It’s 6 a.m. and I’m sitting on the rooftop terrace of my uncle’s house in Chennai. It’s cool and quiet, with just a few vehicles on the beach road a half block away. Doorsteps are being swept and buckets are being filled, and the calls of crows and other birds outnumber the yelps of the stray dogs that dominate the night.
The Japanese side of the family arrived late last night, six in all, weary after fifteen plus hours of travel but slapped awake by the commotion and dust and horn-blaring that is India, a country that is quite possibly the polar opposite of the precision, cleanliness, and politeness that is Japan. The commonality that both country’s drivers use the left-side of the road was most likely lost in the noise. Hopefully the comfort of the four-star hotel where they are staying somewhat insulated them from it all allowed them a few hours of restful sleep.
Because while it’s quiet and peaceful right now, the chaos and insanity of an Indian wedding weekend begins building in just a few hours. The core of the family is gathering a little more than an hour from now to review assignments and taskings; the fleet of six rented vehicles arrives soon after (three passenger vans and three SUVs, all with drivers); and by 10 a.m. there will be scores of guests at the groom’s family’s house for a mehndi party and lunch, more guests than attended the hotel-based wedding in Japan.
Granted, there will be time naps in the afternoon (some things are sacrosanct!), but I doubt that many will be well-rested after tonight’s reception at the hotel when they arrive at the wedding mandapam early tomorrow morning with hundreds of other guests. It’s good that we’re easing the Japanese into with today’s smaller, less formal gathering!
Ok. One step at a time. It’s time to shower, get dressed, and get ready for the morning’s events. The afternoon’s and evening’s events will come along in due time.
