Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Where a groom's wish is granted

visakhapatnam: Bhairavi, the maid-servant declared that she was not interested in the `match' for her daughter anymore, without regret.

The boy has demanded a motorcycle before she could proceed any further in the matter and so the marriage proposal was off as she was afraid the bridegroom was greedy.

"I can understand if he made the demand on `Alakapaanpu' after the marriage," she pointed out.

Alakapaanpu is traditionally a feature of a Hindu wedding. Alaka means irksome and paanpu is bed. After tying the nuptial knot, a grim-faced bridegroom disappears into the bedroom and refuses get down the cot. The parents of the bride then find out why the son-in-law is unhappy. The boy exudes his wish which is more often than not, fulfilled. In case it didn't, there is a danger of estrangement. So, marriages are either made or unmade at Alakapaanpu which, however, is as acceptable as dowry. While dowry is outlawed, Alakapaanpu is not.

Half-a-century ago, a scooter was longed by the upper middleclass groom. Now owning a scooter, which has given way to motorcycle, is very common. Teenage boys on flamboyant motorcycles zoom past other vehicles even in the thick of traffic which is why they made wearing a helmet compulsory. Two-wheeler dealers as rule supply helmet when you purchase the vehicle now.

Like a telephone or mobile phone, a two-wheeler is not a luxury any more. You can depend on public transport when the roads and good enough and the bus comes right on time - to the exact minute. There were times when suburban electric trains in metros like Madras (now Chennai) timed their arrival to the minute. "I am leaving by the eight-twentythree," sort of were heard daily. For some time even the road transport also maintained similar time-tables. But with the increasing traffic, the journey time has become unpredictable.

In such a situation, people, particularly the youth, have found in a two-wheeler the most convenient mode of transport to reach the destination, far or near. It may cost marginally more when compared to public transport, but the pride of ownership, the freedom to travel as you like and perfect time management has attracted people to the two-wheeler.

The upper middle classes have found cars within their reach and it has become common to `gift' away a car to the newly-wed in the family.

On-the-spot finance for cars and motorcycles is arranged by almost all the automobile dealers at zero-per cent interest and also with added attractions like free insurance, exchange offers, and loyalty bonus. Owning a vehicle has now become quite easy so much parents give a child a two-wheeler on passing tenth class or Intermediate examination, or on a birthday, reserving more for a bigger occasion like wedding.

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