A Big Fat Destination Wedding

Mamta depicts a big fat destination wedding in this verse.

Far away from the city

A heritage palace

Pulsates with nervous frenzy                                 

As a fairy tale wedding

Is wrapped in satin and shiny dreams

Past the manicured lawns

Starters overflow

Early guests carelessly wander

Nobody ears the melodious strain

Floating through the verdant fabric

Frothy milk, flavoured with zafraan

Cooking in brass cauldrons, to be served in clay cups

Imartis simmer with golden perfection

The banquet being readied with professional ease

Reeking of respectability and taste

Bejewelled and perfumed guests make late entry

Making the luminous summer night

Sensuous and seductive

Networking and making conquests

Dominates the minds that measure

Success and failure

Maintaining allies and ambushing foes

With every inhale and exhale

Sparkling wit of groom’s friends

Affectionate disdain from pretty girls

Infectious bonhomie

Churn short lived romance                                               

With hips swaying to popular Bollywood hits

Contagious energy

Leaves visible traces

Of innocence and warmth

The stage is full

With various relatives and friends

Flanking the radiant newly-weds

Cameras clicking amidst wires and chaos

To capture the resonances

Endearments, banter, insults, compliments float

With heady liquor making its effect

Food is ready to be served

on tables groaning with variety

Culinary items from half the globe

Around the swimming pool

Amidst the glow of psychedelic lights

No one notices

The subdued melancholy of bride’s parents

Liveried waiters

The anonymous singer and his troupe

Pix from Net

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Mamta Joshi
Mamta Joshi did her post graduation in History from University of Allahabad. She writes short stories, reflective essays, prose pieces on everyday life in national dailies and international e-magazines. She writes with equal ease in Hindi. For over two decades, as a teacher of English in college section at SMC, Allahabad, she has been interacting with young minds, understanding their pulse and in turn being savvy on technology, fitness, fashion, humour and rumour too.

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