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Morning of the 17th

After a fun filled evening the night before, you can believe that nobody went to sleep early. Nobody really needed to get up early either — well, except for Mumma and me. Yup, I had to wake up at 4 am, before sunrise, get all ready, and wear a new red and yellow sari. Then we had to do pooja after that, and then I went back to bed. Interesting isn’t it?

Of course I was tired, so it didn’t take me long to get back to sleep. I didn’t end up sleeping too long as it was my wedding day, and I was excited!!

The rest of the morning was busy as didis, masis, chachis, bhabhis, etc… were in and out of our room trying to see how they can help, what needs to be done, etc… The feeling that morning was amazing to think that today is our day, that day that Neeraj and I have waited five years to see, feel, and live. That day was finally here that we would be bonded together forever.

After breakfast and seeing everybody that morning, it was time to go to sleep — again. There was packing that was going on that Mumma was doing for me, but I spent the partial afternoon trying to fall asleep because everybody kept on saying its going to be a long night, and you need your sleep before you go to the beauty salon. So I was forced to sleep on the day that it was just not possible.

After maybe an hour or so, you could hear the loud chitter chattering going on in the room as everyone (mostly masis’, mausajis, etc..) was gathered around in our room. It was time for a refresh, change clothes, and get ready to go that wonderful place that I loved (yeah right:!: ) that is the beauty salon.

But nothing was going to get me down today because it is my day. We left for the salon around 5ish as it was going to take a few hours to get me ready. I was told that I didn’t need to be at the hotel until around 10.30ish that night because the baraat was going to be late.

I reached the salon, they took me the back, and then the festivities began to get me ready. There were about 8 other brides there that night getting ready for their big days. All of them had been there for a while, and a few were even ready when I got there. Most others were planning to leave around 8ish.

Everything was going well until it was time to get the chudiyan (bangles) on. Lata Didi had bought the pack of chudiyan that I was going to wear that matched my wedding lehenga. In our Punjabi weddings, the mama (mother’s brother) puts on a set of red and silver bangles, known as a chuda, on the bride. Sometimes it happens the morning of the wedding day and then they cover the bangles with a hankerchief and are unveiled that night before the pheres. Or like in our family, the chuda is put on immediately prior to the pheres. Because our pheres were going to start around 4 am, I needed chudiyan to wear between 10 pm - 4 am. So Lata Didi had gotten chudiyan that were my size to match my lehenga from Delhi. That night as the salon lady was getting me ready she began to put on those chudiyan. They were sliding on just fine until we got to the last four. For some reason, they did not want to slide on to my hand. She began to put moistrizer on my fingers, knuckles, everywhere, but nothing was working. She ended up pushing it onto my hand which also cut through some skin — so now had these huge cut marks on near my knuckles on my index finger, thumb, and near my pinky finger.

Same thing happened on my other hand, but why??? You will find out later, as the post continues.

I will have to say that the women at this beauty parlor, Shades, were awesome. On the most important day of my life they really made me feel like a queen. They did everything to make me look so beautiful, and I appreciated it. They were professionals in every single way, and I was very happy that we chose them to do it on this day. I was the last bride to leave that night, as Pooja Didi, Bobby Jiju, and Ajay Jiju were suppose to pick me up at 10, but were late. The salon closed at 9.30 or around there, and they even turned off some of the lights. The owner of the salon was there waiting with me, along with a few of the guys that worked there.

Finally Pooja Didi walked in, we paid the owner, and we were on our way. As you walked onto the streets, you could hear the fireworks/dhoom/dhamaka of a nearby wedding.

An amazing feeling it was as we made our journey to the Clarks Amer Hotel, the venue of the wedding celebrations.

