30llywood Night

The run down to Day 0 – Friday, June 21^st

This was an event that was quite an ordeal to plan, simply because it involved hiding it from Geet! Keeping my phone close to me, handling most discussions with people only on mails instead of messengers like whatsapp or viber, deleting conversations soon as I've had them, and somehow keeping all of it clandestine till I managed to get that shocked look on Geet's face.

Anyway, here's the whole story, filled with a comedy of errors while going about the planning.

The premise behind the plans for Geet's 30 bday was that all the people she'd want to have around, and all the food she'd like to eat, to be present on the day of her birthday. Coz when I sat to think of what she would really like on this day, I knew it was the people who were close to her, and the gastronomic desires she's developed lately.

So the idea was to arrange 30 favourite dishes of Geet’s for her to savour, and all the planning began with me calling Naan and asking him to come down. I wanted him to be surreptitious about this even to his parents, as I wasn't very confident of them keeping it hidden from Geet for too long. But then he had to inform them, as they were planning a trip to Tirupati at the same time.

But somehow we all managed to keep it hidden from Geet till he arrived. There was even one occasion couple of days before the birthday when we were at her parents place, and mom was playing along asking where we are travelling for her birthday and stuff, because that was the story we were giving Geet as a decoy to plant the birthday surprise. Of course, not everything was perfect; Geet's dad almost ruined things on 2 separate instances. One was a week before the birthday he actually told Geet to tell Naan to get cash in Pounds and exchange into Rupees. Thankfully he stopped there and didn't give any further details of his arrival here, and thankfully Geet was too caught up with something else to probe further. Then just the day before Naan's arrival, I had bought biryani from Hyd and when Geet was on the phone with her dad, he almost blurted that we should save some for Naan. Her mom just managed to shut him up before he said that by taking the phone away from her and continuing the conversation with Geet.

So that was how the first and most important surprise element, Naan, was panning out. Next on the list was Parul and Aanchal. Parul worked out easily coz she had a meeting in Bombay that week, and we played her story with Geet by saying she would land only on Sunday, while the surprise party we were planning was the day before itself. Aanchal was a little tougher, but somehow in the final week of the birthday plans, she managed to pull off a meeting in Jaipur which allowed her to fly by Bombay before heading back to Delhi.

So that was 3 people coming from 3 different places, and I gave them a list of food items to get from where they were coming – Belgium waffles from London, Dal Batti from Jaipur and sweets from Delhi were some of the things Geet likes.

Next on the list was K. He was a crucial person, coz one, he was coming from Chennai, from where most of the food for Geet needed to be brought, and two, he was one of her closest friends for a long time, and along with Naan and the 2 girls, she would love it if he were there. So I went about convincing him for a long time, and he just couldn’t finalize plans as he was in between jobs, and finally confirmed his travel only days before the birthday. By then the flight prices were so high, that I had to book one way through my miles, and he used a discount voucher on the return in order to make the trip happen. I was really glad he managed to pull it off, coz he got the essentials (food from Murugan Idly and Thalapakati Biryani) and also played an instrumental role in ensuring Geet was really surprised on her birthday. More on that later.

I tried hard to convince him to bring Indu as well, but with a 6 month baby, it was always bound to be difficult. In fact, she had such little time, that when I made a trip to Hyd the day before the surprise party to get some of Geet’s favourite food from there, she refused to even catch up with me for a short while coz she was that tied up. Anyway, I managed to pick chicken and prawn starters from a restaurant there called Rayalseema Ruchulu that Geet hogged like crazy when we visited Hyd, and also picked the usual Paradise Biryani along with some other Hyd favourites like Boondi from Pulla Reddy and Bisticks from Almond House over the trip there.

So this was all the background planning with the people coming from outside Bombay and the food they were to bring. I then went about inviting people from Bombay – Ashok and Tejal who were her school friends, Sushant and Ankur who were friends of hers from Symbi, then all the people from office – Janani, Mallika, Ananya, Ajith, Ninja – all who would come with their spouses and other friends who always make partying at our place such good fun, and finally some of my friends too like Bangdu, Rikesh and Vyoma.

