AN: Thanks for the few reviews guys, means a lot!

BloodWar: Thanks mate, sure I like that as well!

Damini Weasley :Well, nothing to say about you darling, you always know me best

Disclaimer: You know the drill; I own nothing of Harry Potter, except my imaginative characters!

CHAPTER 3: THE SANGEET CEREMONY

It's been long since the two younger Weasleys and Harry have left the muggle airport of London, Heathrow! They could have used an international portkey, but then again, the Ministry is still in a chaos months after the war; though Kingsley Shacklebolt is a good friend and an older member of the Order of The Phoenix and current Minister of Magic, the fact that THE Harry Potter was going out of country would not have gone unnoticed by the eyes of the media, especially the Daily Prophet!

So, they reached the Delhi airport on Tuesday{ The Sangeet ceremony was to be held on Thursday}, waited for about 3 hours, before getting on the plane yet again but this time to head to the State of Punjab, to the town of Amritsar. In about an hour, they reached the Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport and after checking out, it took them 15-20 minutes to reach the city center. The weather in Amritsar is so warm and acceptable and the best thing, according to Harry, is the (rainfall [During July and August, the rainfall peaks]. However, Ginny dreaded it, but certainly put up a fake smile for Harry. While travelling, they went through a great open space, so Ron asked about it to Vatsal [NB: Vatsal came to pick them up from the airport], so he replied: "Oh this? Right! The Serai? The Serai at Amritsar is one of the most interesting sights in India. It is a great open space, surrounded by these small houses, in which are lodged the travelling merchants from Central Asia, sturdy little Baluchis, stately but filthy Afghans, Persians, Bokharans and Tartars, even the ubiquitous Chinaman."

The three other passengers stared at Vatsal for some minutes; "Earth to Ron-Ginny-Harry! What's wrong with you guys?" They were too spell bounded to utter a word, but Ron initiated the next move and exclaimed: "WOW Vat! You've clearly done your homework! I mean you've really done your research, haven't you? When Vatsal blushed furiously, the 3 Gryffindors got their answer and laughed their heads off.

They were going to stay at the guest house provided by the Patils, but of course, quite far from the actual home of the bride so that Vatsal does not sneak into Parvati's room any soon. Preparations on both sides were going strong and Thursday came around quite quickly.

At the Granger house, Mrs. Granger was fussing (as usual) around her girls on what they were going to wear, and especially Luna, and how she was waiting for the famous Ron Weasley to notice her niece. All the while, Hermione and Mr. Granger were snickering at the lady's tantrums as well as sighing at poor Luna's fate this evening. Though Mrs. Granger was busy with her last minutes details, she did not miss her husband's eyes on her and went on to comment:" What are you staring at Mr. Granger? Don't you have to get ready? Come now Lydia's father, we're getting late and there's absolutely NO WAY for us to make a late entrance at the Patils', please! I want to make sure that our Luna is already there!"

Mr. Granger wanted to say quite some things to her dear wife, but decided against it and went upstairs to get ready.

On the other hand, it was decided that like Vatsal, Harry and Ron were going to wear a Kurta, which is a traditional Indian clothing for men and that Ginny would be wearing a beautiful turquoise Lehenga Choli. When Ron was given the outfit, he simply said:"Cool! Should be fun!" While Ginny thought more to herself: 'If I happen to appear totally sexy with this…eh…thing and have Harry looking at me and falling heads over heels for me all the same, then why not?' Feeling proud of herself, she smirked inwardly. But poor Harry was a total mess! He, for one, did not even know how to go about the infamous Kurta; when he finally got to wear it, the lace of the trouser would not do him any good and kept undoing on its own, but the boy-who-lived preferred keep quiet than to become the boy-who-can't-even-control-his trousers!

THE PATIL HOUSE:

The Grangers had just entered the room, which appeared to have been magically enlarged to look like a huge hall, well decorated, when all the young boys' eyes shot straight at them and they kept staring at the lovely young Grangers (and Lovegood). Luna and Hermione were adorned in silky peach/ red/ pink/orange coloured combined Churidaars respectively. And honestly, they looked stunning. On getting further into the room, Mr. Granger went off talking to the other elder males; Lydia went to {talk} (or rather flirt) with the boys, with Kitty literally attached to her hips while Mary spotted some school friends of hers; Mrs. Granger wasted no time and quickly joined Mrs. Bakshi and Mrs. Lamba to get the latest gossips and Luna-Hermione met their best friend Chandra (Charlotte) Lamba and the trio headed to Parvati's room to help he get ready.

PARVATI'S ROOM:

While the other girls were catching up with their other friends present in the room, Hermione was helping Parvati putting on Indian jewellery known as the Maag Tikka.

"So, Parvati! Ready for the great adventure? Are you sure you really want to do this? I mean getting married at 18 and Vatsal? You know him for merely..."

"He is sweet and so is his family. This marriage might have been an arranged one at the beginning, but after our engagement, Vatsal and I fell in love, and I mean TRUE LOVE. I, for one, know that he is my soul mate. And Hermione, you? You have such a huge life and a bright future in front of you. This town is just not meant for you darling. Just so you know, his best man is quite a charming guy!"

"Parv, papa needs me, I couldn't leave!"