Next Post - Marriage Day Continues…

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

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We get to the Internet cafe and the person-in-charge was a young guy, maybe in his mid-30s. I asked if he had PCs available, and he said yes. I asked for the charge and he mentioned something like Rs. 15/hour, I don’t remember the exact cost. So then I tell Dr. and Mrs. Katz that they get go first and check their email at the available PC. After about 5 minutes, that same young guy walks towards us and says that Dr. Katz, who was looking over his wife’s shoulder at the PC screen, cannot stand there or else he will charge double:!: I was appalled — what do you mean you will charge double?? Dr. Katz wasn’t doing anything other than the fact that he was looking at the screen:!: I was outraged!! I know what the young guy was doing, trying to measle a few extra bucks from the naive tourist. Well, I wasn’t going to stand for it. I told him as it is that he was ripping off my friends, and that I was ashamed that we even came into his shop. If we wouldn’t have come in, then my friends wouldn’t have gotten the wrong impression of my fellow countrymen, sorry to say, but I think that is horrible that you are trying to weasle money just because you think you can. India always gripes about the low tourism, and its due to the fact that these people give tourists the wrong idea. My friends totally believe that they would not be able to travel in India by themselves.

Anyway, we finished the work at the cafe, paid the sleazy chap (yes he did get double for the Katzes), and my parting words to the young guy was not to expect to get any of our business ever again!

The next day I saw the Katzes at breakfast. They mentioned that they were up since 5 am that morning because of the time difference. I asked what they had been doing since that time, and they said, “Well we were saved by one of your cousins.” Now I was intrigued. Mrs. Katz explained that they had decided to take a walk outside through the gully to pass the time in the morning. They only got about 100 feet from the hotel when a guy came very near them. He was speaking to the Katzes in Hindi, and of course, they had no idea what the heck he was saying. It felt to them that he was threatening them, most likely asking for their money. Just around that time, my cousin Deepu Bhaiya was walking from the chemist shop and noticed that the Katzes were in trouble. He provided his assistance by telling the threatening guy to buzz off or else (it should be noted that Deepu Bhaiya is a pretty big guy, so it didn’t take the guy much convincing to get away).

So that ends the forgetful moments of those days.

NP News Bulletin - Current Time
Ok zoom back to the present, and what is happening with us. Yesterday in the mail Neeraj and I received a letter from USCIS. As you know Neeraj and I have been waiting for his Green Card interview date that we had requested to be rescheduled. The date is finally in, and Neeraj’s interview date is on 21st August:!: Now we have to get all of our documents ready to ensure that the interview goes well. This is the LAST step (let’s hope:!: ) on our immigration journey, and most important too. It will feel good once all of this is done and Neeraj is a US Permanent Resident.

Next Post: Sagan, Mehendi, & DJ Party

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

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The first relatives that I saw that morning was Funny Aunty and Shyamlal Jijaji. Funny Aunty is Mumma’s masi (mother’s sister), and she is one of the two masis’ that brought up Mumma as a child. Mumma calls her Aunty, and so when I was young Aunty always made us laugh & laugh with us, so I gave her the name Funny Aunty. Till this day we call her by that name only.

The early hours of the morning was when we would find out who from Mumbai was coming. If you remember, my nani’s (maternal grandmother) was very down when we had left for Jaipur on the 13th of May. By the time when we had reached Jaipur, it was almost decided that she wouldn’t come and hence Raju Bhaiya (badi masi’s eldest son), Bhabhi (his wife), and Aayat (their small daughter) would not come either so that Lalit Mama & Anita Mami could attend my wedding. Upon the car arriving at the hotel in Jaipur, we saw nani. Unbelievably she had recovered in the two days that we were gone, and she was looking sooo healthy. I was really so happy to see her that I immediately gave her a big hug and smile, asked about her health, and listened as she told me that she wouldn’t miss my marriage for anything. All of three of them (nani, Lalit Mama, & Anita Mami), along with Raju Bhaiya & Family, had come by plane to ensure that nani’s health remained well. This was one of most memorable moments of my life — I have learned the importance of having elders of the family present at the most crucial times of your life, such as marriage. Its true that my marriage wouldn’t have been the same if nani would have not been there.

I was going to have a busy day — no, not with relatives, but with the beauty parlour ladies.

