Gurmail Singh Sidhu
Turn… Turn… Turn… “Hello, Darshan! Sat Sri Akal! “Preparation ay aapam walkna ay Faridkot Mohanlal ji’s son’s wedding.”
“Yes yes…,” I said loosely, “Darshan vere, marriage is very much. Two or three more invitations came, on the 23rd there was a hasty wedding in our locality. Another wedding from 24th to 28th November of our friend Bewli Sahib’s son. I have a lot of love with them and there is also a new one. I have a couple of tasks. So come to Faridkot as a hero. Take the children with you.
I have just reached home on the big table, there were two red-tuli colored pots with other omens and a thick card with the words ‘Give Darshan with family’. I said to my wife in a loud voice, “Oh, what else has come of the card?” She smiled and said, “Your Chaudhary Sahib’s invitation is from December 4th!” Well, well, they were shifted from here to sector eleven. What kind of marriage is it?” The wife said, “The marriage will be someone’s, not their income, it will be someone’s son, boy or girl. Yes, I remembered… the guy was married before, it’s been two or three years. Dhi doktor hai, uhda hou.” I was opening the card side by side and reading: Mrs. Chaudhary and Mr. VS Chaudhary’s dear daughter. Happy marriage of his daughter Dr. Neha, rest of the program on December 4, Chandigarh Club, Sector One. A very good marriage will be seen. I happily agreed after seeing the wedding invitation. “Let’s get married in Sial soon,” I said and closed the card. “How many children still live from your acquaintance,” said the wife, handing out water and counting on the fingers of her left hand. And Surinder’s Shukla, Naresh’s daughter Yashna, her daughter’s wedding today, Vakil Sahib of 16 people, Sonu of Boha people and one or two from the village will come. One or two more will come out from Faridkot.” I said, “They are looking for a girl for a boy even with poor eyesight!
I was getting unwanted anxiety about the relationships of so many remaining boys and girls. I think that whenever a friend or relative met in a religious social function or market, he would first ask about the children. Then he would say slowly, Pradhanji, boys and girls should get married, tell me a girl and a good boy. Most guys look for girls. Today, the age of those children is close to thirty years or more. It comes to unconscious mind after seeing that thirty years ago there was a bad period of infanticide. Reading the sensational news that private hospitals were involved in this heinous business, revealed that embryos were found in wells, they were not going to be our daughters, wives, daughters-in-law… In a couple of minutes, the soul was shaken!
“Where did you take the belt?” It’s the season of weddings. You bring envelopes with omens, keep them in the car, you don’t find them on the spot,” the wife finished.
The house bell rang. We used to be careful with wedding cards and be straightforward. I said, “Which one is this?” Shall I open the door?”
I opened the door. A tall, thin young man holding a box of sweetmeats in his hand, bowed half at his feet and said, “Sat Sri Akal, Uncle!” “Sat Sri Akal, son. Come.” I saw the face. My mouth immediately said, “Sahaj you?” I opened the door and asked with a long look, “Where are mommy and daddy?” You know? “Sit down, son,” I said in a hug.
“Uncle, Mom and Dad have gone to the market.” Sahaj said half-heartedly. I was very surprised. I told my wife, “Come on, another marriage has come.” Sahaj was also laughing after seeing the first card and box.
Handing over a glass of water, the wife patted Sahaj’s shoulder, “Yes, Sahaj, listen now.” Your wedding or the doctor’s sister’s?” “Auntie, sister’s wedding.” I said, “So soon! Come tell me what I will eat or drink?” “No uncle, I am in a hurry. Know other side too. I have the car Mom and dad have to be taken from the market. There are many other tasks and little time.” I asked curiously, “When is the wedding?” “Uncle of December 18th.”
So the wife brought freshly made pinnias and said, “Take and eat, son, the pinnias of the house.” Congratulations. Opened WhatsApp naturally. I put on my glasses and started reading carefully and said, “Let’s have another wedding, on 18th December.” Go Ludhiana! It is also written ‘Give Darshan with the family’. !”
I said, “Why Ludhiana?” When the girl is from Ludhiana, they will go to the next girl to give omens,” said the wife in a loud voice. I said again, “…and the boy won’t get an omen?” The boy will be there. Also Shagan Paju.” I said ‘yes’ in a semi-agreed manner and also started to explain the previously popular, accepted custom, “First the boy was given a shagan (sak) in the courtyard of his village house, then the girl with the boy. They used to carry their bags, take the barat. Nowadays it has become more. Akhe, upside down bamboo to Bareilly. I heard that Bakshish Singh’s daughter’s marriage was arranged at home last year, everyone from here was invited. Akhe, I want to get married in Jalandhar, the boys are from there. The girls went to Jalandhar and booked Hotel Palace and booked the residences of their relatives. No one knows or recognizes new places. How many more have you seen, even though people are literate, they are told not to take dowry, but the boys pay as much as they want in many places. Ahi Surinder came from Chandigarh to the city of Munde after going to Jammu to marry the girl first. Then it does not matter that the girl’s procession will come tomorrow. That attraction, that waiting, that preparation…. Just the glare of money has made marriages, love, laughter, waiting, fake, ready-made happiness of value!
“Baba, you leave your philosophy. “The old man came to you with an omen,” the wife argued, “Ah, now we were in Bewli Sahib’s wedding from November 24 to November 28, what a wonderful wedding, but their barat was nowhere to be found.” did not go Get up from Mohali and go to Kharar Palace. What are the girls of Rajasthan doing now? Bewli Sahib made arrangements for them. You have been together.” Bevli Sahib could not contain his happiness and also the family thanked him again and again for your support. These days the long distance relationship. The children plan the marriage together in advance. No matter where one marries, if the relatives are good, the children are happy, then everything is good. Also, these days, good relationships, good boys and girls are found only by luck and are fulfilled by luck. Get your coats and pants pressed. We have to see all the marriages. Come on, tomorrow is my holiday. Bring a couple of suits and let them sew them too. The rush of marriages would have come to the tailors too.” The wife spoke her mind. I nodded yes. He said, “How to do the omen?” I said, “I know how to give an omen, but how much money or something. Listen, whether it is an omen or a gift, it is not a matter of value, it is a matter of money.” Of your participation, of your desire. When we participate in someone’s happiness in time, happiness should increase. All kinds of situations must be accepted there. This is an auspicious omen. The rest of the world will behave the way it is.”
While we were talking, we started making arrangements for marriages. I used to read again and again, ‘Give darshan with family’!
I wonder what families are left in the cities and now even in the villages! In earlier times, when getting married, a relative was called to take care of the house. We are two beings, if they also walk, then both of us will go. Otherwise, sometimes most of the ideas are summed up together. Because of the children sent abroad on the occasion of such happiness, we think how much fun it would have been if our children were here at this wedding. Now we stand by the flowers and take wedding photos and send them to say, look, we have come to get married. Then they call, “What wedding today, papa, who went to who?” What suit did mom wear, etc etc…. Keep calling friends on such joys, keep smelling happiness in the same way in everyone’s yards. This is my wish. The days of omens come to the lucky ones and invitations to visit with the family are also good news.
Contact: 95921-82111