India - Day 4

(Original post date - January 11, 2017)

Day 4

We were awoken at 8:00, by our gracious host, to inform us that the appointment we made for 8:30 would have to start early because our henna/mendhi artists had arrived already. So we dragged ourselves out to the living room in our pajamas and proceeded to show the ladies pictures and examples of what we would like. Apparently what we had chosen was too simple and they encouraged us to opt for much much more, but we stood our ground (mostly).

After they painted the backs of our hands (and my palms as well…), it was difficult to sit still while it dried. I only messed mine up a little bit. Once dry, you’re supposed to let the ink flake off on its own, but it’s very tempting to pick it off prematurely. But we did the best we could until about 12, when it was time to go to the hair salon for a wash and blow dry styling. The women who worked there were super sweet, but were not quite able to accomplish what I wanted them to do. Oh well. They served us more chai of course. I suppose it’s okay to leave with damp hair…

Lori and I were asked to help with wedding decorations at a local friend’s house. She suggested we get some lunch before we headed over there, and we decided on a place called The Takeaway. It seemed fine to me, but once inside Lori was apprehensive. I thought she was crazy. She wasn’t. More on that later. Plus, the delicious looking lemon drink I chose to buy turned out to be a mistake as well.

Me: Watch this drink be filled with salt.

Lori: Haha, yeah right.

Me: (takes sip…filled with salt)

We tied some bows on wedding programs, and met some lovely people including Shini Abraham, a woman I haven’t seen since I was about 12 years old. We had known each other once upon a time when we both lived in Texas, she was a young married woman, and I a child obviously. She happened to know the groom and I was there for the bride. What a small world!

After tying many bows, it was time for us to go back to get ready for the evening, so a Korean named Timothy drove us back to our hotel so we could do just that. We changed into “fancy clothes” and met Cynthia and Valerie at the tailor to make sure our sari blouses were ready. We tried them on, and mine ended up need a few quick alterations, and let me just say that getting in and out of that thing is quite an ordeal. They make it to fit you so snugly. It’s not the most graceful activity I’ve ever been seen doing.

Sima, the tailor who also owns a Baskin Robbins, gave me her card in case I needed any help once I got to Delhi after the wedding was over because it turns out her parents live there. How generous!

We then headed to China Grill for the rehearsal dinner. We had a lot of laughs with the wedding party and all the wonderful people who pitched in to make the wedding a success in various ways. Unfortunately that food I ate at The Takeaway earlier in the day started to become a problem. Great timing. Having diarrhea the day before you are in your friend’s wedding is a shame, to say the least.

I survived without any mishaps, and while we waited for an Uber to shuttle back home for the night, we shivered and shivered. Who knew India could be so cold? Back at home, Lori made me drink an Emergen-C to replenish what I had lost and would continue to lose until about 1:00am. Plus, I hadn’t been drinking nearly enough water on this trip anyway. Oops.