After a good start to the morning, it was time for a delicious breakfast, that I hardly ate :smile:, in the banquet room. I sat mostly with Dr. & Mrs. Katz during that time along with nani and Funny Aunty. My salon appointment was at 10 am; I didn’t make it there until after 11.15. Oopsy. I really don’t want to relive the salon day, but I guess I will share what happened. There were many other ladies there, I think a few brides even, that were getting stuff done.

I had about six facials done that day — whoo my face was tired. That definitely took most of the time, and then I had a foot massage, which was okay. Then came the waxing/threading and all that crap that a girl has to do. After four to SIX hours, I was finally done for the day. I had called back (Mumma had called me once because it was getting close to the time of the Mata ki Chowki to begin) to the hotel when there was about a half hour left to let someone there know that I needed to be picked up. Then Pooja Didi, Bobby Jiju, Chandni, and Heena came to pick me up. It look a bit longer than I had thought to get me out of the door hence Bobby Jiju decided to go to the men’s barber which was next door to the salon. Then I got to the Innova only to wait for Jijs, which felt like an eternity.

Bobby Jiju and Pooja Didi had just reached that day from Surat, so they really didn’t know how to get back to the hotel. The driver was from Delhi because the Innovas we had were rented from there, so he didn’t know how to get back to the hotel either (they had gotten lost getting to the salon). We were in the Raja Park area and needed to get back to Vanasthali Marg near the Central Bus Stand, which if you don’t know Jaipur aren’t really nearby each other. So we asked people all the way to the Jaipur train station, and then the driver knew where he was going.

Finally got to the hotel, got ready, with the help of Pooja Didi. I was going to be wearing a sari for the first time, and so I needed the help. You can decide how I am looking as you go through the photos in the gallery. Pooja Didi also helped me do my hair — which I think was looking great. The chowki began on time as the mundali had only a limited time to perform. The head of the mundali was from our Bhatia community so they sang mostly Punjabi Mata Rani bhents that were very well known to us. Mata Rani’s red chunni was put on me, and at different times throughout the night, I had the privilege to dance with various members of my family and even my American friends, dependent on what the bhent called out.

Mata ki Chowki is held as the first religious event to ensure that the rest of the marriage events as well as the new life that Neeraj & I would be starting is blessed by Mata Rani. We sang her bhents, we danced to her, in hopes that we would feel her presence. Now you must know that my marriage was mainly attended by Mumma’s side of the family (her brothers, sisters, and their families), and they all dance. Everyone was dancing, including me, throughout the night. At times it would be just me as Mata Rani’s bhents would bring me closer and closer to Her. It was an amazing feeling that I will never forget.

It was non-stop bhajans by the various members of the mundali, and they did a great job of getting the audience (all of us) involved in the singing, dancing, etc… Wonderful time! Then towards the end, one of the members of the mundali was dressed up as Lord Hanuman, and he had brought out my cousin-brother, Vidhur, who was dressed up as Lord Ram, and my niece, Muskaan, dressed up as Lord Lakshman. It was very cute, as Lord Hanuman fed them each a banana, and then tossed out bananas as prasad to the rest of us. Then came Mata Rani herself, my niece Chaahat. She was brought in the banquet room dressed up as Mata Rani on a tiger (one of the members of the mundali). She then was brought to the front where she sat, gave blessings to each individual person, and then gave them prasad. Beautiful! Then it was over — we danced some more, Neeraj and Satish Bhaiya came to chat with Papa, we talked for a bit, and then it was off to change clothes prior to dinner.

The rest of the night consisted of continuous masti by hopping from room to room, chatting up a storm, playing games, etc…

Next Post: Sagan/Lagan, Mehendi, & DJ Party.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

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So what’s the first meal they had upon reaching Delhi? McDonalds. That would be Mumma’s idea to have my family in Delhi to take them there. (she was all worried if they would eat Indian food).

My friends, Suraj, and the rest of the family in Delhi were all going to reach Jaipur in late afternoon/early evening on the 14th.

