in the cot.

"I heard you are an expert in cooking. Thank you so much for helping my grandson ma."

"Oh. ..it's nothing Paati. I make very simple dishes. He is the one who brings some yummy non vegetarian dishes from his aunt's place. My friends and I owe him for that."

By now Fathima left us. Paati came very close to me. "Shall I tell you a secret?"

I nodded my head.

"Ali prepares the dinner which he brings to you. I am the one who taught him to cook. But, he feels shy to tell you girls. You also don't tell this to anybody."

I opened my mouth "Oh my God. All his recipes are really yummy." It's really embarrassing now. All these days I have made an expert cook as my guinea pig. My bad luck. His Paati laughed at my embarrassment.

I don't have a grandmother for myself. My Maternal grandfather is my only surviving grandparent. Everybody else passed away before my birth. So, I love grandmothers. I was talking to Paati about sweet nothings when we were called for the Nikkah. It was simple. Fathima asked me to accompany her to the stage. Since I didn't have anything better to do, I accompanied her. There was one aunty who glared at me and asked me to cover my head. Since that was not the place to explain people about my anti religious views, I covered my head with my Dupatta. My Amma was sitting in the front row with another Aunty. When the Nikahnaama was signed, everybody erupted in joy and made dua's.