'Thatha's Ruby...'
It was that time of the day when the cattle lazed back to their sheds after a good day of grazing. Smoke spiraled off the chimneys as the preparations for the evening feast was in full flow. The once tar roads filled with huge potholes had totally been transformed into newly built concrete ones, a novel remedy for low maintenance in rural areas. The hard working toddy tappers were busy at their work on top of the trees just like the rubber tappers emptying their tapping cups at the bottom. We were attending a reception in the coastal region of Karnataka which was evident with the sweat dripping off our faces. The stage was all set for an eventful evening of tradition, rituals, folklore and stories that Dakshina Kannada district is known for. Fully aware that I wasn't the first one to board the bus heading towards a wedding, this friend of mine had invited me to his wedding in a rather unique way. He had tactfully made a video covering the splendid view of his village with the gushi...