I thought about joking about her relatives, but I decided not to. I also thought about the maid who wasn’t here today. Even if you’re happy, the real test of marriage is when the maid is on leave. I wanted to say something funny, so I thought of a joke about Gurgaon being a mix of city and farmland, but she didn’t laugh.
I decided to post that joke on Twitter instead. One day, my wife whispered, “Let’s go to a fake wedding,” while looking at her Instagram. I didn’t look up much; I was busy scrolling myself. I asked, “What’s a fake wedding?” She looked at me blankly, and I felt a little confused. Is she joking? Did I do something wrong? I thought about the last day to see if I made a mistake, but I didn’t find anything. My wife said we should go to the fake wedding at Sainik Farms this Saturday and that I should book a makeup appointment.
I was surprised—paying thousands just to look good for a pretend wedding? I asked if it was a good idea because of the waterlogging, but she didn’t reply. Fake weddings are becoming popular in Delhi-NCR as a new way for people to have fun and celebrate without worrying about nosy relatives. These events include traditional clothes, street food, and a relaxed, casual vibe for city Indians.
One party place even offers a free cocktail if you come dressed in ethnic clothes. That’s the main reason people go—they can party and have drinks while dressed up nicely. In Delhi-NCR, people feel safe from missile attacks now, so they go back to their usual dance—flapping their arms, pointing fingers to the sky, and balancing a glass of whisky on their heads.
That’s how they relax. We need reasons to celebrate. Most real weddings follow astrology and happen at certain times, leaving plenty of time for people to get divorced. My wife reminded me, “So many people are getting divorced, but in a way, that’s good.”
I remembered that line carefully. Fake weddings are a fun idea, especially for using your fancy clothes. How often do you get to wear that traditional sherwani or chiffon sari that you inherited from your mother? (While the Noida plot of land went to your brother.)
Not many times—maybe at festivals, a few weddings, or a work event with ethnic dress day. A fake wedding is a perfect chance to wear all that.