The Story of Abhinav

Abhinav was seventeen years old, and wished he was older. Not just because he had exams the next day, but more so because there was yet another wedding that he had to attend in the near future. Attending weddings had been a way of life he had resigned himself to. His parents found it important and necessary to keep in touch with the rest of the country's inhabitants.In that respect,a clear disgrace to his ancestors, Abhinvav's phone book contained just five entries, which did no justice to the phone's capabilities, and much to reclusive nature.

What he liked most about the weddings, besides the happy endings (in more than one sense) was the train journey. He didn't care as much about capturing the window seat as he used to , but eavesdropping on his co passengers'adventurous lifestyle kept him occupied, and entertained. The thing that that he dreaded the most about weddings, ofcourse was having to wear a dhoti. Ofcourse it wasn't absolutely unnecesary, but not wearing one would invite perfectly unnecessary questions for the rest of the day. So he decided to battle the dhoti instead of relatives. A bad decision.

Dhoti, an innocuous looking piece of cloth, which looks so innocent when neatly folded and kept inside the bureau rises to its adventurous worst when you are in the spotlight. Not one to have a submissive nature, it will make repeated, and mostly succesful attempts to assert its independence. Forgetting to bring along a belt merely increases its success rate tenfold.

Abhinav had commited the cardinal sin. He'd forgotten the belt. Now his day was doomed. Much of it was spent coaxing the dhoti to heed to his requests (as opposed to demands he could place upon it when he had the belt to rely on) and listenings to relatives' discourses on advantages on dhotis over trousers. Abhinav of course was strongly opinionated about this issue, but was outnumbered.

His trips to weddings has not always been this depressing . There infact was a time, not very long back when he would go to these weddings clad in his ever-reliable and friendly tshirt - jeans combo . This blissful state of affairs was rudely put to an end. The day was clearly etched in his mind. It was his irritating cousin Vignesh's wedding, and at bedtime, due to a shortage a blankets,he had innocently asked his father "Can I use this bedsheet ?" pointing his finger towards what his father identified to be his precious grand Dhoti. His father was outraged. He was disappointed at the way he had brought up his son.He himself had allowed Abhinav to run amok . Much damamge had been done, and his son needed cultural education, he decided . And thus began, Abhinav's arduous journey towards dhoti-dom.

Life, while occasionally subjecting one to circumstances in which one is forced to pursue goals clearly outside one's interests, also gives you an opportunity to escape from it , after which, the original dreary existence that one earlier led is elevated to a state of euphoria. And such an opportunity was what awaited Abhinav. It was his favoutite cousin Sridhar's wedding . And he had not even forgotten to take the belt along . Could life get any better ? Yes, it apparently could , for in the midst of the family get together preceding the wedding, Abhinav's grandfather entered wearing a T shirt and trousers ! Abhinav's father was shocked. His relatives were shocked. The priest was shocked. Abhinav was excited .

Upon being asked tactful questions in regard to his attire, he simply answered "Why ?!! simply because I like it and find it comfortable. Dhoti is passe. ' Abhinav's gradfather had not alway been this bindaas. Only a few years back, he had fussed over ridiculously trivial things at a wedding . What could possibly have caused the transformation into this easygoing t-shirt clad octogenarian ?!When pressed further, all they got was a naughy twinkle in the eye and ' Oh thats a long story ! I'll tell you some other day' .Which was followed by ' Poor boy !! Why is he being tortured into wearing that thing ? Let him be , I say ! ' . This promptly elicited a resigned look on his father's face, and loud exclamations of approval from Abhinav . Could life get any better for Ahinav ?! Perhaps not, but we shall know for sure only in due course .