Thursday, February 28, 2019

Sid and Me




I met my long lost Hyderabadi classmate Siddiqui the other day. Like after about 30 yrs or so. Has his own business enterprises in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. And is one of the richest men in the Gulf. Really. Imagine.

But that’s not it. He turned out to be a great storyteller. And knows the inside outs of all our other classmates. Staying in Riyadh good man seems to have been in touch with all.


Anyways, the stories he told me put me in deep thought. It’s lucky he ordered some delicious Rogan Gosh and Mangaluru fish. And that gave me time to chew on his stories. God. Facts are much more complicated than fiction.

Then he gifted me two boxes of dates. I have such a liking for dates. It’s almost genetic. Maybe my ancestors were originally from the gulf. Who knows. I sure would like to be born there next janam. In a royal family with oil wells and all that.

So best wishes Sid and god bless ………

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Our good friend Dolly has finally grown up

Peeps, I can’t put in words the joy of meeting my dear friend after 30 odd years. We met him last evening and before I could blink it was past midnight and we had not yet had our supper.


I better tell this properly. We met opposite Koshy’s, MG Road sixish. After the mandatory man hug, we saw to our utter disgust the board marked ‘Bar Closed. I don’t know who was more sad. Anyways went to this place called The Biere Club at UB city and had mug after mug of Ale and Lager. And so it started. Gapshup after gupsup.
   
    
You guys think I am a story teller. Thats coz u haven’t ever listened to Dolly. I need to mention one particular story.  I needed to go to the restroom. Urgent. But he started the story. Peep, I couldn’t move away. The story he told riveted me to the chair. And only 45minuter later, I asked for a pause and rushed. god what a story.


Ok its 1215 and he says bro I have to leave 5. Flying away. So we wind up bar activity and go to Mainland china for food. great Chinese food. not Chinese Chinese. But Indian  Chinese.
Its now that I learn he is not leaving for the airport at 5 but the flight is at 5. So we end the day. A great day.

That said.

Don’t go by that cutsey papam face of his. Amarnath is a number one criminal. Can’t say more.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Kutti Reunion at Venu's place 02Nov2012


Beer in other hand....................

So we met last eve.This is the kutti reunion (also called Micro Mini reunion) held at Venu Madhav's place in Bangalore. I reached there at 7pm.

There we go...............

He has this cute home and I spent time looking around - he has this quaint wall clock, the kind I would expect in a English Railway station.He also has a lovely Radha Krishna statue. 
Comfy pose all...There you can see the RadhaKrishna idol- behind VA..

Caught up with Hyma too. By 745, Mayank, Vijay Anand and Vijay Ratnam arrive. Mayank is wishing every one 'Happy karva chauth..' .. Guess he is already missing home.

oh ho...



Sai Joins in...........

Welcome drinks around. We all begin with wine.. 2 sips and he is out cold. Vijay Anand is happy with his fruit juice.

2 kiddos.........

Son we all got chatty chatty. Lot of this and that were touched upon. Mayank so damn happy he got the visa to a certain gulf country. Kept thanking the passport and visa people.
Gang of 4....

We begin live posting of goings-on. Thanks heavens no video. Soon Sai joins in- He too a juice guzzler. We move to scotch by then. Need add here that Hyma made some cool side dishes with mushroom and cut mirch bajjis.

Bhaskar calls up from the US and joins in. Later Ira to interrupted on a Friday eve and wished 'Happy Karva Chauth by a certain groupie.


Then Mayank already high tries calling up a certain Gulf country - not able to do so coz is is using the wrong phone - Vijay Anand's - which is locked. He keeps asking me ISD code for this country. I didnt tell him.


Then all of a sudden he moves from his boom boom voice to a quiet dignified voice on phone - Bet he is speaking to Divya.


 Whatever we say about Mayank- he sweet fellow - he brought some cool gifts for Karthk.He brought something called Beyblades. The update version of tops we had in childhood.


 
We all were busy discussing something important (I guess), when Mayank interrupts and says something about our class girls and sisters and something. Then goes on to says "Nahi, I take it back". I missed the point there. Mayank please give the details. I only hope is not what I'm thinking...