So it was a big gang, and at one point, while chatting with Parul, we counted nearly 30 of them which would have not only been the biggest group at our party, but also perfectly matching the magic number of 30 for the night. But the final number that turned up was closer to 25 given some drop outs, and even getting this many people to assemble in a manner that Geet didn’t have a clue was quite a miracle, especially coz she is really smart as smelling a rat.

I had mailed everyone on the group and given them options on the gifts that I knew Geet was looking for (things like Clutches, which she ended up getting 3 of, umbrellas, which she ended up getting 2 of, and other items like bags and soft toys, etc etc) and also split all the items that needed to be brought home between people. Bangdu was to bring the sea food from Gajalees (again a favourite for Geet), Rikesh the mixers, Ananya and Vyoma the alcohol, Janani and Shiva the items from Hyd that I handed over to them for safe keeping, Ashok and Tejal the food items from Dahisar that Geet used to enjoy as a kid and makes me have everytime we visit her family doctor there, and finally the cake from Westin which Ajith was to get, which was quite the highlight of the night.

The one thing I was struggling to stitch together was the gift that I was to get for Geet. I had a meeting in Delhi a week before the birthday, and used the opportunity to take some old photos of Geet’s to show it to Jeethu and Sachin there and get some ideas from them. Sachin printed the photos on an OHP sheet, and prepared a small box out of it, which I thought I could use as a lamp in such a way that the light from inside would reflect the images on to the walls. I thought it would be really cool if we could have her baby pics reflecting off all the walls. But I was circumspect about this working, and planned an alternate gift as well, which involved getting some sketches she had done as a kid framed, so that I could put it up on the wall on the day of the party. So I managed to give it for framing without Geet noticing, and also asked Rampal to send a guy to drill nails on the day of her surprise party.

I did all of this and thought that between the baby pics bouncing off the walls, and the framed sketches on the wall, I could have a decent gift for Geet, but little did I know both of these would completely bomb. Neither worked out on D-Day, and details will follow.

So with that, we landed at Day 1 – Saturday, June 22^nd

The day began with waking up as usual before Geet does, then going through my notes and planning the activities for the day, which included messaging everyone and reminding them of the activities that they need to do for the day.

Then once K called after landing in Bombay, I woke Geet up and we went to pick him up and bring him over to his maiden visit to our place, with one pit stop en route to pick some junk Bombay breakfast like Missal Pav and Vada Pav that K wanted to have.

Once home, K and I got a small window when Geet went into the loo to take out the food packets from K’s bag and stuff it into the fridge. This took a bit of time, coz I had to place them real deep inside so that Geet wouldn’t notice it, and we completed doing all of it just as she walked into the kitchen. We were so glad that I had just shut the fridge and K had just dumped the last chutney packet that we weren’t planning to use into the dustbin, but Geet noticed one packet of sambar that was left behind over the microwave and began asking what that was. Both of us covered saying we have no clue and it was probably something the maid left there, and promptly threw that too in the dustbin. We were so worried that she may suspect we were up to something, but somehow we managed to avert it.

Then around 10:30 I knew I would get a call from Geet’s mom who was waiting at the airport as it was time for Naan to land. So I began rushing Geet in to the shower so that we can leave on time for the “trip” that she and I planned. While she was inside, I left to the airport telling her that I will just step out for 10 minutes to meet a friend and get back.

That 10 minutes turned into nearly 1.5 hours, coz first of all Naan took an age to get out of the airport and after he came out and called me, we couldn’t see each other, and it took me a minute to realize that I was waiting at the domestic airport all this while, while he would obviously arrive at the international. So I immediately sped to the international and got there in record time to pick both of them up.

While on the way back, K messaged saying Geet is almost going to sleep waiting for me, coz I was avaoiding all of her calls not knowing what to say about my delay. Once we got there, I entered the house first, and the plan was that Naan and mom would ring the bell and Geet would go to open it. But when the bell did ring and we asked Geet to check who it was, she knew something was up. Somehow we pushed her to the door, and Naan moves in from where he was hiding singing “Happy Birthday to you”. Geet’s reaction was just priceless at this point. She was screeching and jumping like crazy. I turned on my phone a bit too late and missed out half the action, but the little I got was still one for the ages.

Geet by this time had packed our bags and stuff for the trip, and I had to tell her now that it was all a decoy to setup the surprise of Naan’s visit.

