
It was not a long time ago!! It’s just a matter of time, few years back. The best era in a man’s life, his or her childhood, the turns to teenage, getting to know the people…then all of a sudden it happens. Getting matured! Responsibilities are pouring on the head like a shower bath. We starts to earn and earn and earn. Nothing else, I am damn sure that every 90’s kid like me would be telling these lines to themselves at least once in a while. Okay, craps!! Let me come to the topic..
Today afternoon I got a whatsapp message from one of my bestie, actually he is getting married in less than 2 weeks. What he sent was a youtube URL. Its a marriage invitation video he made up. I was wondering how things changes in time. We are really going through a very technically progressing generation. Take this example, we can invite our dear ones via medias, social networking sites, marriages in the central of sea or sky..photo shoots for every occasion(even for getting pregnant 😄) and we hire best people to make them like a movie!!
WHAT, calling me conservative? Nono I am not that category. I am not against these changes, I really understand and accept the changes in life even though sometimes I stand against things whichy seems undigested to me. Leave all those craps, I am just trying to recollect how important these occasions were to us – kids.
Like everyone else we had a gang too. A gang of mixed ages but thinking alike. Marriages were the best place where we get a chance to shine. So once a marriage date gets announced in the neighbourhood, then our gang starts to set up the plans. Sometimes, I remember we were too keen and energetic to prepare ourselves in such times compared our elder family members. The very first step was to check the calendar for the marriage date.
If its in weekend? Holly shit, we lost a chance to bunk school.
Weekdays? Yep, this is what we were waiting for!!

Next important thing is to purchase dress. Of course it must be new fashioned! Let it be bit tight, let people see our little muscles(not everyone just girls 😂). Reminding the tailor to be clear about stitching the pants because it shouldn’t be very loose. Belt must be black in colour by default with a moving circle in buckle and shoes are welcome if budget allows and only if dad didn’t kill us yet for the mentioned purchases.
The night before marriage at groom’s or bride’s home will be a celebration. We kids, used to play around and disturbing others. We believed that our destiny in life was to make sounds and just enjoy the life. Our sounds even defeated the loudspeakers which used to keep singing that whole night. We heard Yesudas & Chithra singing the night without breaks. It was all awesome. Boozed uncles and neighbours will be trying to stand straight and telling stories, they tries to sing and beat the tape-recorders. And the laughs of girls who would be busy with exploring new mehndi designs inside home.
Rarely elders seek our help, especially to cut the vegetables. And we were happy to do it. Our gang always urged each other to pick some easy vegetables to cut, like potatoes. The guy who got onion will die for sure. He will cry whole night and make the home look like someone just died there. I always used to get garlics. As I was one of the youngest in group, our leader always allocated it to me. Cant protest against leaders! That’s the rule, slaves were always slaves. Cleaning garlic was hell even compared to onions. You sill feel your fingers burning even the whole next day..

On the marriage day we wake up earlier and starts to get ready. New dress, Cuticura/Ponds powder, and few drops of perfume if any gang member got an uncle in Dubai. If we were groom’s side, then well and good! Because you will get a minimum of 1 hour journey to bride’s house in jeep. At least 8 jeep will be there. We wont sit inside even if seats are free. We found ourselves adventurous & actionable by hanging in the backside of jeep holding it’s carriers. When the vehicle moves, we will wave hands at people beside the roads. We get a warm welcome once reached the brides house. I remember the moments waiting for the guy who comes with soft drinks in a tray. Kids will get more than a glass and a stare from that guy. We never cared, our face always said – “hey, we are the groom’s side. Pay respects”.
Most awaited step is next one – to find girls of same age and starts sighting. It was the best part! Picking someone after an eye scan and following them everywhere during all ceremonies. Huh! Then our people are getting back to vehicle taking the bride home. That’s very awful moment, leaving our 2 hour girlfriend! Our faces becomes red more than the bride who used to cry at that moment while leaving her home. But still there will be a hope, because bride’s people will come to our house for party in the evening. So that we can meet our “new” soulmate again!!
It was the best time of our lives! Times which we can never get back!!