Local Dada...literally

 Then he (Mayank who else) gets up and opens his luggage, takes out his jacket and wears it.  Its nice and warm at Venu's place. Plus all that alcohol.


So we all look at him asking why. 'Divya told me to wear it in Bangalore' he says. He missing her too damn much. Hyma all confused with the jacket asks Mayank if he planning to sit in the garden.


I found something unspeakable in my drink. I thought liquor was playing games with me but no, It was there in my glass. Luckily Venu took care of it else you guys instead of reading this would have been making arrangements to meet me at a hospital. ha ha ha.


We then move to dinner. Lovely veg food and gajjar halwa with icecream for desert. - thanks Hyma.


Its midnight now. VR and me take leave. Rest continue the bash... need them to update.





The End.................

Saturday, October 13, 2012

More Pics From The Mega Reunion

Afroze, Madhavi, Aruna, Janaki, Veena, Mary, Ira and of course, yours truly....
Afroze and Aruna   BFF

Veena, Mary and Rupa - Don't these three in Pink look like some royalty..
Thats Xavier Augustine's Family...His kids were so cute....


Xavier, Sabina and kids and Hemant

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Reunion of BVBPS BHEL Class of 1983 -July 28-29 2012

Everyone you will see in the pics below studied (and had lots of fun) together from class 5 to class 10 separating in the year 1983. The year we all wrote our 10 exam to meet up in the year 2012 for a memorable reunion.

I reached the resort early and played out the waiting game. Then I see Babu and call out but he does not recognise me. I call out again and there it lights up the small bulb and Babu recognizes me. Around there is this exotic creature, no missing Sanjay Rajan.


Vijay Ratnam decides to strangulate Aruna for following 
Sanjay during the teenmaar dance. Backs of Madhavi and Rupa

Madhavi and far its Babu


OMG :Pai lagu... boss... Me: pehle paisa de re ... Ramkrishna there too

What I saw at the gate was unbelievable- a party of teenmar drum players. Plus garlands for the guests.

Round Table... no Table though...

Soon the first lot of guests came – Just couldn’t recognize Deepak. Wondering who this good looking guest was.

Batch of BVBPS 1983

who is the bach of the group ... i know i know....
Suresh, Vijayanand, Vijay, Sesh, Ajai, Tom, Padmavati, Aparna with her beautiful daughter, Parvati, Ira,  
Whats Afroze up to.....Maroon-Aruna, White-Padmavati, Pink dress-Divya (Mayank's wife), offwhite-Veena, Pink saree-Rupa, Purple-Ira
Jaideep with Afroze and Ramkrishna - 
so this is how we looked to the teachers...

 





Just love this pic...Aruna and Mayank



AV Sridhar, Jaideep, Giridhar, Ali, Ramakrishna, pain-killer Mohan, Madhavi and Mayank.

But where are the rest !!!!!!

Soon  I see Ramesh, Afroze, Aruna, Paddu, Rupa, Mary and Janaki, Veena

Main Jeetha..
Laughing at my expense i guess
After all the years my heat still skips a beat – must be arrhythmia.

(Venu, Ranga Rao, Arvind, Laxmikant meet later)

Then begins the road dancing and it went on and on and on. We ended up spending more than an hr at the gate itself.



Then we check into our rooms – Sesh is my roommate. Wonder who all were room mates here and how it went on the gossip front.

In 9 out of 10 pic Veena has a plate in hand....
here with Mary giving her some juicy news and she focusing on her plate

Aruna cheering .. Ira's game... with Afroze, Parvati and Padmavati

Afroze was here na... where did she go...
Then we all meet at the indoor hall, where the big Reschool backdrop is put up. 
Beautiful it is. One photo session here with individuals pointing at their names. I pointed at the wrong name.

Met PS Ravindra and family but Whers Xavier.


All ears for the handsome guy
We begin the proceeding by giving girls mementos. Small but nice idea prompted by Mayank. 

Next was the cute mugs distribution with our names on it. This one is precious piece I shall keep for long. Then we had pics taken in our new Tees with the hand (master stroke). Mine made me breathless – too tight. I later gave it Mohan’s son.