All of us were really glad we managed to pull it off and give her this surprise, and now we had to plan for the next surprise that was to happen later on in the day. I nearly gave it away this time, by almost blurting about the sambar packet that Geet found. Somehow we covered our tracks again, and all of us left to Geet’s parents place for lunch.

Parul arrived in Bombay while we were out, and she managed to let herself in as I left our keys at the neighbours without Geet noticing as we left our place. She was just about getting bored when I got back home after lunch and dropping K with some friends that he planned to meet.

I had collected the frames on my way which I had made of Geet’s sketches

placed them on the ground to tell Parul how I intended to put them on the wall, and just when I turned around to setup the “Happy Birthday” sticker on the wall, Parul steps on one of the frames and cracks the glass. I was so upset, but knew that it could get fixed before evening, and so gave it to the shop when I went out to pick K and bring him home.

By the time I got home, Ankur also had arrived to help with the decoration. I explained to all of them the things we need to do; arranging all the food, blowing the balloons, fixing the lamp with Geet’s baby pics that Sachin made, setting up the frames I had brought on the wall, and using the decorating streamers in as many places they can think of. For the food arrangement, I wrote the names of the items on 30 post it stickers and put them up on small stands I made with straws and flower holders. I explained to everyone how this is to be setup in the kitchen. Then I left Parul in charge of the frames, Ankur in charge of fixing the lamp and K in charge of rest of the decorations. I intended to then leave and pick Geet and come, who was waiting at her parents place for me. Just before I left though, Ankur blew the fuse at our place while trying to fix the baby pics lamp, and I had to move him to decorations as this was clearly not happening. This is how the first gift idea for Geet had bombed.

I then went to pick Geet and by the time I cut through traffic and got back, most of the junta had arrived home. However, I got a call from the carpenter saying that people didn’t let him set up the frames and when I tried to call Parul to check with her, she says that Aanchal stepped on 2 of the frames this time, and they couldn’t set it up because of that. I was so furious when I heard this, as this was my alternate, and only remaining gift for Geet, and even this was not happening. I realized later that the carpenter himself had come too late when it was difficult to manage him with all the people at home, but at that point I was so angry with Parul that I just slammed the phone on her. I was not even talking to Naan and Geet while driving home as I was so bugged with this thing not working.

During this whole time, K was being very effective in ensuring the surprise still works on Geet coz he called Geet and started yelling at her saying she was chilling at parents place and I was somewhere outside and he is getting bugged sitting at home all alone waiting for us. He pretty much made her plan the evening out for us by saying that we will all step outside for a drink.

However, by the time we got home, the first giveaway was one pair of slippers that was lying outside the door. As soon as Geet saw that, she got suspicious that were more people than just K at home. Then when we opened the door, she noticed all the decorations and grew more suspicious. I was wondering why people aren’t in the hall to shout surprise. I even turned my camera on to ensure I get her reaction this time, and this was the next giveaway, when Geet noticed me filming her. Then K had to pretty much had to force her into the room where everyone was waiting and this was when even I realized that this was probably the best that could have been done with the number of people who were waiting in the dark there to surprise her. There was no way that the carpentry work could have been done when I was away, and no way to avoid Geet getting suspicious when she entered the house.

But what was still worth it was her expression when she saw so many people in the house. It surprised me too that there really were that many. The best part was Parul and Aanchal hiding inside the bathroom, which was something Geet didn’t suspect at all, because on our way home, she was busy chatting with exactly both of them saying how Naan surprised her, and how we are planning to go out for a drink now taking K and Naan with us.

Once the surprise was done, we got everyone out of the room to the hall where Geet cut her cake. Then we took her into the kitchen to show all the food that was laid out for her. Then people who were waiting to leave soon, like Tejal and her husband, Ajith and his wife, pulled her to the room to give her the gifts they bought, and it took some time between that and my pouring everyone a drink, before we got to making our toast. Geet promptly said that she wishes she turns 30 every year coz this was the best surprise she had.

It didn’t take much time after this little speech for people to get drunk, and pretty soon, we were having dance off’s as part of the theme for the night, which was “30llywood Night”. This was a theme that Geet herself came up with, and invited some people to come over on Sunday for a party on this theme. She had absolutely no clue that people would be landing up on Saturday itself, and although she couldn’t get into the costume that she wanted to be in for Sunday, it just didn’t matter at all, coz all of us got drunk and began dancing crazy.

