Jet lag has a yo-yo effect, in that you start going the other way sooner than you think. So the international travellers either looked spritely, or worse for wear. I met up with Pankaj outside the lobby, and onto Sams Beagles. The Sodhas started rolling in, and my view is that beagles are the best thing since sliced bread. There was even approval from Nainabhabhi, and enough said.
Thursday was the day without travel, as the Sangeet evening was in the same hotel. So, Umesh on Mukesh’s recommendation decided to go to a good value area, and Meena and Kavita went to a Freida Karlo exhibition at Museum of Latin American Artists, in Long Beach.
My mind was on the Beach Volleyball, so I walked along with Nikhil, to look for a hat. Bald people dream about these things…I even sleep with one of them! Onto Farmers market, banter with an OM stall, for items befitting Venice Beach. Meet the key man for the Volleyball competition, who Anil did a great job, bringing the kit, and organising us into three teams. I was the only Uncle (Nick was there too, but I don’t know where he was called that) there so I maximised on taking advantage.
Rugby is often used as a metaphor for teamwork, and business. I would rather use beach volley ball. It’s about focus, speed, flexibility (changing sides), helping team members, encouragement, grounded, rule-bound, can be mixed sex, and above all fun! Rugby is male dominated, and and comes across as aggressive.
The Americanos were great fun, with lots of adjustable rules, politeness, and scores that allowed the team I was in to win. It was great to see Maya, Olivia, Isha (who got an amazing back-flip), Nikhil, Nimesh, and Druv all having a go. One P take ( taking a Mickey, for those who are not entitled to understand this) was when Druv tried to serve, we would say wait wait wait….. My American team actions and words got enhanced with ‘let’s go’, don’t clap but slap you palms with your partners frequently, and what you doing man! There was even pizza, and it all finished at 5 pm, a civil time to prepare for the highlight The Mehndi.
The extent of planning and hard work by Amee and family in this event was all to apparent. Lots of beautiful friends, families of both sides starting arriving at the function room at the top. The women were beautifully dressed with vibrant colours, and Amee just looked special. The men were mostly in traditional dress, and with the evening sun setting over the spectacular city, the place was picture perfect. So lots of pictures, and and as it unfolded,the couple arrive with their entourage of the six bridesmaids, and the lad, Samir. What a spectacle, amazing, and special for Amee.
The entrances do the grooms family were just fun to watch, with dances to match even by Anishs grandfathers from both sides. Their dancing, particularly to the Bangra music, was so full of action, effort and variety, that well almost anything goes. Children in this occasion made it so personal, and Saya and Neya were in their element. There was a youngster on the dance floor, about six or seven, who would have left John Travolta standing.
Vinu and Ushabhabi, Trina and Sanjeev and children looked so colourfully dressed, but the winner was the bride. I am no good at women’s attire, but the dress Amee’s has worn just stood out. With shades of cream, silver, gold, soft flowing dress, with matching jewellery and stunning hair-do, Amee looked even more special. Vinukaka’s phagadi and dress, and height made him look like a king. I know of old that he lacks a penchant for dance, but his slow rhythmic head movements with raised arms, caught many any eye. The punjabi men of import of course was Anish, and he was ever so circled, that it was hard to get near.
As the rituals of giving saris etc went along, all the Sodha uncles had to do a little something to the groom, and give him a Malteser, and say a prayer. I think Pankaj said something about some perfumes, and mine was a quick mixture of the Gayatri Mantra and Armani.
There was fun all over, in the balconies, in the bar, and the food….we tend to over do in food and drink and this was no exception. Saw a a lovely African American family from Washington, with their proud little boy, who was variously dressed as a cool-suited dood doing Bangra movements, shirt out, having his milk bottle and in slumber in his parents arms, amongst a thunder of Bangra music.
Meena and myself sat with a couple, a doctor who had qualified in Pune, and had discussions about our recent tour around the area. Great place, buzzing with IT, food, weather, intellectuals, and rapid development. Amee’s Iranian school friend and neighbours were sitting near us, and the banter from the previous night extended.
My Nehru hat was a topic of conversation, as was how alike the brothers look, to which I take great exception! However, I discreetly asked Pankaj to wear my hat, told him the gist of my conversation, and asked him to carry on chatting with the parents of the school friend. I would highly recommend this test to all my brothers or all those who look alike, to prove the validity of similarity. Please refrain from telling any would be migrants.