Wedding Bells for Aditya and Pragati

08/02/10
Completed morning program.Packed for journey to Dhanbad.I requested Barun to get me a berth in AC1 as I would be uncomfortable in AC3 tier.I am grateful to him he got me reservation in AC1 for outward and inward journeys.
We reached late at the railway station to catch the train.It all happened because the driver took a wrong turn and we had to travel via Karolbasg, a route full of traffic lights.He also did not know the VIP parking and took us to a dead end from where we had to hire a rickshaw to reach the station.We ran to board the train and boarded it when it was about to start.It was nice to see for the 1st time Venita jogging on the platform. His brother, Barun,somehow managed to take her in.The marriage party consisted of 27 persons.Mr. & Mrs. Sashi Sinha,a cousin of Venita,are also traveling in AC1 but have bought their own tickets.They are traveling to Kolkata after attending marriage at Dhanbad.The fare of AC3 tier ticket is about Rs.1600 whereas the fare of AC1 is Rs.2100 for a senior citizen.I got a rebate of about Rs.900,otherwise I would have had to pay Rs.3080. I have told Barun that I would pay him the difference of fare between AC3 tier and AC1,which is about Rs.500. Venita is traveling in AC3 tier.Others are also traveling in AC3 tier.As per the practice the fare for marriage party has to be paid by the parents of the boy who is to get married.It is not a good practice. We should pay for our journey instead.It is always good to travel together because then you can go on talking , joking,playing antakshari,singing and reveling in other ways.
In AC1 compartment I have the company of Mr.VK Dutta,a trader of alcohol,which is used by makers of whiskey,beer,wine etc.Alcohol is produced from molasses(dregs of sugarcane after making of sugar),barley,grapes,wheat,rice etc.Scotch is a grain as also a flower which grow in Scotland.The alcohol is made out of it and thereafter used in production of scotch whiskey,which is nothing but 30-40% of alcohol from scotch mixed with flavor and water.In the process of making alcohol,yeast(kind of bacteria) is mixed in the mash of molasses etc. which separates alcohol from the same and thereafter it is used for production of hard drinks keeping in the percentage of alcohol in each one of them as per requirement.It was interesting to know the process of making alcohol and alcoholic drinks.
The New Delhi Howrah Rajdhani Express by which we were traveling had been stopped at Gaya due to Bandh called by Naxalites for about 3 hours.By the time we reached Dhanbad the train was about four and half hours late.
09/02/10
We were welcomed with roses at the Dhanbad railway station. The accommodation of the marriage party was arranged by Dr.(Capt.)UC Rai,Head of the department of Clinical Pathology, in a local Medical College,the father of the bride,in the Seventeen Degree Hotel,the best in Dhanbad though it has not yet got a Star ranking.The management of the hotel has applied for Star ranking and hope to get it soon.It is decent hotel.It is owned by Sh.Khemka,a local businessman.Dr.Rai's wife Dr.Pratibha Rai.She is a senior gynecologist.Dr.Rai is a relation of a batch mate of mine,Dr.Balmiki Prasad,IAS (Retired),presently Governor of Sikkim.My batch mate told Dr.Rai that he need not worry about his daughter as she was going to a good family .Rais belong to Bhumihar community and we belong to kayasth community.It is an inter-caste marriage.The boy and girl knew each other since last 7-8 years.They had coaching together at Kota for admission into an engineering college.Thereafter they took admission in the same college near Bangalore.Now they are working in private companies.Bhaiyya works in THUMS Long Beach Company in U.S.A.and i do not know where Pragati is working.But this much I know that she will join Bhaiyya in U.S.A and work in another company at a nearby place. It has been a steady relationship for a long period.After both are settled in good jobs,they decided to get married.This relationship is going to last,I am sure.Pragati is graceful, looks a corporate girl,and intelligent.Bhaiyya is handsome and smart.Both complement each other.Both come from middle class and have its core values .
During the day "Gode Bharai Ceremony","Phaldan and Tilak Ceremony","Jaimal and Ring Ceremony","Gurhati ceremony by Jeth" and "Wedding Ceremony" were performed. We had lunch in Debate hall of the hotel and cocktail dinner at the residence of Dr.Rai in the Pandal.The crowd in the dinner was a mixed gathering of poor,rich and all of us evincing coexistence of all levels,a reflection of India.There was only Golkunda wine which is very sweet.It was the wine we used to get in late 60's.Besides Golkunda wine there was Antiquity whiskey.The wedding ceremony took place late night in the Mandap, especially constructed on the roof top of the 3 storeyed magnificent residential cum clinic complex of Rais named as Srishti .While Venita stayed back for the wedding ceremony ,I returned hotel.The road from hotel to residence of Dr.Rai takes about an hour or less depending upon traffic.It is heavily potted and shakes you up well while you travel up and down. Some more ceremonies took place on Day 02,10th February 2010,namely "Mangadhaki", "Bhaat Khai","Bidai"and "Pag Phera" ceremonies.We left the hotel at about 5:00 pm for the railway station.The Hawrah-Delhi Rajdhani Express arrived before time and left Dhanbad at 20:05 hrs.Dr (Capt.)Umesh C.Rai along with his relations came to see us off.A no.of interns of Dr.Rai helped us in loading the luggage of over 30 persons in the comparment.In AC1 I had been given lower berth in a coupe.The other occupant was Mr.Parasar who is CEO in a Spanish Mining Company,doing mining operation in Dhanbad area.He gets $100,000 in a year.We exchanged e-mail ids and tel.ph.no.We are now in touch with each other through e-mails.
Retired to sleep at 2200 hours.
There were so many jerks in the train that I woke up quite a few times .It was a very disturbed sleep.On arrival at New Delhi,I sent the following mail to the Chairman,Railway Board.
<">Travel by Howrah-Rajdhani via Dhanbad to New Delhi: Train No.2301and by Train no.2302 from New Delhi to Dhanbad
Dear Sir,
I traveled by 1A from New Delhi to Dhanbad on 8th February by Train No.2302 and back on 10th February by Train no.2301.
It was a very disturbing journey.There were so many jerks that sometimes my sleep was disturbed.I was told that the couplings of the compartments did not hold them adequately.When the train is in speed,it is alright.But as soon as it slows down the jerks start/disturb us.You may like to examine and take corrective action.
Regards
Yours sincerely
DNS Shrivastava)"
11.02.10
We arrived New Delhi station at 15:30 hrs.The train became late from Gaya due to fog.
We arrived home at about 1700 hours.
Retired to sleep at 2230 hours.
12.02.10
Completed morning program. There was a get-together in the house of Barun.He specially insisted that I should go to attend it along with Venita.I could not go as my body needed rest.It had been thoroughly shaken during train journey.Venita however went.She could not attend function as she developed diarrhea and vomited a lot.She had to come away early.I am told that there were lot of songs,dances,jokes and other revelry.
Retired to sleep at 2230 hours.
13.02.10
Completed morning program.Attended wedding reception of Bhaiya at Noida.Met many relations including Anjali and Ankur, Pradip and Yash. Silku could not come due to urgent preoccupation.The reception was descent and dignified.The food served was delicious.
Retired to sleep at 0030 hours on 14th Feb.