The colour of Mehndi

Around August, a prominent daily carried a report on this emerging new star and how he was commanding fees of over a lakh at weddings. We were alarmed. Our budget didn’t permit such a large sum and I didn’t see how he would do it for less with all the bookings at his command. We decided to call on him.

As we reach the modest home, there was the great Mehndi himself — clad in a lungi and vest — to greet us at the door. “Aao ji, ji aayan noo (please come in, welcome),” he said in chaste Punjabi. “Tuadi ki sewa kar sakda (what can I do for you)?” The guy was politeness personified. Tea and snacks awaited us in the small sitting room. We were wondering if the warm welcome was genuine or a prelude to a shocker.

We came straight to the point. Our booking had been made several months ago and the agreed rate was Rs 25,000. We’d read that he was now charging over one lakh. We hoped he would honour his commitment. All through our monologue, Mehndi heard us with an amused expression. Once we had finished, he spoke — even more politely than before: “Tusi sochya vi kiven ke main apna vada nahin nibhavan ga. Ik wari jo gal ho gayi ho gayi. Main tuada show pachi hazaar wich karanga chahe meri fees panj lakh ho jave. Wahe guru nain chaha te jaldi ho jaye gi (How could you even think that I’d not keep my promise? A commitment’s a commitment. I’ll do your show for 25,000 even if my rate becomes five lakh. God willing it will soon).”

We heaved a collective sigh of relief. Here was a gentleman who respected values. He wanted all the money in the world — indeed was confident of earning big fees — but wouldn’t compromise on ethics. “He will surely go far,” we told ourselves, as we trooped out, once again escorted by Mehndi.

Mehndi and his troupe came to our venue around 8 pm. It was at 2 am that they had to be smuggled out of a back door because the youngsters just couldn’t have enough of their song-and-dance routine. The humble sardar thankfully accepted our balance of Rs 15,000.