A Big Fat Indian Wedding

Wedding Photo--July 29, 2006 in India

Five years ago today Merlin and I walked in to a small, hot and dusty office off the busy streets of Bangalore, India with two friends and got married. It was nothing at all like I had ever imagined with no family there, no friends, no celebration....just the registrar, his two friends and Merlin and I. Merlin was dressed in an everyday shirt and I picked an orange salwar kameez, since I didn't have a red one, it was the closest I had brought with me.

The ceremony was quick mostly with us signing papers, saying some vows and taking a few pictures. Merlin didn't bring any sweets with to share afterwards so he gave the secretary and the registrar a little extra money for helping us out. Our wedding was over within 10 minutes and the next excited couple and some of their friends filled the waiting area around the screen and off we went as a newly married couple.

Our love story is complicated and riddled with lots of drama. His family wouldn't accept our relationship, my family didn't come as planned since there was going to be no celebration, Merlin couldn't even tell his family that he was married until long after he left to come to Canada to live. In some ways it is sad, it is a huge disappointment and it was a terrible way to start out our life together. And even though there was no big fat Indian wedding, no friends or family, no gifts and nothing fancy, five years later I can look back and say what mattered most is that I married a wonderful man. Our marriage is based on commitment to each other and a faith in G-d that will last longer then the butterfly love feeling that makes love seem magical. We were almost strangers all those years ago but now I can say I married my best friend.

So Merlin, thank you for being the person G-d made you to be. For believing in us and having a future. Thanks for the laughter, for wiping my tears, for helping me when I feel sick and for holding on when things get tough. We are told life will never be easy, but somehow you have made marriage seem so simple and uncomplicated. I pray our life time is filled with amazing memories, lots of boston kisses and walks in the park.

I love you and always will.