It is fun attending a friend’s wedding, especially of the one who has been sharing her love life stories for a long time. Moreover, you just can’t refuse a person on face who has invited you so lovingly. It had been a wish of mine to surprise Priya after saying that I won’t be able to make it. But I just couldn’t say no to her. As the time came near, we assured her that I and our other friend Gargi would be coming for sure even though our plan kept fluctuating seeing the India Pakistan tensions. Amidst this when we came to know that she had planned their honeymoon to Kashmir, we asked her now what, she said, “Hum hai Khatron ke Khiladi (We are the ones who play with danger)”. Anyways, by the time her wedding date came nearer, although things got calmer, but a day before her wedding under the change of circumstances, Gargi informed her that we will not be able to make it!
At around 8 P.M. the same day, we finally planned to surprise her. Yet another friend, Ajit, who had been interested this whole time to join us on the trip was called too to inform us that we were leaving but of no use. We packed our bags and left for the bus stop, receiving a call from Ajit who was still in office km far away pleading please don’t leave me and go, I am coming. Gargi and I finally meeting after a number of dismissed plans waited at the bus stop, chatting and noticing the huge crowd of women waiting for free travel due to Women’s Day starting from midnight. As Ajit came rushing, we kept waiting for the bus at the stop where it was about to arrive. The inquiry person recognizing us owing to our continuous asking regarding bus number which he didn’t have and arrival was surprised to see us sitting and informed that it had already left. Shocked, we came to know that it arrived at a spot different than we were told!
He quickly gave us the driver’s number who had just reached another stop, Thank God! Contacting the driver and rushing to the stop via auto is how we managed to board the bus and our twisty trip began. Seeing the condition of the sleeper, we opted to sit on the spacious sitting seats, talking and remembering the old times, we three went to sleep. We had our break at Manesar and by the time we reached Gurgaon, Ajit was adamant not to reach the bride’s home so early as the function was to start only in the evening. Bulandshahr is around 2 hours far from Anand Vihar in Delhi. Changing our plan of getting down at Kashmere Gate, we found ourselves standing at Iffco Chowk getting an auto-rickshaw to reach his uncle’s house to pick up the car and go for a look around.
As soon as we sat inside the car, Gargi showed us her unknown side of following the Google map giving all the wrong directions. We saw the roads, colonies and building for about an hour finally reaching the “Kingdom of Dreams” where she wanted to stop. Disappointed by the changed outer look of the building, all she could say was, “Yeh aisa toh nahi tha pehle (It wasn’t like this earlier)”. After travelling a little more, our long drive finally came to an end, we reached Ajit’s uncle’s home again, had our heavy breakfast, got ready and left. We came to know that we will have to change the metro twice to reach Anand Vihar from Gurgaon and suddenly we wanted to shoot Ajit. Tired at the thought of it, we caught our first metro at MGF Metro station to get down at Rajiv Chowk. Thank God, a stranger helped and we had to change the metro only once. By opting for the Vaishali route, instead of changing at Yamuna Sagar, we finally got down at Anand Vihar, happy at the thought that only two hours more.
Amidst little rain, our happiness got crushed when we came to know that the regular bus to Bulandshahr may not be available on time as most of the buses had gone for some government program. We stood there thinking if we would be able to reach on time. Each bus that came by brought with it a hope that our waiting might end but it didn’t. Finally, after having a discussion with a bus driver, we boarded the bus to get down at “Bhoor Choraha” from which Priya’s home was only a few km. The bus journey seemed never-ending, going through the sandy roads for long, waiting in the traffic, crossing Ghaziabad, and watching green fields outside the window, even two hours seemed like a very long time. Ajit kept inquiring again and again from the local people sitting on the bus and the conductor, we, at last, got down at the right place. Taking a rickshaw and giving the home address mentioned in the wedding card, we were now anxious to see Priya’s surprised expression.
The rickshaw driver kept saying, it is a big colony, call someone to help reach the right place. All Ajit said was, we don’t have the number smiling at both of us. By this time, a pretty girl came and sat near Ajit, Gargi and I tried hard to suppress our laughter as his face brightened up. After a while, it was again only three of us sitting in the rickshaw when an aunty joined who helped us a bit regarding the address. Following the instructions, as we reached the plot number nearby her address, our excitement increased. Looking for a decorated home as seen in Priya’s WhatsApp status, we finally found it. While Ajit called Priya to say that we were standing in front of her home. All she asked him was to stop cracking such silly jokes. After Ajit’s trials, finally, Priya’s little brother opened the door to see us standing there and said, “You have reached the right home.”
Along with her little brother came two puppies running towards us who were not so small which instantly made us remain stuck to our rickshaw seats. We came to know that everyone had reached the wedding place, we too got ready and went on to pick Priya and her sister from the Parlour. Happy to see her, even though years had passed by, it just seemed like yesterday. Allowing an unknown girl to take a selfie with her dressed as a bride, she finally joined us in the car. Wearing the heavy Lehenga, she simply awaited to finish the ceremonies soon to get out of the heavy dress and jewellery. We couldn’t stop smiling when she finally said, “Bhook lagi hai, kuch khane ko hai kya? (I am hungry, do you have anything to eat?)”. While she munched some snacks, we reached the venue to see uncle and aunty waiting outside. A beautifully decorated place with every little preparation done with so much love, all one can do is feel and embrace it. As it is said, the best way to pay for a moment is to live it fully.
While the bridal photo session was going on, we roamed around realising that the baraat had arrived. Priya anxious to know how her groom was looking made us reach the entrance gate. Making our way through the crowd, we finally got a glimpse of the cutest groom we had ever seen. As we ran back to convey the same to Priya, it reminded me of the wedding scenes from Bollywood movies. After some initial rituals, we saw groom peeking in our room and saying hi to the bride from a little far, all we could do was laugh. She kept getting clicked with everyone which eventually made her tired and when a little girl came to get clicked, all she managed to say was, “Haan lelo, lelo sab acche se (Yes, take it, everyone take it)” before bursting in laughter. As it is said, Life is so much easier with a sense of humour.
When the time came for the bride’s entrance, everyone made sure that the instrumental song selected by her was played when she entered the hall as she had threatened that she wouldn’t move from her spot and enter otherwise. When the tune got played, we entered, reached the stage, Mahi, her groom lovingly held her hand while she made her way up.
With both of them being carried higher by their family members, their Varmala took place. When two pure hearts meet, you can feel it and seeing the two together brought warmth to our hearts and smile on our faces. Seeing them dance together was like an added bonus! After the photo session on stage, we had our dinner and taking rest in between, we waited for the Pheras. With a little crown tied on Priya’s head, she looked like a doll, we sat there watching them taking their vows. With Ajit refusing to get up from his deep sleep early in the morning, we finally bid her goodbye at Bidaai amidst little rain and a number of monkeys eating away the leftovers around. After seeing her leave, we took our bus back to Anand Vihar, travelling to Indraprastha via metro, to Saray Kale Khan bus stand via auto, finally boarding the bus to Jaipur. We were so tired and sleep ridden that we kept falling asleep, waking up every once in a while. Ajit who had said in the starting of the trip that he can never sleep on a bus had now dozed off and kept joking whenever he got up in between that he will never go to Bulandshahr again in his life no matter whose marriage it might be.
No matter how twisty the journey had been what we realised were the efforts that Priya had been putting in while working in Jaipur to travel home each time. The happiness of meeting her and seeing her getting married was something that made it all easy and adventurous. As it is said, each hurdle brings the strength along to deal with it. She has been that strength and the reason that made us add this unforgettable experience to our memories. We can say, after all, it is a trip to remember.