Wats dad upto behind my back.... 
Then we went on to the quiz created by Afroze.  Must say lot of effort went into making this quiz. Those cool questions about us – from postings online. Questions about our teachers. Rumi questions. Loved every bit of the event.

11 pm 12 midnight 1am......
During this game my dear friend Xavier makes his entry.

Then we played a round of Antraskshari. Great fun as always. Highlight here was Vijayratnam’s redo of Amitabh on a bike singing that song from Mukadar ka sikandar.

Had a chatty chaty with Murlikrishna.

Then some guys – not named for obvious reasons– went to the room to have a swig. I joined them but didn’t take in any alcohol as I was already high – what with all the happening around.
Daru time...
Boys Boys...

Later that evening we had a DJ – Bobby and team join us. They made us sweat from 9-11. Never danced so much. Not even in our school days. The kids just loved it.

Then it was story time. I had fun telling the stories. Hope u liked it. Feedback welcome.






Girls Girls...
We ended the day at 130am – way past midnight.

I missed the Holi next moring. The reason was when I got up i hit my toe on the side table, it pained so much that I quietly got back in bed and dozed off.

LtoR- Padmavati, Ira, Afroze, Parvati, Aparna. Row 2- Padmalatha
Later I had a nice memorable walk with the girls. Remember that a lot.

Aparna, Ira and Deepak
Day 2 was family day. Not my kinda day as I end up hearing how nice the spouses are or how smart the kids are. But enjoyed this one.

Saw Divya, Madhu, earlier saw Sunita, had a nice chat with Ravindra ’s wife, also met Ira’s hubby.

3 is a crowd - Hemant, Aruna and Sanjay Rajan (same below)
During the kids games, we – the classmates – were all called in for a game. This game a modification of musical chair and was conducted by Ira. The game was where the girls stand in a line with one had on their side (alternately)  and be the chair and boys keep moving around - as soon as the music stops, boys lock hands with the nearest girl. Some unlucky guy got out every round. The real highlight of this game was when girls were asked to leave to reduce the ‘chairs’, they strongly objected. One even said why should I leave I have a boy at hand. The winner here was M. R. Suresh.  Silver went to Ali. And bronze to yours sincerely. 

Parvati, Afroze and Paddu got their parents to the show. Unexpected. Was nice to know they are happy and healthy and doing good.

Grand Finale...
Paddu even brought her Grandmom here. So sweet.

Post lunch second day was when I saw Xavier’s wife and kids. I had a lil chatty chatty with her.

What I remember was a Jagjit singh song sang by Rupa. This song did touch a cord within. It made most eyes moist. 
Rupa at her best


Then Ramesh spoke to the crowd to give back by collecting money and buying a big farm house for me. Or was it something else.

Holi Hai..............
The happy one are PS Ravindra and Veena Kulkarni
The formal ending was when we sang the national anthem – but I now realize some may have become citizens of other countries. Are they allowed to sing the Indian national anthem? 

Long Long ago.............Janaki, Ramessh, Ranga and Hemant
Was very difficult parting – Told Ajai and Ali no leaving me till the last second.  Sesh went home to drop the families and returned. Tom, Mohan, Ali, Sesh and me  went to Madhavi’s place. Got to know her hubby, Venu a little better.  

Sanjay Rajan was with me on the flight back to Bangalore. Guy doing some good things. Later dropped him at the hotel and had a little challenge arranging veg food for Sanjay this late at night but ended up have some delicious hot Idly and dosa.


The Euphoria is  still to die down. Ask me what was the highlight of the event and I’ll say it started at the gate of the resort and ended when the last person left.

Most importantly, we need to thank Facebook for allowing us to get to know each other even before we actually met. I got to know Parvati, Mary, Madhavi, Afroze and Janki on Facebook itself.

The only downside of this trip were the few who didn’t make it here. To name one, I missed Srinath. We had some great moments in school - with him being my perennial source of Poppins and my wrestling partner. Later in life, we met often and I found him a great guy and a good friend.

Nuf said… until next time.















Sid and Me

I met my long lost Hyderabadi classmate Siddiqui the other day. Like after about 30 yrs or so. Has his own business enterprises in ...