The doorbell rang as Reena hurriedly pulled her hair into a bun and rushed to the door. Outside the door stood her husband, Ram a bit jaded but cheerful. Reena looked exasperatedly at him and said, "Why are you so late today? Don't you remember that tonight we have to attend Vineet's reception?".
For a moment, the smile was wiped clean from Ram's face but he mustered a look of surprise before his observant wife and replied, "Sorry, honey, there was an emergency meeting today. Don't worry. I will get ready in a jiffy."
Ram -"Really these functions! Why the hell should I waste my evening at a boring reception of Reena's uncle's son's brother-in-law, when I could jolly well laze on the couch watching today's match? Anyway, who keeps a reception on the day of an ODI?"
Reena looked suspiciously at her husband. She said, "Look, Ram, I know you are not interested in coming. But we could not attend his wedding. The least we can do is wish him in the reception. Moreover, Vineet helped us a lot during my wedding. For your sake, I have convinced Sarita to bring along Mukesh so that you'll have company. Now, get ready fast!". Mukesh was Reena's brother-in-law and a close friend of Ram. Ram heaved a sigh of relief.
An hour later, Ram sat next to Mukesh in a corner of the grand hall, where the reception was organized. The hall was thankfully air-conditioned. Guests were milling in and out, greeting the newlyweds who stood on a ornate stage, decorated with the choicest of flowers. Ram said, "Thank god, man, you are here. Otherwise, my whole evening here would have been spent smiling at nothingness and waiting for Reena to finish her endless conversations with her countless relatives." Mukesh replied, "Yaar, I don't know about you but Sarita promised me the food here was good. That is the only reason I am here."
Meanwhile on the stage, the bride and groom stood patiently, greeting the long line of guests. As it was a reception from the groom's side, the groom introduced his relations as the bride smiled and made small talk. The groom said, "This is my grandfather's brother's daughter and her family." The bride acknowledged their wishes with a smile, took their gifts and passed it behind.
The bride - "How many more guests to come? This lehenga is so heavy. I can barely stand. The photographers also do not give us a moment's respite. How on earth am I going to remember who all these people are? Ok, I have to really be attentive now."
As Ram and Mukesh talked about sundry topics, suddenly, out of the constantly moving crowd, an elderly lady stopped by Ram's side and said, "You are Ram, right? And you must be Mukesh?". The two stood up and said, "Yes." "How are you? I was just talking to Reena and Sarita about you two. It has been sometime since I last saw you. Maybe it was only at Reena's reception." Mukesh said, "Of course! How are you doing? How is your health?"
Mukesh -"Oh my god, who is she? Think fast, Mukesh! Is she Sarita's mother's cousin sister? No, no! Is she their childhood neighbour? Oh god, I wonder if Ram remembers."
Ram - "Say something, Ram! She was at your reception. Reena must have told you about her. Does she have a son who is abroad? No harm in trying!"
Ram said, "How is your son? Has he come back?". The lady looked flummoxed. She replied, "Oh no, I have only one daughter. She and Reena studied together. We were neighbours for many years. I have known Reena and Sarita since they were little girls. I guess, you have forgotten me."
Mukesh - "Yes, neighbour! I should have said so."
Both mustered a weak smile and Ram said, "I am sorry, aunty. I got confused." The lady smiled and said, "It's okay, beta. Hope you are doing fine. I will see you later," and walked away.
The two sat down sheepishly. Ram said, "Honestly, man, I didn't have a clue who she was!" Mukesh said, "Forget about it. It happens all the time at these functions. I wonder how much longer it will take for these two ladies to stop their chatter and give us some attention."
Reena and Sarita were having a gala time catching up with their cousins and other relations. Reena said, "Okay, Sarita, I think we better go and greet the newlyweds. The stage is not so crowded now. You go and fetch Ram and Mukesh. I will wait near the stage."
Mukesh saw Sarita gesturing him and told Ram, "Chal yaar! Bulawa aaya hai. If we can quickly finish this process, we are slowly on our way out." Both of them hurried to the stage. The four of them waited patiently as the previous guests posed for pictures with the newlyweds. Then quickly they made their way, introduced themselves, wished the bride and groom, clicked a picture and climbed down the stage.
Mukesh turned to Sarita and said, "Okay, now that is done. Can we have our dinner please?" Sarita looked irritated and said, "Can't you wait until we are a safe distance away from the stage? What will they think if they hear you? As if we have come for the food!"
Mukesh - "But that is why I have come! Ok, shut up, Mukesh. Thodi der ki baat hai."
Reena said, "It's okay, Mukesh. You guys go on and have your dinner. We will join you later."
An hour later, the four were finally on their way home. Reena and Sarita remarked how much fun they had had while the two men exchanged knowing looks and just thanked God it was over.
A few weeks later, the doorbell rang and Reena sauntered to open it. Ram stood outside and on seeing Reena in a plain saree, remarked, "You are not ready yet? I told you to be dressed by the time I come. Don't you remember today is my boss's son's birthday?"
Reena said, "Of course, honey! The maidservant was late today. And I was not expecting you to be so early. Don't worry. I will get ready soon."
