If you are an Indian living abroad, you must have heard this imaginary time zone, that we're all supposedly living in. If you are a newbie, read on.
IST i.e Indian Standard Time is to arrive atleast 2 hours behind any given, scheduled time. You'll be unceremoniously banished from the 'desi' club and lose your badge of honor, even if you go a minute earlier. I have no idea who's the brain behind this acronym. But, my wild guess is that, it belongs to a body full of lazy bones - all 206 of them.
Indian parties, especially, follow this IST rule to the core. Everyone will be late. You have to. Unless you wish to see your host in his pajamas or the hostess sans makeup. Looking at you with embarassment. You look quite puzzled and politely point out that the party time has been printed as 1.00pm. Lo presto, your watch shows exactly 1.00pm. And, they would go, "So what? You dumbo. Nitwit. That doesn't mean you should come exactly at that time. You did the same for the last party too. Don't you ever learn?".
Trust me, that's what's in their mind, but it all comes out in nervous laughter and awkward moments. And, you'll be left staring into space or petting the dog for the next couple of hours, wondering why someone would specify a party time, only for people to come much later. Trust me, don't look for logic on this one. It's one of those enigmas which are better unresolved - if you wish to retain any of your sanity. Anyways, after what feels like eternity to you, the first guest would trickle in and if it's your best friend, chances are they would sympathically nod their head for the first few seconds and then snicker, tease and laugh at you for the rest of your life.
If you want to be spared of this ordeal, let me spell it out for all you folks looking at your party invites and haven't read the IST manual yet - NEVER BE ON TIME. Later, the merrier.
IST i.e Indian Standard Time is to arrive atleast 2 hours behind any given, scheduled time. You'll be unceremoniously banished from the 'desi' club and lose your badge of honor, even if you go a minute earlier. I have no idea who's the brain behind this acronym. But, my wild guess is that, it belongs to a body full of lazy bones - all 206 of them.
Indian parties, especially, follow this IST rule to the core. Everyone will be late. You have to. Unless you wish to see your host in his pajamas or the hostess sans makeup. Looking at you with embarassment. You look quite puzzled and politely point out that the party time has been printed as 1.00pm. Lo presto, your watch shows exactly 1.00pm. And, they would go, "So what? You dumbo. Nitwit. That doesn't mean you should come exactly at that time. You did the same for the last party too. Don't you ever learn?".
Trust me, that's what's in their mind, but it all comes out in nervous laughter and awkward moments. And, you'll be left staring into space or petting the dog for the next couple of hours, wondering why someone would specify a party time, only for people to come much later. Trust me, don't look for logic on this one. It's one of those enigmas which are better unresolved - if you wish to retain any of your sanity. Anyways, after what feels like eternity to you, the first guest would trickle in and if it's your best friend, chances are they would sympathically nod their head for the first few seconds and then snicker, tease and laugh at you for the rest of your life.
If you want to be spared of this ordeal, let me spell it out for all you folks looking at your party invites and haven't read the IST manual yet - NEVER BE ON TIME. Later, the merrier.