We had just moved to Abu Dhabi - there we were, downloading music into our car system, and planning long drives to Dubai during navratr,i because we thought we did'nt have know 'vethalai paaku'/'haldi kumkum' hosting families here!
*But apparently Abu Dhabi's theme song is 'hum kissi se kum nahin'!!!
*The innumerable 'vp'(vethalai paaku/haldi kumkum of course!) visits. Was caught off-guard and horrified at the "paatu paadu"('sing a song' in Tamil) aspect!! Apparently here u have to 'sing for your sundal'!! Am deeply ashamed, and cringe at the memory, but at one of the places, actually croaked out "hum ko mann ki shakti dena'!! I'm hoping that writing about it will help to exorcise such painful and embarrassing memories!!!
*But that's just the tip of iceberg ... When I thought that the worst was behind me, and made to grab my vethalai paaku, I was bluntly asked 'which year were you born?' While I was gulping and rendered speechless, my hostess, kindly repeated the question in simpler English in case I was as moronic as I looked -'how old are you?'
*With a thousand peircing eyes on me, I shamefully blurted out my age. My humiliation was complete when I was told, 'that means I'm much younger than you, so I'll do namaskaram'!!
*She then dived for my unsuspecting feet ... I was not prepared and could think of "jug jug jiyo" or
'sada suhagan raho' (Ekta Kapoor would have been proud of me!!), but instead mumbled a "God Bless"!!
*Million thoughts ran through my crowded brain, priority being 'why the hell did'nt I get a pedicure done'!!
*Was this a freak case? Sad to report that it was'nt! Only silver lining on the otherwise very bleak and dark cloud was that in the next place I turned out to be 'younger' and therefore no opportunity to give 'aashirwaad' here!!
*The unnerving part is that there are still a few days to go. Now that I'm a veteran with many visits tucked under my belt, am quite looking forward to the next rounds with hope in my heart!!!
Moral of the story : fed up with the routine, dignified humdrum navratri celebrations in your town?? Abu Dhabi beckons!!
A much chastened soul,
*But apparently Abu Dhabi's theme song is 'hum kissi se kum nahin'!!!
*The innumerable 'vp'(vethalai paaku/haldi kumkum of course!) visits. Was caught off-guard and horrified at the "paatu paadu"('sing a song' in Tamil) aspect!! Apparently here u have to 'sing for your sundal'!! Am deeply ashamed, and cringe at the memory, but at one of the places, actually croaked out "hum ko mann ki shakti dena'!! I'm hoping that writing about it will help to exorcise such painful and embarrassing memories!!!
*But that's just the tip of iceberg ... When I thought that the worst was behind me, and made to grab my vethalai paaku, I was bluntly asked 'which year were you born?' While I was gulping and rendered speechless, my hostess, kindly repeated the question in simpler English in case I was as moronic as I looked -'how old are you?'
*With a thousand peircing eyes on me, I shamefully blurted out my age. My humiliation was complete when I was told, 'that means I'm much younger than you, so I'll do namaskaram'!!
*She then dived for my unsuspecting feet ... I was not prepared and could think of "jug jug jiyo" or
'sada suhagan raho' (Ekta Kapoor would have been proud of me!!), but instead mumbled a "God Bless"!!
*Million thoughts ran through my crowded brain, priority being 'why the hell did'nt I get a pedicure done'!!
*Was this a freak case? Sad to report that it was'nt! Only silver lining on the otherwise very bleak and dark cloud was that in the next place I turned out to be 'younger' and therefore no opportunity to give 'aashirwaad' here!!
*The unnerving part is that there are still a few days to go. Now that I'm a veteran with many visits tucked under my belt, am quite looking forward to the next rounds with hope in my heart!!!
Moral of the story : fed up with the routine, dignified humdrum navratri celebrations in your town?? Abu Dhabi beckons!!
A much chastened soul,
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