Reena - "Really, these office functions are so boring! Why should I miss my daily serial just to dress up and be bored in a strange party with strange people? Uff, this Ram also will never understand!"
For a moment, the smile was wiped clean from Ram's face but he mustered a look of surprise before his observant wife and replied, "Sorry, honey, there was an emergency meeting today. Don't worry. I will get ready in a jiffy."
Ram -"Really these functions! Why the hell should I waste my evening at a boring reception of Reena's uncle's son's brother-in-law, when I could jolly well laze on the couch watching today's match? Anyway, who keeps a reception on the day of an ODI?"
Reena looked suspiciously at her husband. She said, "Look, Ram, I know you are not interested in coming. But we could not attend his wedding. The least we can do is wish him in the reception. Moreover, Vineet helped us a lot during my wedding. For your sake, I have convinced Sarita to bring along Mukesh so that you'll have company. Now, get ready fast!". Mukesh was Reena's brother-in-law and a close friend of Ram. Ram heaved a sigh of relief.
An hour later, Ram sat next to Mukesh in a corner of the grand hall, where the reception was organized. The hall was thankfully air-conditioned. Guests were milling in and out, greeting the newlyweds who stood on a ornate stage, decorated with the choicest of flowers. Ram said, "Thank god, man, you are here. Otherwise, my whole evening here would have been spent smiling at nothingness and waiting for Reena to finish her endless conversations with her countless relatives." Mukesh replied, "Yaar, I don't know about you but Sarita promised me the food here was good. That is the only reason I am here."
Meanwhile on the stage, the bride and groom stood patiently, greeting the long line of guests. As it was a reception from the groom's side, the groom introduced his relations as the bride smiled and made small talk. The groom said, "This is my grandfather's brother's daughter and her family." The bride acknowledged their wishes with a smile, took their gifts and passed it behind.
The bride - "How many more guests to come? This lehenga is so heavy. I can barely stand. The photographers also do not give us a moment's respite. How on earth am I going to remember who all these people are? Ok, I have to really be attentive now."
As Ram and Mukesh talked about sundry topics, suddenly, out of the constantly moving crowd, an elderly lady stopped by Ram's side and said, "You are Ram, right? And you must be Mukesh?". The two stood up and said, "Yes." "How are you? I was just talking to Reena and Sarita about you two. It has been sometime since I last saw you. Maybe it was only at Reena's reception." Mukesh said, "Of course! How are you doing? How is your health?"
Mukesh -"Oh my god, who is she? Think fast, Mukesh! Is she Sarita's mother's cousin sister? No, no! Is she their childhood neighbour? Oh god, I wonder if Ram remembers."
Ram - "Say something, Ram! She was at your reception. Reena must have told you about her. Does she have a son who is abroad? No harm in trying!"
Ram said, "How is your son? Has he come back?". The lady looked flummoxed. She replied, "Oh no, I have only one daughter. She and Reena studied together. We were neighbours for many years. I have known Reena and Sarita since they were little girls. I guess, you have forgotten me."
Mukesh - "Yes, neighbour! I should have said so."
Both mustered a weak smile and Ram said, "I am sorry, aunty. I got confused." The lady smiled and said, "It's okay, beta. Hope you are doing fine. I will see you later," and walked away.
The two sat down sheepishly. Ram said, "Honestly, man, I didn't have a clue who she was!" Mukesh said, "Forget about it. It happens all the time at these functions. I wonder how much longer it will take for these two ladies to stop their chatter and give us some attention."
Reena and Sarita were having a gala time catching up with their cousins and other relations. Reena said, "Okay, Sarita, I think we better go and greet the newlyweds. The stage is not so crowded now. You go and fetch Ram and Mukesh. I will wait near the stage."
Mukesh saw Sarita gesturing him and told Ram, "Chal yaar! Bulawa aaya hai. If we can quickly finish this process, we are slowly on our way out." Both of them hurried to the stage. The four of them waited patiently as the previous guests posed for pictures with the newlyweds. Then quickly they made their way, introduced themselves, wished the bride and groom, clicked a picture and climbed down the stage.
Mukesh turned to Sarita and said, "Okay, now that is done. Can we have our dinner please?" Sarita looked irritated and said, "Can't you wait until we are a safe distance away from the stage? What will they think if they hear you? As if we have come for the food!"
Mukesh - "But that is why I have come! Ok, shut up, Mukesh. Thodi der ki baat hai."
Reena said, "It's okay, Mukesh. You guys go on and have your dinner. We will join you later."
An hour later, the four were finally on their way home. Reena and Sarita remarked how much fun they had had while the two men exchanged knowing looks and just thanked God it was over.
A few weeks later, the doorbell rang and Reena sauntered to open it. Ram stood outside and on seeing Reena in a plain saree, remarked, "You are not ready yet? I told you to be dressed by the time I come. Don't you remember today is my boss's son's birthday?"
Reena said, "Of course, honey! The maidservant was late today. And I was not expecting you to be so early. Don't worry. I will get ready soon."
Reena - "Really, these office functions are so boring! Why should I miss my daily serial just to dress up and be bored in a strange party with strange people? Uff, this Ram also will never understand!"
