Chapter 21

The whole town of Ugar is in a festive mood today. There is a wedding ceremony today evening. In the town of Ugar, there is no ritual of printing and sending invitation cards. There are no social politics of inviting one and not inviting other. The whole town is invited without a formal invitation. All elders of Ugar come to bestow their blessings. Young adults are either friend of the groom/bride or are just there to enjoy the festive mood. Children, well children go anywhere their parents want them to go. But they also have a great time. And there is no formal exchange of presents as well. Blessings is what matters the most. And there is no concept of hiring caterers or making tents etc. A wedding party is one big giant potluck. The whole ceremony happens at the community park. Guest not only bring food but also chairs to sit if they live nearby. People coming from far bring sheets to spread on grass etc. People play volleyball, kids play cricket, some sing while others dance. A normal watcher would be confused whether it is a town picnic or a wedding ceremony.

But one thing that the town of Ugar likes to have is to dress up nicely. Although not a requirement by any means, but it is one occasion where they can wear the impressive designer clothes hanging in their closets. One occasion where they can men can wear their two/three piece coats and women can discuss their silk saris etc.
And this is where the situation becomes tense to Mr. Naman. If Mr. Naman was living alone, he would have gone there wearing a paijama and hopefully a matching kurta. But it is assured that both of them will not be ironed. But the truth is that he is not alone and he has a mother who is hell bent that her son should look good and nothing can come in the way of a mother's will.

Today is a very nervous day for Mr. Naman. He had wished that this day may never come even though he knew that someday he will have to face his inner demons. Everything started on the last wedding ceremony at Ugar. Mr. Naman was wearing a nice two piece suit with a stylish blue tie. It was the only decently maintained piece of clothing in his closet and by this time we should know that who was behind maintaining that. He had worn the same suit-tie in every wedding ceremony for the past two years and one must expect that after two years, although occasionally, that he would have gotten used to wearing it but this is Mr. Naman that we are talking about. So at the last ceremony he had been careless and spilled tomato ketchup over his tie while trying to eat a delicious samosa. Needless to say Mr. Naman's mother was furious but the thought of buying a new tie for her son was more optimistic.

And this is the source of Mr. Naman's tension today. He has to accompany his mother to the market in order for her to choose a nice tie for him. Mr. Naman shudders to think the horrors that he had to go through two years back when he was buying the coat. But it has to be done. So here we are, at an air conditioned garment suiting shop. Even though it is not summer and the air condition is working perfectly fine maintaining a rather cold temperature, Mr. Naman is sweating like water through a strainer.

The guy behind the counter is showing tie after tie, colors- red, blue golden and more, designs - squares, stripes and what not. Mr. Naman was confused as hell. His mother was like a martial in the field, making decisions as quick as ever. Dismissing some rightly, keep some at side, ordering more of this kind, pattern X in color Y and what not. Slowly, Mr. Naman raised his voice and said "What about the tie on that mannequin?" Mr. Naman's mother was surprised to see her son express interest in a tie. She looked at the tie being in question and although it was not what she had in mind but it looked good. Moreover since her son had pointed it out, she agreed instantly. And thus the decision was made and Mr. Naman took a huge sigh of relief.

Later she asked her son, why did you choose that one over others? She wanted to know her son's interests etc. Mr. Naman candidly replied that "since the tie was put on mannequin, it already had a knot. All the others were without a knot and i don't know how to tie a knot. So this was easy." Banging her forehead with her hands, she says to herself - "Why? Why me?"