“Oh Shashi, How are you?” Roared my aunt from the other side of banquet hall. I was in my own world, sitting in a corner with my own plight. Oh no! She was coming nearer and there’s no way to run.

Torture in the name of a function!

“Have you had something to eat? You look pale,” she commented. Before I answered, a gang of aunties called her and she sauntered off to flaunt her jewelry. Mercy for small miracles, I sighed, as I got up to walk around.

Well, currently I’m at my cousin’s brother-in-law’s sister’s marriage. I didn’t want to be here at all but my Mum forced me to come. On top of it, today is my fasting day!

I mean, who drags you to a feast when you are already in hunger pain!! Apparently my Mum does! I rolled my eyes!!

Listening to the murmurs around the food tables, I concluded that everything was yummy. Like getting a five star chef to cook your street food yummy. I started salivating like a dog. Coming here was hazardous for my health, I should’ve known! Again, I imaginary facepalmed!!

The menu was scrumptious, starters ranging from paneer to chicken and main course a mix of Indian and Global cuisine. And the snacks, Oh my! Chefs should charge people just to look at them. They were that artistically beautiful and aromatic. For people like me who just feast on snacks, it’s a snacks heaven!

Let me tell you the reason I’m fasting for. One day my mother and I, we’ve been to some Aunty’s daughter’s wedding, and she sang praises of a fast that made her very reluctant daughter agree for marriage. Curse that Aunty and everyone back to generations!

Unfortunately, that’s how I got tangled in this fasting mess. Just one look from my mother that day, and I nodded my head in yes like a well trained dog.

Now, I promise myself, I’m never going to do this again. Drowned in melancholy, I didn’t see where I was going. That’s when I almost ran into someone.

“Sorry,” I said, turning to find I dashed a ‘him.’ He wore a heavily designed brown Sherwani, which deigned that he was someone close to bride or groom.

“It’s fine,” he said with a smile, shifting his plate away from his clothes. “I see that you are going for buffet. Try those gol-gappas there, you will feel heaven exploding in your mouth.”

“Ah, hmm,” I couldn’t even form right sentences. A man after my own tastes I thought, “Actually, I am fasting today.”

His eyes bulged comically, “How are you… why did you even…”

I knew it, finally someone who understands my plight. “Why are you fasting, if I may ask?” He questioned.

“That, my friend, is something I divulge only after my second date,” I replied. When did I even become that bold, I mentally murdered myself, my face heating up.

“Let’s meet for the food festival happening next week, then you can tell me after that,” he finished off with a smile. “You get to come as my plus one and yeah, it’s a date.”

“Done deal!”

Probably fasting does yield results, I thought with a smile, as I looked at him finishing off his dessert with gusto.