Part 1
06 June 2016. I’m boarded on
Bhutan Airways to attend Waheeda Rehman’s first born
Sohail Rekhy’s wedding to
Dechhen Pelden in Paro, Bhutan. In the seat ahead of me is veteran star Helen
Khan and beside me is actor Asha Parekh, both friends of Rehman for decades. As
we take off we discover that most of the passengers on board are headed to the
same destination and they include Rehman’s maternal and marital families and her
children’s friends.
At
Paro Airport, Kashvi, Waheeda Rehman’s daughter has come to receives us and
escorts us to Hotel Le Meridian where we are given a customary welcome. Waheeda
Rehman is waiting for us in the lobby and looks visibly excited. “It is the
first wedding in the family and I want to enjoy every minute” she tells us. Her
enthusiasm is infectious and everyone is in a mood for celebration.
Dinner
is at the hotel and the staff informs us that their hotel has come alive
because of the Indian wedding. As if on cue, bridegroom Sohail joins our table
and is beseiged by his friends and cousins forcing him to join them for a party
and Sohail pleading them to let him go to sleep.
Waheeda
Rehman watches them fondly and says “In the olden days, we fussed over the
bride and the bridegroom, today they are their own wedding planners as a result
they hardly enjoy their special moment.”
Rehman is all praise for her daughter-in-law and proud of her son’s
choice. “She is considerate and efficient and well versed with our customs.
When we realized that the wedding date coincided with Ramzan, I told my relatives to let go of rozas for one year and they agreed but Dechhen
was particular that morning sehri and
evening iftaar should be available to
all those observing the fast and supervised the details personally. It is very
thoughtful of her and I appreciate it.”
( to be continued)
You can read the complete column onhttp://www.thequint.com/entertainment/2016/06/15/waheeda-rehman-son-wedding-bhutan-asha-parekh-helen-bhawana-somaaya
@bhawanasomaaya
No comments:
Post a Comment