Mostly a lounge suit party, Dining In is conducted to welcome an officer and his wife to the Unit, with a mesmerizing evening. It marks the beginning of their new tenure in the unit. And if he is newly married and his wife joins him in the station, the celebration becomes three-fold.
Remember my first post when I said, I stepped foot in the Army Base and had a warm welcome by his Unit? And I started realizing the traditional way of addressing one another and the horror of being called Aunty by the Army Brats? That was my first Dining In.
This evening is arranged mainly to shed inhibitions, to get to know each other- the officers and their families, to know the current status of the Unit family and of course, to have some fun.
Being my first, I had asked my soldier on what I should be wearing. And based on his suggestion, I was clad in a beautiful Kanjeevaram saree only to find out the other ladies in casuals! From then on, I never bothered asking him the dreaded question- what to wear!
The dining in starts with a general interaction followed by the performance of the Unit Band- at least we had one. When I was smiling and nodding my head to the ladies, I heard someone call out my husband’s name. Next thing I saw was him with a mike, ready to sing along with the band. Call it the tragedy of arranged marriage, I hardly knew anything about him! Forget about his talent to sing!
And when he looked into my eyes and sang, Ek ajnabi haseena se yoon mulaaqaat ho gayi..Phir kya hua yeh naa pucho, kuch aisi baat ho gayi.., I fell in love with him, my husband, my soldier!
Of course, before I could savour the moment, I was asked to sing! The horror of it. Well if you have heard me you would definitely come to a conclusion that either I am a six year old, or a singer, or works in animation movies! Well, I being a sport, went and stood next to him, grabbed the mike only to look into his eyes.
He knew I couldn’t sing and sang again, Chuukar mere mann ko kiya tune kya Ishaara! Man, I was floored by his charm.
The evening also saw me playing Dumb Charads with the officers and kids. We had a sumptuous five course meal as well. Oh, the prim and proper dining, without even the noise of cutlery or the slurp of food. I confess I was intimidated at first.
Dining in is a privileged moment as you are the Guest of Honor and all eyes are on you. It is concluded with an entry in the register where you can write what you feel …may be on being a part of the Fauj or the Unit.
But boy, mine didn’t stop there. Someone suggested out of the blue, to grab an ice-cream. It was already one in the morning and then I realized, that Army parties never end.
I am Married to the Olive Green and I’m writing about the 26 things which I get to do/experience that you as a Civilian wife do not!
I hope you come back again tomorrow!
Meanwhile, here is an easy Chicken recipe from my Food Blog to try out!
I’m on co-host Pam’s Unconventional Alliance Team along with Parul from Happiness and Food, Rajlakshmi from The Twinkle Eyed Traveler andDestiny’s Child and Claire from A Field Trip Life
Song Translation:
I came across a beautiful stranger,
Do not ask what happened next,
For something did happen…
My Era says
Wow! what a memorable evening it must have been 🙂
Ice-cream at 1 am sounds cool, the idea is tempting me to have one now 😀
What a beautiful dig into your precious memories this post is <3
My Era @theerailivedin
The Era I Lived In
aseemrastogi2 says
Sounds like a lovely evening. And must say your husband looks to be quite a romantic :D.
Rajlakshmi says
Awwww this is sooooo beautiful… And so sweet! I can’t help smiling while reading it. I am glad your Sharing these moments with us. You guys make a gorgeous couple 🙂
Shilpa Garg says
Wow! You have has some very beautiful, heartwarming and fun moments!! Simply awesome! 🙂
pythoroshan says
This sounds lovely… Its like finding a new family, isn’t it? In addition to the ones that combine via the wedding itself…
Lata Sunil says
These memories are so sweet Shalzz.. I feel like I know you so well.
Me Otherwise says
Shalzz I remember mine. I felt so awkward as I walked in and felt all gazes were just transfixed on me. I was extremely uncomfortable in a saree and I had spent more than an hour to drape it. I think i behaved a little awkwardly too… But it doesnt matter now.. Its been ten years in the services and I guess I am in a better position to handle any such dining ins now.
Archya says
This seems to have been one memorable evening 🙂
Cafenined Words says
Awwwwwww
Love is in the air ☺☺❤.
You both look very lovely in the PIC…
Just loved the posts ..
I never want ki post khatamho ,it was so so nice.
God bless you two lovelies .. ?
Waiting for next ones.
@dixita011 from
Cafenined words
Cafenined Words says
And yay …I noticed now the PIC
That Mr.Oliver wearing Army Dress
☺☺
Very well protraited.
Kala Ravi says
Wow, that was some special dinner! I loved reading this, your words make the whole scene come alive! I had a similar experience, as in finding out that my husband was a fabulous singer while I can just about add to the chorus!
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
BellyBytes says
What a lovely dining in. May you enjoy many more such happy parties!
inquisitivegeet says
Aww.. That is so sweet. Lucky you. And that song by your husband is truly wonderful. I’m so much enjoying these Army Tales. Thanks to you 🙂
Cheers
Geets
Beat About The Book says
Aw that’s beautiful. You write with a lot of heart, Shalini. I need to go check out your other posts too.
Indywrites says
That is a beautiful picture of the two of you and yep, you guy floored me too!! great choice of songs!!
Sunila Vig says
Adorable post, pic, songs and the way you have written it. Always loved the defence forces and lives in there. I savoured this for a few yrs as a kid when my dad was Athletic coach in ASC centre north and BRC too.
http://www.sunilavigauthor.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/dadheechi-or-dadhyanga-for-alphabet-d.html
Dahlia says
What a lovely welcome into the Unit and that song is one of my favorites! Both of you looking good together – Best wishes for a wonderful journey ahead 🙂
Vinay Leo R. says
How sweet. 🙂 The army tomato’s first dining in. I should ask P how you sing. I’m sure you do 😛
Archana (@yenforblue) says
That’s so sweet! God bless you!
🙂
@yenforblue from
Spice of Life!
Karan says
wowo what a start to your married life, arrange marriage have their own charms. I would love to read in one of your posts ahead about what you wrote in the register.
Novemberschild says
I am sure your evening was a memorable one and I am glad you blogged about it.
fabulus1710 says
Gosh, the singing part was just so beautiful ?
The Army really has a lot of ways in which it makes everyone a strong family 🙂
Waiting for tomorrow’s post..!
the little princess says
boy! you make it sound so much fun! What a memorable moment that would have been!
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
shrinkmom says
Thank you for giving us a peek into your life which is so different from mine. One of our sons is in the Air Force, and I can better understand their life near the base. I appreciate your taking the time to pop in to Randomocity to read my Affirmations for Intentional Living.
http://denisebennorth.blogspot.com/
RamyaRao says
Woah! Your life and style of writing continues to amaze me.
Sheila Milne says
I don’t know, I think ‘d find that Dining In a bit of an ordeal! 🙂
Caz Greenham Author says
A great and interesting post. Loved it
@CazsBooks
http://cazgreenham.blogspot.com
#A-Z
Soumya Prasad says
He sang for you? Awwwwwwwwwwww 🙂
Nibha says
Woah! This must have been such a beautiful experience! I’m mesmerized simply by reading it!
P.S. I also want an ice-cream at 1 am! 😛
Nibha @ Expressions
Pam Margolis (@Pamlovesbooks) says
I hate when you ask your sweetie what the other wives will be wearing and they give you completely the wrong advice! Aslo? why is being called Aunty a bad thing? Isnt it a term of endearment? or does it imply that you are old?