Sipping on some ginger tea, I find myself recollecting the last time I had ginger tea. It suddenly dawned on me that I have not told this story, and it is worth being told and heard.
Somewhere in the meantime, I received the wedding invitation of Supriya, my friend from college. The wedding was supposed to happen in Gurvayur.
I jumped at the idea of going to Gurvayur to attend her wedding. The idea of travelling, Gurvayur, meeting her, and attending her wedding equally played parts in bringing up my enthusiasm.
So I booked flight tickets to and from Coimbatore and planned on continuing the journey by bus. Just before I left Hyderabad, I had managed to put my vocal cords to task by using them over-time. As a result, I had a bad throat and was not able to talk. On the day I left Hyderabad, I noticed my nose bleeding due to the heat and rupture of the blood vessels as a result of constant sneezing and coughing.
Anyways, I was all set to go, and I went! I landed well in Coimbatore and found my way to the connecting bus to Kerala. By the time I reached Kerala, I was completely sick. On my arrival in Gurvayur, I looked awful. So much that Supriya was feeling quite upset seeing me. When I told her that all I want is some water, she looked at me with a helpless expression on her face and said "But you will get only hot water here" She was quickly trying to figure out a way to get me water or a beverage that was not hot.
Now here is a little background... When I was in college, I consumed several gallons of fizzy drinks straight from the fridge. It has never been my style to appreciate hot or warm beverages of any sort. And I have always liked cold edible things, and cold environments(strictly physical and not metaphoric by any means) to be in.
Much to her surprise, I thanked her profusely. She had not known that I started realizing the benefits of hot water regardless of my general dislike. I asked her if she could get me some hot water with local herbs. She made me feel like I was asking someone in Alaska if they would be willing to sell me some snow.
Anyways, as I reached the hotel, I drank a decent quantity of hot water that she brought. I took some medicines because I really knew how bad I was and everyone around me was feeling sick just by the virtue of seeing me. She took me to the temple because I asked her to. We got ready in a jiffy, but she took me to the temple on a casual walk. I did not go for the standard rush that we are usually put on while on pilgrimage. She helped me get some exclusive temple visit because I am her friend. There was a time, I actually rested on her shoulders. We then went to have dinner, where I was a party pooper by only having curd rice and lots of local herb hot water. By the time dinner was over, I was already feeling better.
We went back to the hotel, and she had given me a room. I was fast asleep. The next day was a very relaxed wedding ceremony. It was a very beautiful wedding. Her cousins were taking care of me the previous day and on the wedding day. Many more people had joined in on the D-day, and it was lovely being in the company of such positive and kind people. I tried to not get too close to her around the wedding time worrying about the bridezilla mode that every girl is usually on. But it so happened that she was cool with others being around, and she was being on her own. She did not expect anything from anyone, and on the contrary was very helpful to her guests. I was greatly surprised by this. I was literally speechless, had my jaws dropping and did not blink for several seconds. She casually called herself "Bride on Wheels" when she was gliding through the room to fetch something that she needed to get ready.
It is very rare that we find a bride who doesn't make a fuss about everything. And exceptionally rare if she doesn't lose her wits. Oh, by the way, there was a major strike that day with no transportation facility that disrupted the travel plans of some of the guests. Like any event, there were a lot of times that tested her patience. She passed all those tests very well with poise and grace.
If I ever get to be a bride, I would like to be a Bride on Wheels instead of a bridezilla.
And, most important, I returned home in perfectly good health.
I am now having the same tea that she got me to treat my condition as I write this post reminiscing the quality vacation I had in a short duration on her wedding.
I wish Supriya a very long and happy married life.
