My bestfriend's wedding

Article submitted for Malaysia Today

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The ‘final wedding’ is over. Slightly intoxicated with champers and high on emotions, I leave the dance floor to take a quick breather at the reception counter. I trace the Polaroid picture of the newly married couple I had took earlier on in the evening and sigh. I am not sure if it was the aftermath of too much self-made podium moves (with the restaurants chairs and the speakers as our dance podiums), or too much bubbly, or possibly both, but tears welled up and emotions suddenly ran high.

I was honored when I was made one her bridesmaid for the weeks of festivities, celebrating what would be, one of the happiest moments in her life. Sheah Nee was to marry a very, very good friend of mine, Naz– who is not just my colleague, but my best boyfriend.

I met Naz almost 10 years ago, before either one of us was in the entertainment line, at some watering hole in Kuala Lumpur. I was introduced to him by a friend of a friend and expecting some charming lines from such a charming face, I was clearly upset when he said to me instead, “are those your mother’s curtains,” as he points to the designs of my peddle-pushers I had just purchased the day before. I gave him a cold stare as he starts ‘hi-fiving’ his guy pals around the table.

Fast forward a few years later, we bumped into each other at TV3. I guess tact is not his cup of tea as he said to me, “hey, if you don’t wear your curtains, you look quite decent!” I continued to snub this arrogant ‘Disney host joker’ and went on with my life. One day, I received horrible news. I was to host a financial program with you-guessed-who, so you can imagine my distaste and discomfort knowing that my first break on telly was to be with this moron I couldn’t stand and only tolerated because he was a friend of my friends!

But being your true professional journalist, I swallowed my distaste and fought hard not to punch him on the face. My producer told us to go out “minum teh”, learn about one another and to build the chemistry for the show. I wanted to kill my producer but when he suggested that, Naz took my hand and said, “jom! I know a GREAT place where curtains are allowed in!” My producer smiles smugly and I am forced to learn more about this ‘mangkuk’ of the lad at a surprisingly nice mamak store nearby. The rest, as they say, is history.

Holding the Polaroid picture of these two lovebirds, I can’t believe my best guy friend is married. A tear rolls down and I wipe my runny snot away when mother of the bride walks over. “Hey Daphne…are you alright?” I quickly make myself look busy clearing up the reception counter. “I’m okay aunty…just a bit...err…tipsy?”

Rereading this article, one would think of me as the Julia Roberts in “My Best friend’s Wedding”, right? Wrong. I was always gung-ho with their relationship. I approved of her the day he (finally) introduces us over Japanese. Who couldn’t like her? She is not just drop dead beautiful, she is super intelligent and has a heart of gold. It was with little wonder that Sheah Nee and I became fast friends and confidantes. And when he confided in me, thousands of feet high above sea level on our way to Melbourne for our travel show, (yes, after our first programme together, Ringgit Sense, we have been paired together for other numerous TV stints together) that Sheah Nee was the woman he wanted to marry, I cried out loud and hugged him tight. He told me to keep it quiet. I gave non-discreet hints along the way. And now, as we celebrate the fourth and LAST wedding celebration for the week, reality has hit me, knowing that I will no longer be the first woman he runs to when he has good and bad news to share. And this jolts me in feelings I can’t truly comprehend.

Aunty Lesley gives me a kind smile, as if she knew what was going on in my mind and squeezes me gently on the shoulder.”Go and party girl!” I nod and adjust my tube dress in place. I see a white thread hanging loose and as I maneuver my body awkwardly to bite the string off, that mangkuk of the groom appears out of nowhere. “So here you are! What on earth are you doing curtain lady?”

He sees the tears in my eyes and smiles knowingly.

He burns the string off. “You will always be the curtain in my life. And see? I will never forget your birthday or my wedding anniversary—EVER!”

We hug and I tell him to look after the bride I have learnt to love and appreciate as much as my friendship with him.

There is a paradigm shift in my friendship with Naz, but I know it will be a level of happiness that will only elevate, as years go by. I see him dance with his bride, my new best friend, and my heart melts knowing that he is in good hands.

**Dedicated to Sheah Nee and Naz. If the both of you had told me earlier I was to give a speech , this would be the gist of it. Not that ‘birdie’, orgasmic impromptu speech I embarrassingly gave 2 weeks ago. Congratulations guys!**