This is partly my own fault.
An old college friend invited me to his destination wedding. We were close in college but over the years we became more like “reply to Instagram story twice a year” friends.
Still, when the invitation came, I felt happy. Booked flights, hotel, bought clothes, gave a decent gift.
Total damage was somewhere around ₹18,000-20,000.
Reached there.
The groom saw me during the first function, hugged me and said, “Bhai finally!”
Good start.
Over the next two days, I spoke to him for maybe four minutes total.
Again, I understand. It was his wedding. 200+ guests. Obviously he can't personally entertain me.
But the weird part was I barely knew anyone else there. My old college group had cancelled. So I spent most functions making small talk with strangers and pretending to be very interested in paneer starters.
On the flight back I kept thinking… why did I go?
Not in an angry way. Just genuinely questioning this whole adult wedding culture where we spend serious money attending events for people we're not actually close to anymore.
Would you have gone?