Mehndi Magic at the Big, Fat Punjabi wedding . . .

I squat in front of the mehndi artist and extend my right palm.  She shows me a dozen designs to choose from and I pick an intricate paisley leaf, with spirals on the side.  Within minutes, she\'s coaxed the dark-green mehndi color out of her plastic cone and on my outstretched palm much like squeezing icing onto a cake.  She throws on some pink and turquoise glitter to match the lehnga I\'m wearing.  It looks pretty, but now I have to sit idly for at least an hour, giving the henna sufficient time to stain my palm. I\'m not bothered though.  I\'m attending my cousin sister\'s wedding in India, and there\'re plenty of relatives I can talk to who\'ll help me pass the time.