Mahin's (royal) Wedding

Hi

Loyal readers: I have returned safely, masha Allah, from a long weekend of being incredibley busy, but perhaps in the best and most enjoyable of ways.

My cousin, Mahin, got married this past weekend and the events were unbelievable.

Wed night: Dance practice. But, in what has become a classic "Imran" move, I ditched it to play basketball.

Thurs night: Milad. Two people from the East Coast came and sang very beautiful naats. Qari Waheed Zafar Qasmi was supposed to come, but getting him a visa was not possible, unfortunately. Nonetheless, good times, good company, good food. Post Milad: Dance practice. Okay, so may be not the best of things to do post-milad, but necessary, right?

Fri night: Mehndi. Beautiful stage (best I've ever seen)! Chocolate fountain. Food. Women. Bhangra. Dreams do come true, apparently.

Sat night: Shadee. Peninsula. (See http://chicago.peninsula.com/iflash.html). Classy. Elegant. Sophisticated. Beautiful. Univ of Wisconsin Marching Band. Dhol vala. Walked around the lobby in what seemed a royal parade of the Raj Pooths taking over Chicago. I felt like waving at the royal subjects...err, on-lookers, that is.

Sun morning: Walima (brunch). Best.Breakfast.Ever. Four Seasons Hotel. Awesome picture slideshow of Tahira (Tana) and Mahin. Stunning poetry by my mother. Singing from Dr. Momu (my uncle, Mahin's father).

You would be correct to think that I didn't want the weekend to be over. At the end, it was so draining (in a good way, mind you) that I had to take Monday off from work to recuperate!

Subhan Allah. My khandan does it big.

Salaam