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

Wedding games and awkward moments

Kayal's POV

Salim got along nicely with all my cousins. When he was chatting with Kadhir and Thileepan, I pulled Iliyaas and asked him to make few arrangements for making Salim stay back for the night. It was raining heavily. It is really impossible to drive back to his area. Perambur is a low lying area and it gets flooded easily. So, it is not advisable to leave at night. At last when the music troupe stopped playing songs, all of us entered the dining hall. The caterers were having their dinner. In our culture it is bad manners to stand up while eating. It is considered as disrespect for food. So, I asked them to continue with their dinner whereas we five of us took charge of serving food. It was just around twenty of us cousins.

Salim also sat with my cousins. By the way he was laughing, I think he was having a nice time. He was surprised when I served him food. Just few days back he served me food in his sister's wedding. The food was great. Dosa, chutney(spicy condiment), sambhar(semi liquid side dish made with lentils), Bharotta(similar to flat bread made with all purpose flour), kuruma(a side dish made with coconut milk and vegetables), Pulav (Mixed rice dish), Raitha(Yoghurt dip),Carrot Halwa (Dessert made with grated carrot and sugar) and Paayasam(liquid milk based dessert). By the time my cousins could finish eating, the caterers also finished eating. So they served for all five of us who were involved in serving the food.

After food Salim was chatting with Thileepan when I crossed him. As usual he didn't call me by my name. But he abruptly started talking to me, "I am now leaving. Thank you so much for inviting me."

"It's raining heavily Salim. There is knee deep water and it is not safe to drive now. So, you please stay back, attend wedding in the morning and then leave."

He gave me a horrible expression. "I am experienced in driving in the rain. That's not a problem. I don't have anything to change into."

This guy is too stubborn. "I have no doubt about your driving skills Salim. But, I am telling you it is not safe. Secondly, today I am going to teach you an important life lesson. To trust others. Iliyaas has made all arrangements for your stay. At the same time, I don't want to force you to stay here against your wish. If you really want to go, I will talk to that Maama(Uncle) to give you a lift in his car. He is leaving because his son has an important exam tomorrow. I will ask any of my cousins to drop your vehicle in your office in the morning."

By now my other Maama who had invited Salim while entering the Hall came to us. "What happened? What is the discussion about?"

I told him, "Maama, he wants to leave right now. I was asking him to stay back, because it is raining heavily."

Maama said, "What's your problem in staying pa? It seems there is too much of flood near the bridge. You have to leave via Periyar nagar. And that would be extremely long and unsafe at night. Just stay and have fun. You can go after attending the wedding in the morning."

No words came out of his mouth. Somebody called my Maama. So Maama left saying, "You have to stay. That's it."

Now Thileepan spoke, "Anna(elder brother), we will have lots of fun in the night. Come, nobody goes against my Akka(Elder Sister) and Maama."

Iliyaas also joined now saying, "Ali Bhai, all arrangements have been made for your stay. Just come."

With that both of them dragged Salim to their room. He had no other go. It was very funny though, to see him, a boxing champion being dragged by two drumstick thin teenagers. I then left to change. I changed to a normal knee length kurta, pyjama and dupatta. After changing all of us assembled in the hall again. The bride Oviya also came with us. She changed to a simple saree. Within few minutes all my male cousins also assembled after changing. Kadhir dragged the bridegroom Anthony to our group. Iliyaas and Salim were the last to join us because I think they were doing their Isha prayers. Salim looked nice in his casual clothes which I had arranged for him. I introduced him to all my female cousins.