Hmmmm..

Music is playing in my new Sony Ericsson Walkman Series W300i to the glory of the night.. as the headphones are secured in my ears..listening to..jaadu hai nasha hai from movie Jism. I have put it in a loop...relaxing in the mood that has set in at 10:30 pm. I roll over and open the flap of my phone and quickly run through my message Inbox. After a quick glance, I stoop down to pick up ma AquaFina and take a few gulps. I fix the few strands of hair that has escaped my hair clasp. I ponder over the few conversations I had earlier with my friends online and on phone. Then I remembered one very vividly and I smiled at the thought of hearing my best friend's voice once again after a long break.. She sounded great..and pretty excited. Who wouldn't be..if you are getting married soon, right?

She got engaged a few months ago. She said she got news for me.. and she slowly admitted that she and her bf may tie the big knot real soon. Of course, we say 'tie-the-knot' in Indian style cause..it symbolizes the sacred thread. But, for her it was more of..exchanging vows..and then crossing the threshold. :) Then, I frowned. She had asked me enthusiasticaly..if I can be her maid-of-honor. Wow..! That was my first reaction. She went on to convince me about how she thinks no one would fit the bill as much as me.. and how she will bear the cost of me flying across the continent to America(!!).

But of course, Only If I get the permission from my Dear Parents. I rolled over..as the second stanza of Jaadu hai Nasha hai played soothingly in my ears and I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh. Somethings are better left un-said..and one of them would be to accept the fact that we can't be, as Indians, as free as these foriegners. But, thats a dishevelled feeling which I don't myself agree with at times. I guess.. calling someone an ABCD(American Born..CONFUSED DESI) does make sense. COnfused, we are. We dont hide it either. I tossed the hairstrand fallin on my cheek and swiftly searched for my phone..opened it..and stopped the song. I scrolled down the list and selected "soniye" song.

Tu hi tu hi meri manzil..
tu hi chaahat mei hai shaamil..

I looked out the window at the darkness staring back at me..and a shimmering light that passes by..Im guessing it was a car. I suddenly looked up to see a faint Moon. A lil voice inside said..

"... wat a stupid girl u are.. someone is offering u to be her Maid-of-Honor..do u even know what that means??"

Little startled.. i realized i really wasnt so sure. I got up and logged online. Swiftly did a google search, and found one website. It started like this..."Maid of Honor should be your closest friend - many times, a bride will choose her sister." Oh yeah, I smiled so wide.. like I have never done before. She's my sister indeed. and I luv her to Pits..something that I did mention once in my blog.

I scrolled down..to see more about the Maid of Honor's responsibilities..which it lists out like the following.

The main role of the Maid of Honor is to help the bride with the wedding planning... this can include shopping for dresses, addressing invitations, putting together favors and just being there when the bride needs some extra help, support or someone to talk to.

Traditionally, there are some specific duties that the maid of honor is to perform:

Host the bridal shower. Today, this is usually done with the help of the other bridesmaids.

Helps the bride get dressed on her wedding day.

Adjusts the bride's veil and train before she walks down the aisle and during the ceremony as needed.

Holds the bride's bouquet during the wedding ceremony.

Holds the groom's ring wedding ring until the exchange of the rings, if there is no ring bearer.
Witnesses the signing of the marriage license.

Helps the bride bustle her gown prior to the beginning of the reception.

If you are a Maid of Honor, the most important thing is to continually offer your assistance and support to the bride throughout the entire wedding planning process. We all need our friends - but during those stressful times of wedding planning - you need your best friend even more!

I was soo touched by this website.. that I felt like kissing the screen. My eyes literaly glowed to think.. of what lies ahead. I switched off the PC and returned to my pillow.
Soniyeeee....Sonniyeee...

The frown returned..this time oddly with a more disturbed feeling. I realized.. how much this would mean to me.. and to her.. and to our friendship.. and how I may have to still miss this golden opportunity. I decided.. I will just have to somehow be convincing enough to get this permission. I really don't know if i can do it.. but I will just have to try. With that determined thought.. I stopped the playing song.. unplugged my headphones from the phone..and decided to go off to sleep with the pillow on my side.

Strong wind rattled the windows as I tossed around and blinked my eyes open and became conscious of the fact that a ray of strong mid-summer morning Sun blaring through the curtains. I turn around to find my phone zinging alerting me of a new message received. I didn't even start to think who it could be.. because I know its my Morning greeting message, sent dutifully without fail by my closest friend in India. I read the message with half eyes closed..yawned and started to roll over and sleep again. When I felt like my friend's voice was calling me. I snapped my eyes open and wondered..wat was that.. I turned back to my phone to check the time.. and it was 7:30 am. I snapped the phone close and rubbed my eyes..when I stopped halfway through..and quickly opened the phone again. I hadn't noticed that there was another message. I open it.. and its from my girl.. she says she luvs me loads and she wants to wish me best of luck for everything. It was like a Deja vu for few mins... :)

I sat up and quietly prayed.. that she find happiness in everyway. This is a new stepping stone in her life.. and i want her to have the strength and courage to find this new turn as a welcoming boon. I want to thank her for being there for me.. for being my friend.. and for honoring me..by asking me to be her maid-of-honor.. and i want to show her my gratitude.. in many many ways..But, when words fail.. actions speak.. and I want to solemnly hope that I can be there for her.. on her big day.....