The party had everything; Shiva gyrating to his funny moves, Chaitanya proving how he just cannot dance, Bangdu doing his usual lustful steps, all the girls proving how they are so much better than us boys when it comes to shaking a leg – especially Tina with her belly dance and Aanchal with her full prong Bharatnatyam. Soon the party moved to the fun room with Ananya and her “le dibbi” which kept many of us occupied for a long time. Then people making funny poses in front of the camera, and finally moving to youtube to entertain the really late night party maniacs.

It was somewhere around the Youtube session when I think I passed out. I just couldn’t keep up with the energy of the rest of the guys, especially Nikhil and Mallika, who just went on and on and on.

The last thing I remember was heading into the room to just crash out, and finding a small portion of space in the bed that K was sleeping in on the floor, and crashed out next to him.

The day after – Sunday, June 23^rd

I woke up hearing Geet, K and Naan chat. So much better than waking up all by myself to a quiet morning most days. What made the morning even better was the hangover I had. Not a very bad one that would make it painful, but just right to know that I had a really good time the previous night.

Geet and I made breakfast for all 4 of us and we just chilled out, catching an afternoon nap, and waiting for Parul and Aanchal to join us in the evening for a night of chilled out gaming and drinks, this time with the right cutlery, and not the plastic cups that were used during the mayhem the previous night.

We had a really good time playing taboo. There were some insane moments. Like Geet asking what happens when air evaporates, and Aanchal actually responding to that by saying Steam. K was stunned both ways listening to this. Then there was K himself trying to explain Argentina, and he went on and on saying it is a city in Brazil! It was a real fun night, and finally when the clock was about to strike 12, we all headed out to the park outside, and in spite of a little rain, we still managed to give her bumps out on the park. Then we played one game of hide and seek like little kids and got back home to crash out for the night, which was finally opening up to Geet’s real birthday.

The real birthday – Monday, June 24^th

It was a rainy rainy day on Geet’s birthday. We somehow managed to get to her parents place and decided on making a trip to Madh island for lunch with her family, Parul and Aanchal. I had to work this day for a bit in the morning given some meetings I couldn’t avoid, and ended up delaying the rest as I got home only around 1p.m.

We got out of home by 3p.m, but given the weather, none of the taxi’s or auto’s were willing to drive to Madh island, and none of the car vendors like Meru, Mega were confirming on coming home either. We needed one of these as there were 7 of us including Geet’s family and Parul-Aanchal. We turned back home and called the company car vendor to send a car, and by the time that came and we left home, it was nearly 6p.m. Traffic had almost begun to build, and with a bit of difficulty, made it to The Resort in Madh island just before the sun completely sank in. We quickly captured a few photos and then had some tea with starters and drove back home.

It was a quiet birthday day, and rightly so given the mad party 2 nights back. It was so mad, that Geet and Naan got their stomachs upset, and looked immensely tired. Surprisingly I was pulling through. It was the rainy day concept in MVIT – when I was wondering whether I should get wet coz mom had frightened me my whole life about stepping out in the rain, and Sush tells me that if I just let myself go and blissfully enjoy myself, nothing would happen. That day I played in the rain, the first time I did that, and I didn’t fall sick. So the rainy day concept is that you can put yourself through anything, but as long as you are genuinely enjoying doing that, you’ll be fine J

