Saturday, December 4, 2010

Paisa Paisa..!

Marriages are made in Heaven they are just brought to life on Earth. Really?
I recently have had an opportunity to witness one more beautiful life coming into existence.
I was amazed, shocked and stunned by the mode of conception though. It was a literal rape of lifelong savings of so called the facilitators (in this case parent!) and the most bemusing thing was they were more than happy to let go of it. One of the most celebrated cultural celebrations called “Marriage” suddenly looked so shallow inspite of them burning their deep pockets for it.
I have no complaints whatsoever for taking care of us so adequately offering us an accommodation in a luxurious seven star resort, booking ball room, club house, pool and inviting the best chefs to serve us day and night. Of course who would deny the sumptuousness of enjoying these A Class FREE Services?
But I was just wondering why did they unnecessarily booked ball room, club house for us (especially when the customised itinerary brochure placed next to complimentary exquisite chocolate boxes in our rooms showed packed schedule for attendees) and when more than half of the attendees were people past 45 years of age who wouldn’t even know what Ball Room Dancing is..
Neways I tried to ignore it considering myself naïve to appreciate such sophistications.
The decoration was no doubt one of the best I have seen but if they wanted to change the look of the entire place why did they even cared to pay so much for the venue. That look could have been emulated anywhere else also. Isn’t it a little weird (like asking the bride to paste a sticker of “BRIDE” so that people can make out she is meant to be treated differently).
Anyways on the THE day when all of us (other than their close relatives) had some part to play unlike the time they coaxed us modestly to be attendee in all their marriage rituals I was overwhelmed by the procession. The groom along with his coterie was welcomed with rose shower, fireworks and exotic drinks coz he had come all the way from the adjacent villas to the garden with great pomp and show. The decibels of the happiness soared so high that it literally made me deaf for a minute.
I thought it was momentary unless I realised there was a Live Band called from Videsh (relie would they know what an Indian wedding is..!) to entertain us throughout the procession.
It was kind of getting difficult to recognise people loaded with jewels and consuming make-up that I literally had to add a layer extra just to save myself from standing out( in the reverse way) in the crowd.
Then arrived the BRIDE, dazzling from head to toe with attire so heavy for her to handle that her friends and cousins had to come to save her from her self invited agony.
And finally came the moment all of us were waiting for... , our moment of Glory when we will share the same stage as them where they had been smiling incessantly to thank all the GUESTS seem to be blessing and Congratulating them.
I heard “THAANK YOU” but…
I realised I never congratulated them as I was jostled by an overexcited Aunty who seemed to be trying hard since so long to make it into their wedding ALBUM…
Uummppp…

PS: But nevertheless I still have full faith in the institution called Marriage san the feigned display of LUXURY. Though looking forward to enjoy more such free services :P

4 comments:

Niraj said...

Situation will change only if the youth takes some steps ahead and stop the hypocrisy. The Bridegrooms will have to play some acts of heroism and the Bride will have to stand for the same, even before entering in a new relation..a whole new world. At lower levels of society, literacy and education might change things in future, but for the aristocracy..changes might take too long..longer than we may witness. Empowerment of women might prove to be step towards improving the scenario..that too will take ages.
As they say charity begins at home..the starting point of bringing the much required change can be our own marriages!

Hope things change soon..

Kirti, I must appreciate your writing skills, very good selection of words. Keep posting.

Rabi said...

It's time when we start appreciating things which really matter! Focus should be on 'marriage' with people who really matter for both bride and groom. We should fast shift from a society driven culture to an individually driven one!

Aditya Deadpan said...

Marriages are made in heaven, & so are Tsunamis,Typhoons & Earth-quacks.

Your description of the lavish spending during marriages reminded me of a day of my past. I and my friend were doped with Bhang and suddenly he told "dogra, mere sarpanch ki beti ki shaddi hai ,uss ne raat ko call kiya tha , usse paise chahiye , shaddi mein usse ladke wallo ko बैल dene hai". I know you might be thinking I am talking of some two decade back . But its just 6 years back . And after listening these words from Chabbra , I told "chabbra , ye tho Godaan(Prem Chand's Novel) walli situation hai". He replied "Ye godaan tak hi simit rahe tho kafi hai bhai , agar kahin Kafaan tak pachunch gaya tho kya hoga". And thats all, we cried and cried for the whole night. In that darkness of the night and the effects of bhang, we realized that life is not as fair as we see . Someone rightly said "Life is Black man's left a** , never fair never right".

You see people lavishly spending and we see the opposite way . I think this is what we call "UNITY IN DIVERSITY". Pretty Inter-resting Society and norms .

Unknown said...

Lol..liked it..you have a sarcastic streak in you :D

I read somewhere that half of the people in our country who are below poverty line are because of expensive medical treatment and marriages.

Such a sham!

P.S-Next time you go to such a place,please invite me as well :P