We were invited to this wedding years ago in Mumbai. The boy was related to my family side. So Mom came too.
We decided to skip the ceremony, instead attend just the reception.
By the time we reached, it was really late. Around nine in the evening.
A huge crowd milled around impatiently. We watched the serpentine queue waiting to greet the newly weds in their splendid best, while those that did, rushed to get their plates filled.
We watched the queue increasing in length in dismay. At this rate, we'd reach nowhere and it was almost ten already.
So we decided to have our food first. We stepped into the adjoining mandap, only to see empty, unwashed plates lined up on the long table.
Food was over. Our tummies now growling louder in protest, we asked them if we had a chance getting anything at all. We were asked to wait for some time.
No clean plates available, the man just dipped a few used plates in the same pail of dirty water and handed them over to us.
We came over to this side, plate and clean tissue in hand. At least the tissue was clean!
Some greased portions visible on the plate had to be subtly wiped off. The queue definitely shorter now, we juggled with the idea of wishing the couple or wait for the food.
Finally, our tummies won the toss. We waited as we stood in a circle. Hubby, me, two little kids and Mom. We looked at each other and burst into laughter. A very unusual reception.
Finally we found some 2-3 items had been just cooked. Actually half cooked. We filled some stuff onto our used plates and ate like mad.
Ice cream served last really saved the day.
Lots of extra guests from the girl's side came in at the last minute, we learned later. That created the confusion.
We wiped our hands, met our relatives, shook hands and smiled.
"Had your dinner," the tall, dark and handsome groom asked us.
"Yes," we nodded. Our still hungry bowels disagreed.
"Aapne kuch khaya?" we asked the driver as we reached the car. The short, stocky fellow replied he had it early as we'd advised him to. Last time, at some other wedding, he mistakenly had gatecrashed into another wedding going on nearby. That had been hilarious.
But this one was a highly forgettable reception.
