Short Story/The Old Couple And The Touring Marriage Party

Installment 2 ...And then he saw them and what he saw made him wonder if he needed to check his vision. A crowd certainly more than a dozen was standing outside his gate, in the middle of which stood the newly weds. Apart from Baskar’s son Raju and his wife Mini there were-1. The groom’s mother Nirmala(ok she was expected to be there!)2.Another couple in their late middle age (the bride’s parents) 3.The bride’s brother’s wife with her two teenaged kids(the bride’s brother had been unable to make it)4.Nirmalas’s cousin Venki and his wife and eight year old daughter. After Poniah exchanged pleasantries with those he knew, Baskar introduced him and Susheela, who had joined him by now, to the bride’s family members. Poniah hoping only his brother, his wife and the young couple were staying with them inquired where the rest were staying. To which Baskar replied," We thought of booking a lodge for the rest of the party, but then realized you might feel insulted. So all of us are staying with you for the night."Susheela and Poniah looked at each other and the former simply said," Come in." And they all trotted in making a lot of noise like a bunch of school children on an excursion. The house had a medium sized living room, a tiny kitchen, one bedroom, and a guest cum pooja room. The guests settled into the hall and the driver of the mini van Parameshwaran started bringing in the luggage. Since they were on a “statewide tour” they had packed heavy and the luggage took up a substantial part of the guest room. The groom's mother Nirmala said, “Sushi, just prepare tea for the grown ups and Boost or Horlicks for the kids.” Since the couple drank neither Boost nor Horlicks these items were not stocked and Susheela prepared milk for the children and tea for the elders.Venki's daughter Lakshmi started yawning which set off a chain reaction of sleepiness. Now the question of where everyone would sleep arose, as did the issue of lack of mattresses and pillows. Baskar started getting creative. He ordered his son and daughter-in-law to sleep in the bedroom with the three kids. Mini’s parents and her brother's wife would sleep in the guest cum pooja room along with Venki and his wife. Those rooms had one bed each where everyone assigned to the room could cram in. Where there were no pillows each others laps or one’s own hands-for those who didn’t like using others laps-could be used. And turning to Poniah he said, “ Nimmi, Sushi and we two can sleep on the floor in the hall.” to be continued and concluded in instalement 3...