Arranged Marriage - Part 2

the engagement...

Indian engagements can be much like the wedding itself.  There were about 10 girls in a tiny room, "helping" Menuka get ready.  Doing her hair and makeup 20 different ways.

Menuka's sister's daughter-in-law is doing her make-up.  When Indians tell you that she is their "sister" or their "cousin"...make sure you ask if it's their actual sister or cousin.  Because it's usually not.  But here, everyone is family :)

Me and V tryin' to get out of the way!  I secretly like to sit back and just observe what's going on.  It was chaos fo sho!

Jeff submissively observing the "no boys allowed" rule.  No worries though, he was practicing telling the story of Jesus' baptism to himself.  We would peek out just to make fun of him.

Everyone from the girls' side inside the church, waiting for the boy and his family to knock on the door.  It's tradition for Nepali's that he and his family will knock, and a leader from the girl's side will ask why he came and what he wants.  It's really silly - the leader will accuse them of being thieves and they don't have anything for them to take.  So then, the family says they have come for a "flower."  Yeah, this is where it gets funny....

So then the leader brings in girls with veils over their faces and ask whether this is the "flower" they want.  Nope, not this one.  She's too short.

Not this one either...she has jeans on.  And well, this fellow doesn't like flowers with jeans...seriously.

Ahhh....I think this might be the right flower!

Ding ding ding!  The aunty takes off her veil and finds that this is the "original" flower - the one they saw a couple weeks ago.  haha!  And everyone laughs and claps.  It's pretty jolly.

So then the family gives a tray of snacks/food (eggs, juice, biscuits) and Rajesh and Menuka exchanged gifts.  Rajesh gave a ring and Menuka gave him a watch.

Finally, a few people speak about each one of them.  Since Menuka's parents are not alive, Jeff and Trish and one of Menuka's uncles spoke.  Because Trish started crying and wasn't able to finish (she LOVES Menuka...she's like a daughter to her...they've known her for 5 years), Jeff told Rajesh that he hoped he would love her well and care for her like a newly uprooted flower that it getting a new home.  It might take awhile for the roots to grow, but with much love and care and "watering" it will develop deep roots.  Pretty good analogy I thought!

Oh, and Rajesh's pastor said that they weren't to speak or see each other until the day of the wedding.  Well, sorry sir, but I don't think that's going to happen.  Immediately after the service, Trish asked Rajesh about that, and he whispered, "We have cell phones.  And I'll have to go with my sister to get Menuka's measurements."  (Menuka is supposed to buy his suit and he is supposed to buy her dress...yeah, how would you like your fiancee to pick out your WEDDING DRESS?!  haha!)  So anyway, although they're willing to go along with most of the traditions, the one of not speaking or seeing one another will not be followed.

Then...drum roll please...they bring in CHAI.  Yesssss!!!  I immediately said (almost shouted), "Praise the LORD!  I love chai!"  It's times like those, when you love being there but have not understood much at all because it's all in Nepali so you have a splitting headache...that chai tastes like HEAVEN.  Then, to top it off, we had a wonderful dinner of rice, dahl, cauliflower, potatoes, beans, and chicken.  Although it was a tad spicy, it was delightful to share a meal with so many sweet people, celebrating Menuka's engagement.

Yes, we were there for 5 hours.  Yes, everything in India takes 3 times as long :)