Reunions have always been cherished by all of us as they give us the pleasant opportunity to meet our beloved friends. Fortunately, I have had one last weekend, when I got a chance to meet my friend Robin. After being missed few chances of get-together during his earlier Mumbai visits, this time we were determinant to make it happen. With immaculate planning at both ends the result obviously was a plus.
Friday Evening
After the dull week that I had had at the office I went to Leela to meet Robin as decided over the phone. The phone call experience was good as the phone to his room was not direct but routed through reception on request. Every time I used to call him I would hear sweet and euphonic though mechanical answers from the other side.
It was my first visit to the Leela. After some initial debacles I finally reached his room 515. The room was grandeur as I was expecting to be and the beauty trapped me. It had a plasma display and a personal bar with liquors, selected with precision to evoke a desire to savor the taste. After our talks on topics of variety, covering the whole spectrum of our imagination, we decided to leave the place. Since it was Friday and Robin was with me I could not find another option but to have drinks at Aura a restro-bar in proximity of my house. We had some good talks over the beers ;). We returned back late in night.
Saturday Delight
Saturday was kind of hectic as Robin had a list of places to be seen with him. We started with Mumbai's life-line (locals) to Matunga. From there we caught a cab to Wadala. Imax – Dome was the first thing to be covered. The theatre has the largest dome screen in the world. (As per claims made by IMAX)
We saw a documentary on Dolphins. The narrative though was banal but the film had breath-taking shots, made more realistic by the IMAX technology. One can have vicarious feelings of motion and self-participation in a movie at IMAX.
After the movie is over we headed to town (VT). Since it was only 3 pm and Mumbai is too hot and humid to explore during these hours we unanimously decided to see Parineeta. I chose Liberty theatre because it gives AC at only 50 Rs. for upper stall. Also hindi movies give you an option to kill your time in the midst of emotional drama. The film proved to be a good option and did not disappoint us. It had an occupying story, with good songs and lyrics, spectacular cinematography, and appreciable performances; though the serious climax was overly done and had become melodramatic.
After the movie the duo moved to the Colaba – the heart of Mumbai and walked around the streets, catching the glimpses of Mumbai colors, tasting its rich flavors and breathing the scent of humid sea air. We headed towards Gateway of India – Monument of Shame rather than fame because it was build to commemorate the visit of the King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay. The desire of “to be in the sea” rather “to be at the sea” led us to take a ferry ride. The quality of ride can be estimated by the fact that the zephyrs from the sea were soothing enough to engulf Robin for a quick nap. I stood there on the railings facing towards the sea and enjoyed the vastness of the Arabian Sea. Though I was alone, it reminded me of the scene from the titanic where Leonardo was standing with Kate, hand in hand facing towards the sea. The completion of ride opened the doors for a new quest. The quest was to search for a good bar or pub. Since Mumbai is humid and hot we were looking for an AC pub.
We started from Leopold Pub. It is famous among firangs and you will find a lot of them. Surprisingly only first floor has AC fittings. We didn’t get the permission to enter, as stag entry was not allowed. How an AC can affect the entry at a pub is so obscure a topic that it is difficult to understand and beyond my rationale. Do you need cooler ambience when you walk around with opposite sex or you must have a partner to claim for luxuries? I do not understand the motive of the pub, perhaps should have asked then and there. We then went to Café Mondegar, again the attempt was futile as we it was already packed for the evening and we were asked to wait until some benevolent guest oblige us by leaving early at 8 pm from the pub, which was highly unlikely the situation. We finally found one sports bar with enough space to accommodate us and when we were settling down there my friend popped up the idea to move to TGIF. Since TGIF was in proximity we went there and savored some of the concocted cocktails and food there. We had a good dialogue and we finished late at 1 am. Later we realized that it was too late to get a local, but god saved us and sent an angel in the form of a bus to Santa Cruz, which we boarded to later catch a cab to Powai. We could make before 3 am, which was an achievement, worthy to be blogged. The next day we got up late and sluggish at 11 am. Robin had some anecdotes from Holland to share with us (my roomie and me) and at 1 30 pm he asked to leave. I realized that the party was over but had left many memories. Memories that linger forever and become vivid when contemplated.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
Valediction
Friday evening saw a meloncholic moment when Gautam left India. It was not really melancholic for me or for anybody of us who went there to bid him good bye but if it was then for his parents and siblings. I felt uneasy because I was witnessing the whole event. Whether I wanted to be or not, knowingly or unknowingly, I was sucked in the moment.
Test Drive - Maruti 800
It all started with me reaching at Sarvesh's place. We started late, around 9 pm to the airport. We were sure to miss Gautum as we had missed Charu the other day because of our 'COOL' attitude. The situation was adverse as we not only had to face the pathetic traffic of Saki Naka but also had to pick Shalaka from Vikhroli. Somehow we managed to pick Shalaka and later Amol from office. In the meanwhile Shalaka invited her friend Abhishek Thakkar from IITB. We were already packed in Maruti-800 and to accomodate one more seemed to be a tough task. The task became herculean once I saw Mr. Abhishek, a young man of 6 feet height and some odd 100+ kgs of weight. Since he could not be fitted in rear seat, I had to leave my front seat and moved back. Imagine Maruti-800 bearing load of 5 people. I would say 8 because most of us are blessed with good health. The car was undoubtly a winner as it not only left us at the airport right in time but also suffered us. Luckily the shockers were still intact and working fine.
The Photography Session
Mr. Thakkar was carrying his Canon so once we had introduced each other we could not over look the camera. Mr. Thakkar started displaying his photography skills. He took some nice shots. He put us in his frame with Gautam and Gautam's family. He also shoot a zoomed picture with his camera when Gautum was hard to see by naked eyes. I realized his dexterity when I saw his web site today. www.abhishekthakkar.com
Really good collection of images. He also took a photograph of the taxi stand at the airport and an Air India plane while we were leaving the place.
The Parting
Gautam started guiding his trolley with two suitcases and his thesis reports placed on it. I remember thesis reports because I know the hardwork that goes inside them. Everybody became silent as Gautam walked away not knowing what to do. All of us must be thinking drastically different for sure in our cerebrums.
His parents must be having benevolent thoughts for him in their minds while wearing benign smile on their aged faces. They would also be thinking of the void and the changes in life that had been created by his absence.
I felt sad because I could realte myself to the whole dismal episode. Because I could see the expression of gloom and lonesomeness on his parents faces. Parents would never like their child to leave them when they need him the most; but life is harsh and bitter. Perhaps I also wanted to leave and was apprehensive to go through the same ordeal which Gautam had been going through.
Lastly for Gautam, it must be really hard to leave India. At one end he would be feeling the warmth of the sunny days that he would see and on the other hand the coldness of leaving his parents alone. He must have meticulously worked out the delicate balence between his career and family before leaving. Being sensible and empathetic I think he will work his way out of this.
Finally.............. we could not see him any longer behind the glass wall. We waved till the time we got his last sight, even when he was not seeing us. Perhaps that is a kind of ritual that people perform to express their love to their parting friends.
And we left the place after exchanging tacit glances with his parents because nobody was sure whether it was a joyous moment or a melancholic one.
Should mention that we took a hault at Maharaja before we could make back to our places. :) I found that sometimes food also allays your pain.
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