So this morning PN had chartered two flights of Jet Airways to fly guests and relatives from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. The process was like clockwork with no checking in, luggage taken etc. On the flight were the Kotak family, who own the Kotak Bank. PN’s mum is a Kotak.
On arrival after an hour, we were garlanded by the receiving party, and given a personal taxi for the next two or three days. Our complimentary accommodation is at the Marriot, and there was another receiving party, and high tea! Some of the old English methods appear to have stuck in time in India.
Met up with Meena’s sister Rashmi from Canada, and mum and other sister, Toral from Deradhun. Her cousin, Dipakbhai had come from Baroda. So it is a larger Nathwani occasion.
Also Babubhai, and family were there, and Jamari’s and children from Leicester.
The evening event was at Gulmohar Greens Golf Club. It was massive with valet parking, Hugh reception, outdoor, any food that you can think of ( all veggie) and we did our usual niceties, and after canapés had Lebanese to realign our AC (alimentary canal), to some normality. There was enough food to feed a small republic.
So the musician was Sonu Nigam, and there quite a few high society people. As a minion, I did not recognise any of the minsters, but one chap appeared to get all the photographers, acting like paparazzi. It was Mukesh Ambani, who had come in his private jet. He had a lot of security, and came in like a film star, everybody including official photographers ignoring the bride and bridegroom and rushing to take his picture. I managed several shots of his back, and had kept a second eye for any loose change that may have fallen of his pockets, but with no success. After all he is worth about USD 50 Billion!
On a second attempt I did manage to capture him, he seemed to be talking to some ministers, probably agreeing to a deal or two. Oh , Pankaj stays and plays at Gulmohar Club. MA, then was whisked away and flew in his private jet for a sleep in his Billion dollar home in Mumbai. After the Sono Nigam show, and two pans, we reached our whotel, and reflected whether MA suffers from gas. Meena and Kavita think, I do.
Met up with Meena mum in the morning for breakfast, (thepla, athanu, etc of course) and we discussed the issues re gas. She suffers from a similar problem , though not exactly same, and suggested I try Kapal Bharti yoga, where I need to tighten my stomach and grunt out! 20 times a day. Also helps those with large bellies, or are bellicose.
Oh forgot about he bride, she is a marvadi (Khandwala), as Laxmi Mittall, and her father is the biggest stockbroker/investor in Gujarat. Interesting parallels how the royalty and those with the money keep it within themselves, and exchange a child or two.
Superlatives? Whatever. Smaller events are more personal.