Still recovering from the parental invasion, I didn't get much planned for Valentine's Day. I made a half-hearted attempt to organize my usual single-ladies dinner, but the early return of Taru's Prince Charming, plus general apathy from the rest of the crew, left me with not much planned.
As per the usual Saturday routine, Devindar and I set out for a solid day of puttering. There was a big craft mela (fair) on, so we went and explored that. I got some lovely patchwork pillows and a funky backpack which I love. We bartered over a traditional painting of Radha Krishna, made holy by a layer of cow dung beneath the paint. I couldn't quite get the artist down to a price that was reasonable, but I ended up buying it after all, a few weeks later - holy cow.
Now, I don't know if it was just serendipity, or if Devindar was just trying to save me from a solitary Valentine's Day, but he ended up inviting me over to his house for his niece, Pari's birthday party. I was definitely not at my best and tried to beg off, but he insisted he was kidnapping me and taking me home for the party. Although it was a little awkward, Devindar's family couldn't have been more lovely to me. Dinner was exceptional, and I was able to meet Manju, Devindar's wife, and Shubham, his son, as well as his brother, Ajit, sister-in-law, Pinky, and their daughter, the birthday girl - Pari. Being a guest in an Indian home is to be overwhelmed with welcome. I'm still not comfortable with being the 'honorable guest,' but I was honored, indeed.
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