Blind to Bounds

How much efforts went into making my boys wear these seemingly well-coordinated dresses in Fatima’s wedding is a story worth sharing.

Both boys Fasih and Ismail were hellbent that they have to wear a black shervani in Fatima’s wedding becuase that is what fathers and brothers wear in daughter’s/sister’s wedding.
On the other hand, Abdullah being another person who was steadfast on his choice, wanted to wear a plain black shervani as a groom on his own wedding. No embellishments, no embroidery, no glitter and even no fancy buttons. Just a Jinnah kind plain black shervani. Period.
Not even Fatima could convince him otherwise.

Fasih, on the contrary had no issues with slight embroidery at the collar. So I told Fasih, ” Yaar, the dulha is wearing a plain shervani, how can you wear a fancier shervani than the groom?”
He seemed to understand, “Okay then I will wear a plain black shervani too. Let Ismail make a fancier one.”
Ismail, “Why would I wear a fancy one? Am I crazy?”

But I had some other ulterior plans. But I knew these boys are hard nuts to crack, and very difficult to ask them to digress from a stereotypical attire of a black shervani on daughter/sister’s wedding.

Me: “But why do you have to wear shervanis?”
Fasih: “Pher kya pehnun? Suit? No. Shaadi has to be shervani.
I was mean: “Btw its not your shaadi. It’s your daughter’s shaadi. You can wear something else too.”
Fasih got annoyed, “Kya matlab? This is the tradition. And I WILL WEAR A BLACK SHERVANI. SO WILL ISMAIL.”

I knew I was out for a big confrontation. I had already bought the tusser kurtas and red waistcoats for both of them from Fab India, and it coordinated so well with Fatima’s gharara and my saree that Fatima and I both got very excited.
Fatima, “But Ammi I can bet, Papa will NEVER agree to wear this.”
Me: “I know naa. Thats the problem.”
Fatima: “Then why did you get?”
Me: “Because I found this combination so good that I could not resist. And then I got two sets both their sizes available. It made me even more convinced this is what they shoulds wear in your shaadi.”
Fatima: “Good luck Ammi. Convincing Papa and Ismail to wear these kurta and waistcoats is a bigger challenge than convincing Abdullah to wear a shervani with fancy buttons.”

And finally when Abdullah’s gorgeous Mom arrived in Karachi and saw her son’s plain balck shervani, she vetoed it and got one which had some embellishment on buttons. And Abdullah couldn’t say a thing.
Me: “So Abdullah’s problem is solved. I am worried for Papa and Ismail now. How do I convince them?“
Fatima shrugged her shoulders.

It took me one week of brainwashing to make Fasih convinced to even try the kurta and waist coat out, before going to order a black shervani.
He wore it and stood in front of the full length mirror. I blurted out all the lovey dovey adjectives that I could to tell him how handsome a ‘model’ he looked.
But ofcourse he was stuck, “But black shervani will look even better.”

Now it was Ismail’s turn. When I showed him the kurta and the waist coat, he threw a tantrum, “How could you choose the kurta for me? Why did I not go with you?”
Me: “Beta, I bought it from Delhi in October when I went to see Ammi. How could you go with me?”
Fatima: “Ismail, look, we will all coordinate our dresses. Ammi’s saree is same colors, and you and Papa will have identical dresses.”
Ismail, “Okay, so what footwear do we wear with this?”
Me: “Footwear you can choose. We will got to the market and buy of your choice.”
Fatima: “I think an embroidered golden Peshawri Chappal will look good on it.“
So Ismail was easily taken care of.

I knew Fasih was still not convinced. So I thought of seriously making a compromise.
Me: “Babloo, okay let’s do one thing. You wear shervani to recieve the baraat and then change into this kurta and waist coat during rukhsati.”
Fasih got triggered. “What do you want? You want me to become a Bollywood hero? Change dresses in the shaadi?”
Me: “So what do we do? I think these kurtas & waistcoats are really cool and will give a very different exotic look to the whole wedding.”
Fasih did not say anything.

So next day, we took off with Ismail and Fasih to buy their matching Peshawri chappals. And both of them found really gorgeous footwear with golden embrodery.
Back home.
“Fasih lets try these kurtas with the chappals.”
Ismail and Fasih both tried their outfits and by our luck, one of Fasih’s cousin suddenly arrived.
His immediate reaction was, “This designer idea must be Bhabi’s. It looks gorgeous. Mazaa aa jayega shaadi mein.”
Fasih did not say anything. So next day when I asked him, “Are you not going to go to give measurements for shervani,“
Fasih retorted, “What shervani? You ruined all the plans. Its okay, I will wear this kurta.”
I felt genuinely sorry. “No Babloo, if you really feel hurt, please make a shervani. You can wear this kurta some other day. I just want you to be happy.”
Fasih, “Leave it now. I dont have time to go for shervani measurement.”
Me: “Thank you Babloo. I love you.”
Fasih: “Buss khush ho gayein apni marzi chala keyyy?”
I didn’t say a word, just hugged him. and whispered to myself, “Only the persistent succeed !”

How much do I miss this nagging and annoying Fasih. Oh God 😦