Soulmate [Saturday, June 19 2010]

Great Saturday!

Simaran met me at the apartment and we took a cab to Vasant Kunj to shop at the Promenade. We met Ruchika and her little boy, Ryan, who was the most adorable little thing I've ever seen.

After buying some t-shirts at Tantra, Adi picked Sim and I up to go to lunch in GK. We headed to the Big Chill—a delicious Italian restaurant—and had an amazing lunch. We then headed to Fabindia so I could shop my heart out. Kurtas—short and long—were flying off the shelves at this massive store. My wardrobe will never be the same again.

Sim and Adi dropped me back off at home, where I got a short break before Nidhi, Vikram, and his parents picked me up to head to dinner at Nidhi's family home. I can't even express how much fun it was to spend time with the two families. The first thing Nidhi's dad said was "Well, you can see where she gets her charm from." At that point I realized that no matter what country you're in, fathers are almost always the same. He and my dad would be best friends if they ever got the chance to meet. We spent a long time chatting in Nidhi's old bedroom, basking in the coolness of the air conditioner. Her mother kept trying to force pre-dinner sweets on me, making me giggle incessantly every time she picked up the tray to offer me more food. At their home, the in-laws and I were honored guests, but really I was just honored to be there. I would have served them if I could have wrestled the serving utensils away from Nidhi's mother.

Dinner was rice, lentils, homemade bread, spinach and corn, egg curry, cauliflower, and some other random dishes that I can't remember. [Momma, Daddy—don't have heart attacks when you read this] I tried everything! I think this news might shock my parents into complete and utter silence. Granted, I took little bits of everything, but I did at least try. However, this was not good enough for Mrs. Joshi! She kept coming back into the room and trying to give Vikram's parents and me more and more food. The funniest moment was when Nidhi's mom stole Vikram's mom's plate and ran into the dining room to fill it up again. Vikram's mom started laughing and ran after her. I almost couldn't breathe from laughing! I got so scared after that, that I almost hid my plate. Of course, Nidhi's brother was no help. He just looked at me and then turned his head and yelled "MOM, Tara needs more food!" I could have killed him.

Despite the fact that the families spoke Hindi more than English, I could not have felt more welcome or had more fun. They are such wonderful people, I truly do see where their children get it from!

We left around 11:15 p.m. and headed back to Nidhi and Vikram's to drop off his parents. Then we headed to Attitude to meet up with Saps and some other friends, as well as listen to an Indian blues band—Soulmate—who hail from Vikram and Saps' hometown. I discovered they are doing a mini-US tour with a stop in DC, so I look forward to seeing them again in February.

Home late, but excited to see Arjun tomorrow, so all is well with the world. :)