Because we had reached Jaipur in the late morning, we headed straight to the hotel to relax, shower, etc… I also had to go to the beauty parlour that day to finalize all that was going to happen to me in the next two days. After a few hours, Chandni, Heena, Pinky Didi (their cousin from Jaipur), and I were off to Shades, the beauty parlour in Raja Park. All I can say was that it was an interesting first visit and when I left the place — I really didn’t want to come back.

This parlour was a professional beauty salon, but the ladies that were working there did not impress me on my first visit. The owner came and talked to us first — took me in the back and did a test or two. Then told me that I had this and that, and I should get this or that treatment done. I was overwhelmed:!: She made me feel right down ugly. As she started to name off the things that were included in the pre-bridal and bridal packages, I became to get even more worried. They wanted to start everything that very minute, and I was thinking to myself:

I want to go home

I told my cousin, when the owner left the room, that I didn’t want to get all that crap done — so she said let the owner know what I wanted done. That’s what I did and also told her that I didn’t want to start anything today (for goodness sakes it was my first day in Jaipur, and I was not going to spend the next 4-6 hours at the beauty parlour ). We told her that we would be back the next morning to start whatever they needed to do on me and headed back to the hotel.

As we were going back to the hotel, Pinky Didi mentioned that her house is very nearby so we stopped at their house. We stayed there for a pretty long time with me mentioning on/off that we should start getting back to the hotel. Then Mumma called and said that everyone from Delhi have reached the hotel and where are we,everybody is askign for me, etc.. Then I reiterated to Chandni and Heena that we should get going to the hotel.

We reached the hotel, and I slowly made my rounds to see everyone from Bhaiya to my American friends to Lata Didi/Kishore Jijaji, Asha Masi & family, etc…

What’s Happening with Neeraj & his Family

On the same day, Neeraj and his family were getting ready to leave their home in Hindaun City and make their four hour drive to Jaipur. In the morning, Neeraj was busy getting his suit pant-piece from the tailors and finishing up any last minute items that he needed. He had rented a Scorpio SUV for the next four days so that his family would be able to travel comfortably back and forth from Hindaun City. Almost Neeraj’s full family was going to be traveling that day which included:

Neeraj’s parents

Satish Bhaiya, Renu Bhabhi, & their two kids, Gudden & Harshit

Shobha Didi and her two kids, Shubham & Himanshu

Rajani Didi and her daughter, Shruti

Lakshmi

Neeraj’s other elder brother, Manoj Bhaiya, already lives in Jaipur, and the family was headed to their home that day.

Sunday, 14th May was a pleasant day, in Jaipur terms :smile:. It wasn’t as hot as it was expected. As Neeraj and his family started their journey around 1 pm, they stopped about two hours later at a mid-way/dhaba area, only to find out that their vehicle had an air conditioning issue which caused something to rupture in the engine. Oh no, how will they continue?

Satish Bhaiya then did whatever he could to get another vehicle, but it took him over an hour to get that done. As you can imagine with five little kids, in the peakest time during the day in means of weather, it couldn’t have been easy.

They finally got another car, and instead of reaching around 5 pm in Jaipur, they reached at 8 pm.

Neeraj’s father, brother, Lakshmi, and Neeraj changed clothes very quickly and headed to our hotel so that both fathers could talk about more about the marriage prepartions, etc..

When they had reached the hotel, I had no idea at that time what they all had been through during the day — it was the first time that I was seeing Neeraj (not that we had a chance to talk ), as I spent the whole time talking to Lakshmi.

After all the talk was completed, they had something to eat and headed back to Manoj Bhaiya’s house.

Next Post: May 15, Mata ki Chowki

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

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27th April

We took the American AIrlines direct non-stop flight from Chicago to Delhi, and let me tell you that I will not be traveling any other airline for a while. The flight was stupendous with no stops in Europe as well as it left on time and arrived on time in Delhi. The food was great on the way there, and what was a 15 hour flight felt like 8 hours.