"Okay, enough with all the chit chats now and quickly help me get ready! Arre bhai, aaj to mere sangeet ka function hai! [Translation:Come on dear, today is my music ceremony after all]

"Thik hai mem saab! Aapka hokum sar aankhon pe!" replied Hermione sarcastically. [Translation: Alright m'am! Your wish is my command!"]

DOWNSTAIRS IN THE HALL:

Just when Luna, Charlotte and Hermione headed upstairs, the groom's side arrived with three strangers getting the attention. At that instance, Harry thought: 'Great! For once when I thought I'm not the centre of attention...but...hang on...Are the women all staring at...? Bloody hell! Oh I sound so like Ron!' He shook his head and leaned towards his best mate: "Is that just me or is every old lady in the room giving you the candy eye Ron mate?" Ginny smirked at this, "You can bet on that Harry! Every old lady here is willing to lick the floor he walks on to get him marry their daughters! Can we go already? I'm bored to death!

"It's our cousin's wedding and I'm his best man; I can't bail him out in the last minute now can I?"

"But Ron, I can't help but think of those hotels that I need to purchase, and it's probably 13h00 in London right now, I can still do some work!"

Rona stared at Harry and said "Can you stop thinking about work for once?" turned towards Ginny and added:" And you, can you stop being such a feminine lousy git? It's our dear-dear sister-in-law's dear-dear motherland, so let us enjoy to the maximum and make the most of our time here!

Just then , a plate floated towards them with an Indian starter dish, which according to Ginny and coincidentally, Harry, was quite oily and while Ginny refused to even taste one, Ron obliged and took some and Harry took only one: "Are you sure it's safe for me to eat this? I certainly do not want to end up Delhi-Belly before meeting the directors of the hotels."

They were still eating when the music procession started and every girl came on the balcony; Ron-Ginny-Harry went on one side of the room to allow the people to enter the dance floor.

"What's happening now?" asked Harry rather curiously.

"The Indian Version of that American Idol thing I watched on your telly once! Have you brought your earplugs? shouted Ginny behind the loud music.

"It's great! I did ask to Padma, Parvati's twin sister about this sangeet ceremony thing and she gladly explained to me what's done. This is when the girls see the boys and the boys see the girls", explained Ron, who at that precise moment glanced upstairs and locked eyes with one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever seen, Luna! They stared into each other eyes before Ron turned around and winked at Harry and his sister and headed to the dance floor to groove on a full-on Punjabi song. {Balle-Balle of Bride & Prejudice}

"Brace yourself Harry! Ron is transforming into an Indian MC Hammer!"

After a few seconds, Hermione joined the rest of the group on the balcony and stood next to Luna; all the girls were laughing out loud and everyone else were clapping their hands joyfully. Harry decided to glance upstairs and then he saw a beautiful girl with wonderful brown curly hair and a pair of chocolate eyes. Hermione. She too, took notice of a certain messy haired guy, with a pair of terribly sexy emerald eyes, staring at her. When they looked at each other, Harry suddenly felt he was going to choke without oxygen for the breath he has been holding ever since he saw her.

Afterwards, Ron stated dancing and led the boys while Luna-Hermione, both led the girls.

Balle-Balle (Bride & Prejudice)

Balle balle

O balle balle je soniya de rang dekhlo
bina dor di udh di patang dekh lo

"What's the singer saying?"asked Harry to Padma Patil who came to stand by his and Ginny's side.

"These pretty girls are fluttering temptingly like kites without strings!" replied Padma blissfully.

Aj munde hue enhan de malang dekh lo
bina dor di udh di patang dekh lo

Ay kudiyan kudiyan, ay tikhiyan churiyan
kudiyan jawan hath na aawan

hoo

ena pundiyan de maare hue tang dekh lo

sat sri akal soniyo
sunaao sanuun haal soniyo

oh zaraa nach ke dikhaoo saDe naal soniyo
na soch sawal soniyon, ehdi kyun chaal soniyo

eh naara naara naara, eh tikhiyan tejh katara
bijili di nangiyan taara.n, oh taara taara taara
je kol ena de aaoge ta pyaar de chakke khaoge

"And now?"

"These girls are like naked wires! If you get too close, you'll get an electric shock of love!"

baage vich aaya karo
jado chand chup jaave
tusi mukhda dikhaya karo

tu aagaya to bahaar aayi
haseen ho gaye nazare saare

[Just then Mrs. Granger went in the centre of the dance room and started singing and swaying at the following lyrics]

mala vich phul Tangeya
umraan lang chali aan
par joban nahin langeya

The song was heading towards it end when Ron came along and dragged Harry to Hermione, saying, "The two of you dance", while he stole Luna from her sister. And then what? Harry being the 'wonderful dancer' kept leaving Hermione's hand during the dance; but never on averted their gaze from each other, not once! At the end of the song, Harry simply bowed and said thank you then fled from there without any further ado, and Hermione returned to Luna, who was blushing furiously. Ron said thank you to the two sisters and went on to join his own sister and best mate. Mrs. Granger (+Mr. Granger) seemed to be very happy at this sight.

AN:Yes, Hermione does know how to speak Hindi, having born and grown up in India, while Mrs. Granger has grown in the country and is very much accustomed to the culture and tradition and language as well as clothing. And why Harry behaved in that manner, it's up to you guys to figure it out and add in the reviews! Otherwise, you'll find out in the next chapter where there might be some clashes between the wits and sarcasm of some people