The Engagement That Engaged My Heart

 

Dear friends,

Today, I would like to share my day, which was both tiring and lively after a long time, as I met many familiar faces and discovered new sides to them. To put it simply, I attended the engagement ceremony of a lovely couple who will soon begin their journey together in marriage. But this story isn’t only about the couple, it’s also about the people around them, the joy that filled the place, and the little details that made the day memorable.

The day began as usual, though the sky was a bit gloomy, quite the opposite of the couple’s bright and cheerful mood. We left home a little late since it had been raining in the morning. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, we decided to take the metro instead. Being the first working day of the week, the roads were busier than usual, and the rain made it even worse. The metro, however, was relatively empty when we boarded, so we managed to find seats. Our destination was the last stop, so I spent the time listening to music. As the train moved along, more passengers boarded, most of them were tired returning from the office after a long day. We looked completely different from them, dressed up and full of energy, while they seemed exhausted and ready for rest. I realised how hectic working life can be, especially when long commutes are part of the routine.

After reaching our stop, we made our way to the venue. Inside, I saw several familiar faces, friends and relatives greeting one another with excitement. Many people who barely knew each other started conversations, turning unfamiliarity into warmth within minutes. However, I noticed that the event wasn’t as lively as the weddings I remembered from years ago. Some familiar people were missing; I heard many had moved back to their hometowns, while a few had travelled long distances just to attend this special day.

The crowd was quite large, making it difficult to move around freely. One of the most exciting parts of any celebration, of course, was the food, and everyone eagerly rushed to the various counters to taste different dishes. The starters included pani puri, aloo tikki, pav bhaji, chilli chicken, chicken fries, kebabs, and a variety of vegetarian options. There was also a South Indian section serving appam with stew, along with different kinds of dosa accompanied by sambar and chutneys. Desserts were equally tempting: jalebi, kulfi, ice cream, and a selection of refreshing drinks. There was a main course as well, but I was already full from the starters and couldn’t eat any more. Children seemed to be the happiest of all, running around excitedly and trying every dish that caught their eye.

After the meet and the meal, we decided to return home as it was getting late. We took the metro back, it was much quieter now, with the rush hour long over. The journey didn’t take too long, and I found myself dozing off, completely exhausted from the day. As I sat there, I replayed the events of the day in my mind and realised how much time had passed since I last saw many of those people. Some didn’t even recognise me as they remembered me as a school kid. Everyone had changed, and so had I. It struck me how quickly time moves, taking along with it the people, the faces, and the moments that once felt so familiar.

By the time we reached home, my tiredness had taken over, leaving me with one quiet thought: time never stops, and neither do we. People change, moments fade, but the memories remain, reminding us of how far we have come.