28th April

My papa, Neeraj, and I arrived in Delhi around 8.30 pm IST. That same day my Mumma was reaching Delhi during the day from Mumbai so that she would be able to pick us up from the airport with my masi & jijaji. Unlike the usual, our check-in bags arrived on the carousel quite early, and we were ready to hit the road. We exited customs but couldn’t locate my Mumma, masi, or any other relative. My Papa is now freaking out because this is our first time traveling to Delhi directly from the states, and we have no idea how to get to masi’s house in Anand Vihar. I had my cell phone, and the international dialing was turned on (even though I didn’t want to use it because it would cost me $3/min). We exited the airport and found a PCO only to find out that no one had a 1 rupee coin. Neeraj headed over to the cold drink stand so that he could get some change, and then I started dialing the Delhi numbers that I had. Unfortunately no one answered the phone. Now Papa is in panic mode as he paced from one entrance to the other. So I headed over the STD booth to call my nani’s home in Mumbai to get some help. As I am dialing, Papa is pacing and Neeraj is standing with our three trolleys full of our bags. After the longest half hour of my life, Neeraj spots Mumma. As we begin to ask why they were so late, we found out that Mumbai domestic airport had construction issues which caused Mumma’s flight to be three hours delayed — she had reached just about an hour or two prior to us.

Delhi

I was now having the opportunity to stay a few days in Delhi so I was going to carefully observe what I had seen to see how it has changed from the last time I was here.

As many of you know, I have this ongoing Mumbai-Delhi war with another blogger friend, so this time I wanted to see what was so great about this city. A post will come up about this with my views very soon.

29th April

This was the first full day in Delhi for us, and it started with Neeraj leaving very early for Kota. He had to get to his sister’s wedding festivities and found a direct train from Delhi to Kota. We spent the day going on the Delhi Metro on our way to Chandni Chowk, where we were hoping to find that special dress that I would wear on our special day.

It took a few shops and eating some dahi vadas to find that perfect dress, but it was there. One big job was now completed - finding the dress; now it was time to get other shopping done.

30th April

My parents left for Kota to attend Lakshmi’s (Neeraj’s sister) marriage. There was a huge discussion on whether I should go or not go, which at the end I stayed in Delhi.

This was also a big day for my masi/jijaji - they have a mandir that they built in Welcome, and it was its anniversary. Big celebrations going on, and it was tons of fun:!:

Then that evening I was forced by my other masi (in Ashok Vihar) to go stay at her house for the night in order to see my nephews, nieces, and my older cousins (her sons). I wasn’t very excited to go, and I tried to get out of it because I had plans to go to the mall to do more wedding shopping, but masi persistently insisted. So we take the metro over to Ashok Vihar, only to find out that no one is home. The cousins had taken their children out and weren’t going to be back anytime soon. So now it was just masi and myself — and nothing to do (I wasn’t a happy camper ). We ended up going to Deep Bazaar, eating some pani-puri, and then walked home. I could have gotten lots done that night if I wouldn’t have gone - but oh well, sometimes you sacrifice to make others happy.

1st May

My parents were going to be returning from Kota at around noon, and I needed to get back to my other masi’s house in Anand Vihar (what a mess that was ). The main mission for today: give my measurements to the boutique lady so that she can make my dress ASAP. DId it get accomplished? N-O. My mama, mami, & my two cousins were also reaching from Mumbai, so Mumma a few things she needed to do with them too (give our invitation cards, shopping, etc…). They also ended up coming to Anand Vihar, and it was one big party. We went to the Pacific Mall that night and had a blast!

2nd May

Last full day in Delhi - we were going to leave that night around 11.45 pm to go to Mumbai. Now it was time to get serious. Giving out invitation cards, getting to the boutique to give my measurements, do any other shopping, and lastly dinner in Ashok Vihar at my masi’s was on the agenda. It took us FOREVER in the Delhi heat to find the boutique due to road construction, one way streets, wrong directions by random people that we asked, and very bad signs. We finally got to the place only to find out that it took us more than three hours!!!

Everything got done including all the shopping (new saris for me ), and it was time to say alvida to Delhi for a while. Due to our Air India flight departing late from Delhi, we reached Mumbai at around 3 am (instead of 1 am).

Next to come: Lakshmi’s marriage.

Alvida. Jai Mata Di.

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