Mujeeb Rahman Moideen – One of my best friends. He was getting married. I did what a best friend would do – take two weeks leave, go to his marriage and enjoy. This summer, with Pune getting hotter and hotter, his marriage may be a reason to go to Ooty! But the chillness of Ooty was the least that I enjoyed. The most I enjoyed are the moments spent along with all the old pals (some new ones as well) on a typical Muslim marriage day. Thanks to you Mujji – it was an unforgettable experience.
Our plan was simple. Mujeeb’s marriage was on 18th May. We were supposed to be there in Coonoor by 17th of May. Our plan was to reach Coimbatore by 5PM, 17th May. We can then catch a cab or a bus and reach Coonoor before it’s too late. We started from our respective natives on 17th May and I’m the one who kept the promise. I reached Coimbatore by 4:40PM and called one by one. Everyone said that they’re on the way and it’d take 45 minutes for them to reach. The worst part of my waiting came when I called Ranga (Ranganathan Ragothaman) after 45 minutes and he said the same timing – he’d be there in about 45 minutes! Finally we all were in a cab towards Coonoor at about 8PM. Let me introduce my friends – Thiru, Vinodh, Ranga and Yatin – a new pal into my list. We reached late and met Shyam & Mr. and Mrs. Badri who reached there before us. We had dinner at Mujeeb’s home, met his family and it was wonderful. I still can’t forget the Sambar there!
On the marriage day, a bus was booked which bagged all the relatives of Mujeeb along with us and slowly, crawled towards Manappuram, Kerala. The marriage was arranged at the bride’s home-town and from Coonoor it takes about 6 hours to reach there by bus. Guys – as always, booked the last seats and it was full of noise. On our request, Mujeeb was travelling with us in the bus and we started to tease him all the way. Occasional stops for tea/ breakfast and other than that the travelling was very good until Mujeeb was with us. He had to get down at one stage and get into an Indica with his close relatives, do a fresh-up (makeup’s as well), and change. We reached Kerala at around 2 in the noon and the climate was just opposite to that of Ooty. By this time, I had made two more new pals – Sooraj and Saran.
It was a busy day on that particular marriage hall. 3 marriages were scheduled and it was quite a scene. Fully crowded and everyone’s looking for something. Photographers were busy taking snaps. Children play at the entrance – some mothers cautioning or chasing them. There we were – sitting just behind Mujeeb – who’s surrounded by atleast 4 people. One of them was the bride’s father and some of them were err… I don’t know how to call them! Some seniors, who conduct marriages, may be. They prayed – the way a Muslim would do. And then came the agreement (I really don’t know if that’s an agreement. I’m sorry if calling that an agreement would be an offense – I didn’t mean to. Everything there was written in Malayalam and it’s Chinese to me). Mujeeb has to fill that form-kind-of-agreement and sign. He was assisted or instructed by the seniors around him to complete. I believe the same kind-of-stuff would be done for bride as well which we did not witness.
When this was complete, it is said that the marriage is complete. We shook hand with Mujeeb, said “Congrats”. It is their formality that Mujeeb have his lunch with his friends, after the marriage. We had lunch; thankfully, there were Vegetarian foods as well. After marriage, we left towards a river which was very near to the marriage hall. The water was good, some of them took bath. We did not bring any clothes, so we just walked though the banks and enjoyed the breeze. I don’t know how those kind of lovely evenings just fly. It was soon dark and we had to leave towards Coonoor. Mujeeb did not accompany us this time (rightfully so) in the bus and it was a kind of boring-and-sleeping-journey back. We reached late and were directly dropped at Mujeeb’s home. We had dinner and left towards our lodge. At the end of 18th May, we were exhausted and slept immediately, unaware of the things that’s going to happen the next day.
-- To be continued…
Our plan was simple. Mujeeb’s marriage was on 18th May. We were supposed to be there in Coonoor by 17th of May. Our plan was to reach Coimbatore by 5PM, 17th May. We can then catch a cab or a bus and reach Coonoor before it’s too late. We started from our respective natives on 17th May and I’m the one who kept the promise. I reached Coimbatore by 4:40PM and called one by one. Everyone said that they’re on the way and it’d take 45 minutes for them to reach. The worst part of my waiting came when I called Ranga (Ranganathan Ragothaman) after 45 minutes and he said the same timing – he’d be there in about 45 minutes! Finally we all were in a cab towards Coonoor at about 8PM. Let me introduce my friends – Thiru, Vinodh, Ranga and Yatin – a new pal into my list. We reached late and met Shyam & Mr. and Mrs. Badri who reached there before us. We had dinner at Mujeeb’s home, met his family and it was wonderful. I still can’t forget the Sambar there!
On the marriage day, a bus was booked which bagged all the relatives of Mujeeb along with us and slowly, crawled towards Manappuram, Kerala. The marriage was arranged at the bride’s home-town and from Coonoor it takes about 6 hours to reach there by bus. Guys – as always, booked the last seats and it was full of noise. On our request, Mujeeb was travelling with us in the bus and we started to tease him all the way. Occasional stops for tea/ breakfast and other than that the travelling was very good until Mujeeb was with us. He had to get down at one stage and get into an Indica with his close relatives, do a fresh-up (makeup’s as well), and change. We reached Kerala at around 2 in the noon and the climate was just opposite to that of Ooty. By this time, I had made two more new pals – Sooraj and Saran.
It was a busy day on that particular marriage hall. 3 marriages were scheduled and it was quite a scene. Fully crowded and everyone’s looking for something. Photographers were busy taking snaps. Children play at the entrance – some mothers cautioning or chasing them. There we were – sitting just behind Mujeeb – who’s surrounded by atleast 4 people. One of them was the bride’s father and some of them were err… I don’t know how to call them! Some seniors, who conduct marriages, may be. They prayed – the way a Muslim would do. And then came the agreement (I really don’t know if that’s an agreement. I’m sorry if calling that an agreement would be an offense – I didn’t mean to. Everything there was written in Malayalam and it’s Chinese to me). Mujeeb has to fill that form-kind-of-agreement and sign. He was assisted or instructed by the seniors around him to complete. I believe the same kind-of-stuff would be done for bride as well which we did not witness.
When this was complete, it is said that the marriage is complete. We shook hand with Mujeeb, said “Congrats”. It is their formality that Mujeeb have his lunch with his friends, after the marriage. We had lunch; thankfully, there were Vegetarian foods as well. After marriage, we left towards a river which was very near to the marriage hall. The water was good, some of them took bath. We did not bring any clothes, so we just walked though the banks and enjoyed the breeze. I don’t know how those kind of lovely evenings just fly. It was soon dark and we had to leave towards Coonoor. Mujeeb did not accompany us this time (rightfully so) in the bus and it was a kind of boring-and-sleeping-journey back. We reached late and were directly dropped at Mujeeb’s home. We had dinner and left towards our lodge. At the end of 18th May, we were exhausted and slept immediately, unaware of the things that’s going to happen the next day.
-- To be continued…
