Wedding Guest

 

Josh stepped outdoors, hastily lit a cigarette, the acrid smoke of tobacco mingled with the toxic fumes of the traffic as he tried to get a moment’s relief from the th kitchen aromas of a wedding banquet. He was reminded of his mother’s words, “Josh will you only cater for other people’s weddings? When are you going to get your own bride and let others plan the party?”

Josh smiled, “Ma don’t complain if tonight I bring home a bride. I like challenges but I agree finding a bride from thin air might not be that easy as making a go of my business.”

The line of cars and guests made him realize that he would have to start service in a few minutes. As he inhaled the last quick calming puff, his eyes rested momentarily on the lady stepping out of a cab. If he remembered rightly, the lady was familiar; one of those who it would appear attended many of the weddings that he had recently catered. If she was a frequent guest: maybe he would get her opinion about the menu Conversation like this often resulted in attracting more business. He planned to keep an eye on her and notice what she would choose to eat.

As the evening proceeded, Josh took in the scene while the guests were beginning to find their way to the dining area. He kept a sharp eye, supervising his staff and speaking to individuals.  In a business like this, the proof of the pudding was in the eating. Slowly the crowds were thinning out, goodbyes were being exchanged and Josh widened his glance to take in the number of people who were yet to come to the table. He signaled for the platters and bowls to be replenished, noted the dishes that were more popular and if most if not all were satisfied with the menu. While he was busy taking a measure of the evening’s success, he noticed that the lady whose opinion he wanted was leaving the hall.  As far as he could remember, she hadn’t even come near tables and had decided to leave.

 In one quick movement Josh had collected a plate and was at her side. “Ma’am you must taste something. Trust me the food is freshly cooked. Tell me what would you like to eat?”

The lady was flustered and tried to avoid looking at him while Josh tried to block her from stepping forward. Looking over her shoulders, she saw a few people from the host’s family,  she hastened her steps,  wanting to make a quick exit.

 Josh didn’t quite understand what lay behind this sudden rush to leave. In his experience most invitees were more interested in the food than in the wedding itself.

 One of Josh’s staff noticed that his bemused boss was following the lady’s departure. “Don’t worry sir, that lady doesn’t eat or drink at any of the weddings that she attends.”

Josh was more than curious,” You know this lady? Does she have health problems or fads?”

“I don’t know her personally but she is invited to several weddings. She sits and watches the wedding ceremony and then leaves. She doesn’t socialize with anybody.”

“Why does she attend??” wondered Josh.

“Some of us boys have noticed her strange behavior but none of us know the reason behind her presence .I think she isn’t invited but nobody has called her bluff.

Nobody fusses because people don’t know whether she is an invitee as she is discreet and doesn’t make anyone suspicious. If she is a gatecrasher then she isn’t the case of a freeloader.”

 Maybe she is from some event manager’s office trying to find out about competition or even trying to sabotage our cook. You know a commercial spy?”

“You boys watch too many movies. All she has to do is watch You Tube videos. Commercial spy indeed. Could be just a novel way of spending a lonely evening” was Josh’s reply.

The evening was drawing to an end and the caterers got busy dismantling their equipment, packing away heavy utensils and dishes and getting ready to leave. The main lights had been switched off, only a few guests were loitering near the gates and Josh and crew had started loading their vans.

 All of a sudden there was one of those sudden summer thunderstorms that blew up a fury of dust and a drizzle of rain forcing people to retreat indoors. As Josh turned round, he saw the mystery guest trying to shelter under one of the trees. A loud clap of thunder made the lady jump and she fell and hit the van. Josh moved forward to help her to her feet and saw that she was crying.

“Don’t worry ma’am. It was only thunder. I hope you haven’t hurt yourself?”

The lady continued sobbing, “I saw him and he has a wife. He saw me too and ran away as expected.”

Hoping that he was of some comfort Josh held the lady though he couldn’t make sense of her words. “My search is over. Five years ago he promised to marry me and ran away on the wedding day. Since then I have been looking for him in the most likely wedding venues to stop him from cheating other women. Look at my luck I saw him but he managed to dodge me.”

Josh chuckled,” Ma’am my boys thought you were a commercial spy. You can choose again.”

“No. No. It was my stubbornness that made me come on these wild goose chases. It was silly of me. But I meant no harm to any business.”

Josh didn’t know what came over him. He held out his hand “If you are still fancy free give me a trial. I promise not to run away.”

Taken aback by the proposal she blushed, wiped her tears and was too embarrassed to answer. She thought of all the years she had spent in chasing a mirage. What if she should take up his offer and see where it would take her?”

 Inviting her in to his life, Josh held open the car door. He loved challenges and he thought the ride home would provide him with enough information to introduce her to his mother. He was bringing home a girl who could become a permanent partner in the business of life.