Ruchi Mami pass jaana hai

“Ruchi Mami Pass Jana Hai”

This is what I was pleading when the engagement ceremony of my Saurabh Mama got over.

Ruchi Mami was introduced to Saurabh Mama for his matrimonial during his last home visit around Diwali time, but God only knows of what Saurabh Mama is made of, he didn’t so easily give his consent. Instead he kept on finding out some reason or the other to keeping e-mailing, smsing and calling her for many months, without saying yes.

All this while, Nana was keen to meet me (he had not seen me for almost a year - last meeting was in Kolkata on my first birth day). But Mummy kept on delaying the visit to Nani house hoping Saurabh Mama would soon say yes so she could attend his engagement as well Nana too could see us.

One fine day in March, Saurabh Mama finally yielded. He closed conveyed his ‘yes’ with a rider that he needed a ‘yes’ from Ruchi Mami too. I overheard Nani break the news to Mummy on the phone. I was wondering how silly Saurabh Mama could be. Would Ruchi Mami have tolerated him for so long, if there was no ‘yes’ from her side? Anyways, consent from Ruchi Mami came very fast, just the next day.

At first Nani on her own fixed 21st March as the date for the ceremony but it was preponed to 15th as suggested by one Lalua Mausaji. Papa quickly got our train tickets done to go to Delhi – what a fun ride it was. That is how I landed in Nani house with Mummy and Papa to attend the engagement ceremony of my pricey Saurabh Mama.

Mummy had been telling me about Ruchi Mami for long and I was keen to meet this pretty girl. But on reaching Nani house, no one cared for my anxiety to go ‘out’ to visit Ruchi Mami. I kept saying “out” to tell them I wanted to meet Ruchi Mami, but Saurabh Mama coolly slipped out to meet Ruchi Mami without taking me along. And to compensate me, I was taken ‘out’ to see some dirty doggies in the lane with no sight of Ruchi Mami any where.

After breakfast the next day, every one was getting ready to go the venue. Mummy and Cherry Masi went to some parlour to get ready and I was left back with Papa. I kept waiting for mummy to return to put me to sleep, but on her return, she ignored my sleep and tried to make me wear a fancy dress which I vehemently opposed. Ultimately, Papa had to persuade me to wear a Pink Kurta and got me to agree to accompany them to the venue. Finally, I thought, I would meet Ruchi Mami. But alas, I fell off to sleep along the way.

When I woke up, I found myself in the midst of a large crowd with many new faces in a rather packed venue with some absurdly noisy and loud music. Further, no one cared to take me to Ruchi Mami for her darshan. I was wondering as to who had chosen such a weird venue. Indeed, the same Lalua Mausaji!!!!

Mummy got busy enjoying the ceremony while Papa took care of me throughout the function. There was no way to get Mummy’s attention so I shouted “Potty”, when Papa was away for a moment. And Mummy had to come running. Soon the function was over and all of us returned to Nani house without me having any darshan of Ruchi Mami.

Papa had to urgently leave for Mumbai in the same evening on way to US as some company had booked papa’s time in the aircraft to discuss the business.

I kept on telling every one at Nani house that (mujhe) Ruchi Mami (ke) pass jana hai. Finally, two days later, they took me to Ruchi Mami’s house. I was delighted to meet such a nice, sweet and pretty girl. At first she tried pataoing me by giving me toffees but I continued disturbing her. She gave me an antique toy cycle from her museum to play but my eyes were set on the antique car kept locked in that museum. So I kept up my tantrums. Ultimately, in the bargain I was taken out for a car-ride by Mummy and Ruchi Mami. This is how my wish to meet Ruchi Mami was finally fulfilled.

PS: This time I have taken my Nana's help to narrate my feelings and he was kind enough to put words around it. Thanks Nana