Monologue of the newly wed…
Monologue of the newly wed on a crowded Gurgaon street, overwhelmed by his ornate spouse and ornate car and the cruise. He chooses to think about his spouse first, but is interrupted when she distracts him by asking ‘why is it a custom to decorate the car?’ He thinks and engages in a monologue resolved not to let the opportunity slip by…
1. We are two chubby beings inside this ornate car set to explore the best side on earth representing colors and perfumes (touching the senses in our minds), please be happy for us. We are as florid as the car is and we want to express ourselves. We are partaking in that sacred act that keeps life alive.
2. Earlier we had carriages in stead of the car. In remote tribes we still have decorations, but have no cars and horses to pace along. Some tribes decorate the cattle as well that goes for dowry. A big reason to promote decorations in open society is to establish that the act is accepted by the society against adultery that is associated with dark prohibitions. Another way to look at it is ‘you don’t get any flowers and perfume from society for any adultery’, we don’t allow it here. This also says that if you are an accomplice in adultery (in marriage or other prohibited acts, viz murder), then stay low, you need not feel very flowery about it. Nothing that is not promoted in this society is flowery. Hide away your guns.
3. Promoting flowers for a specific purpose also means insinuating other practices that the society patronizes. A flowery carriage for our Gods and Goddesses is a happy gathering. Both Hindus and Muslims in India use flowers, rich perfume (‘itr’) and glaze during religious processions reinforcing what universally accepted analogy is.
4. When we enter a compound that has all flowers and colorful plants around we enter with our mood set just right, the right kind of distraction for the fleeting moment and we are all ready for the next act. The connotation again that we are prosperous and if you associate with us you are party to being prosperous as well. No wonder why we want to own the big houses that the kinds of Amitabh Bachchans own (with big lawns), in contrast with the dilapidating Mughal buildings in Delhi that the urchins use for their play ground and gather the slick bricks for use as stove in their slum shack. These Mughal buildings had the flowers once, strews across their faces, now they are just there, serving some needy purpose but hardly proclaimed by the larger society. Consider the face of Taj Mahal without all the gardens, or the Mughal Garden without a garden. Recall Akbar smelling a rose or Nehru with a rose in his lapel…that’s the image they wanted.
5. And most important, look at it from the skies. A satellite image shows blue, green, brown and white. Blue for water, green for vegetation, brown for mountains and white for clouds and suspended particles. Let’s take green and blue out of it and that’s how Mars looks. A newly wed car is the symbol of green and blue, it has takes millions of years to have the couple sit in the car and pack it with life. We couldn’t have made a better choice.
6. Inside this car is the microcosm of life, we represent fertility and are celebrating the hard work our forefathers have put in for survival, and we are inaugurating with flowers around us. We want to reinforce that our union is for life, for celebrating life.
The young scientist thinks which option fits in the best for an answer. He pictures the image of earth and looks for expressions of approval. He then stares at her rosy lips and gestures, nervous with thoughts. ‘Is anything wrong?’ the lady asked with the promptness she had learnt from the BPO. ‘No, your lips are blue and green with life.’ He replied, still stammering.
