The last night, and by some distance the loudest. After the early mornings, the careful rituals and several changes of clothes: no auspicious hour, no sitting still. A proper bar, a proper DJ, and both families finally off duty at the same time.

The floor opens once the speeches are done and stays open until the venue asks us to leave. Historically, they have had to ask twice.

Black and gold, please. Black tie if you own it, black anything if you do not, and gold wherever you can get away with it. Sensible shoes are a private matter.

Drinks are on us. All of them. There is no bar tab to settle and no card to hand over; just tell them what you want.

మందు + విందు A feast, and the medicine that goes with it. మందు (mandu) means medicine. It has meant something else since roughly 1950.