druv and shruti

i don't know druv and shruti but i am at their engagement as somebody's plus one. i woke up at 7am the day before to be at my neighbour's to have her wrap the saree around me. she said she needed me to come before 8:30 because she leaves for work then. i come at 8. she meets me at the door in her jammies and her poor baby is rubbing his eyes muttering to himself.

i had ironed the 6 metres of saree. i now lay it on the bed in the spare room and don the blouse and petticoat. she then wraps, pleats, pins and smoothes folds. and in less than a few minutes, is done.

(mental note: make her cookies to say thanks)

still half asleep myself, i go back next door and lay as still as i can until 11am, when the affair is supposed to start, only to find out on arrival that i had come a day early. (why don't i check these things?)

so i come back the next day, today, in a different saree that i have wrapped around myself and i'm so proud when the ladies ask me who'd helped me. "oh myself," i say casually, beaming inside.


i love to see sarees. i love the way they choose the design and colour of the blouses. i love how the lighter materials like georgette and satin fall on the body.

i'm the only non-indian there (other than the nannies and one very dark man, whom i had mistaken for being black) and everyone seems to know each other so i remain the happy but quiet observer.

the food is aptly vegetarian. though there really isn't any vegetable at all in it. and they serve it on metal plates. the men doing the serving behind the buffet are quick to warn me what's hot and what isn't. though i like chilli food.

i don't know druv and shruti but i congratulate you and thank you for sharing your day with me.