Best Dream

I see a lot of dreams. I really like seeing dreams. I remember when I was younger, I would keep an alarm to wake up at 5a.m, drink some water, and go back to sleep, because that helped me remember my dreams better.
I love my dreams because I'm almost always a superhero in them, and saving the planet, a girl, or simply doing something extensively heroic! I do get an occasional nightmare - especially when there is a lot of tension at work, or I'm fighting with someone close. But the last set of "falling from a tower", "being chased by dog", "trying, but unable to scream" kind of nightmares I saw was way back when I was a kid. Guess at some point after watching a lot of movies, my dreams shifted to the superhero kind.
Anyway, I've tried recording my dreams every now and then I can. And there are some that can even put a James Cameroon flick to shame given the intensity and detailing of the dream I see.
But today I saw a very different dream - lasted just a few seconds, and somehow I woke feeling it was the Best Dream I ever had.
So it was very simple - I visit a travel agent, and he is showing me on his big screen "Paradise on Earth" - the best place in the world to visit. It looks a bit like the Boulevard of the Barcelona beach - with the pavement for girls in skimpy clothes to skate in, palm trees around, and a beautiful beach. I'm just staring at it and ask the agent how do I get there. He says.. and my alarm goes off. I wake up, and realize I got there.
I got to "Paradise on Earth" - and its right where I am right now.
My life in reality is the best place in the world to visit from my dream.
Now isn’t that a nice feeling to wake up from - a feeling of just having seen the Best Dream ever!

Fire & Ice

Took me so long to come up with one more.. Wonder how some people do it as a profession.. Anyway, here goes:

Whiskey, Vodka, Fire and Ice
Of them all, there’s a bigger vice
One soul tainted, one soul pure
Skin and sweat diseased without cure

Body’s shared in irreversible past
You lie reckless, curiosity lay cast
So many of them in so many places
Some of them today with multiple faces

The actors did exist, their kisses were true
Staged the same play, with a different crew
Once it was a way of life, it was very real
Different reality now, history seems surreal

No matter the life you’re trying to like
No matter the secrets you’re trying to hide
A life led with a hedonistic halo
Will follow you, as true as a shadow

Soul remains tainted, broke and tore
Your biggest vice, down to your core
Cover it up, fake it, move on
Shadows lurking, now here, now gone

October Last week: Noels wedding + Metallica Concert + Halloween Party

October 28th: Goa – Morjim Beach, Montego Bay Resort. Noel’s wedding.

Before I even begin with all the gory details that I will obviously get into regarding Noels wedding, I must say how awed I was at the wedding just looking at Noel and all those people around him, and wondering to myself how much life has changed since we were little boys in school.. Every time I look at all of my friends from back then, especially those that left our sweet city of Bangalore to explore the world outside, I always notice how far and wide life has taken them, and how different things around them seem, and yet, how they are fundamentally the same nut we always knew..
Anyway, I took a flight out of Bombay at 4p.m to make it to Goa in time for Sangeet, and managed to make it to the resort only by 8:30p.m, in spite of taking an expensive cab ride that cost me Rs. 1200 from Dabolim to Montego Bay. Kept working the entire journey and didn’t even realize when I reached the resort, and Muni opened the door for me and said “welcome to Montego bay sir”. Guy was actually outside and bored for company and waiting for me to get there.
I could hear music as soon as I reached, and just about caught a glimpse of the final dance presentation that 20 people on stage were presenting to about 15 off it. But it was really sweet to see the effort they were putting, and I shouted out to Noel from outside saying I didn’t see him dance at all. Noel came out of the group to give me a hug, and that was probably the closest I got to the boy for the remaining 3 days, coz he was no longer the nut we knew, but the groom getting married.
But anyway, we began drinking and dancing, and Jeetu and Rupak also joined a bit late, and after a while, in that drunken state, all of us randomly entered the pool that was in the resort. Most of us guys got in with just our underwears. The girls were sober enough to go in and change into their costumes, and in a very short time, all of us were having a total blast in that little pool. By about 3a.m, way past my snoozing time, when I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, I went and crashed in Noels room, which was actually suppose to be for him and Bhavya, as me and Muni were to take another room. But anyway, with me crashing there, Muni and Noel had no choice but to crash in with me, and Bhavya made other plans.
I remember just after I passed out, people began shouting and asking me to wake up and point to a black bag. I was so passed out that I pointed to my black bag, which was the only black bag I was aware of. These guys were actually asking for Jeetu’s black bag which he apparently gave me when he entered, and I have zero recollection of it – Muni’s logic was that Jeetu was pretty drunk, and he gave the bag to a guy who he thought was less drunk than him, but then I was drunk enough to have no clue where I put the bag, and essentially, in a drunken stupor, all of us forgot about the bag. Anyway, I pointed in the direction of my bag and these guys went about searching around my bag, including looking inside it for Jeetu’s black bag! But obviously to no luck.. We finally found the missing black bag the next day morning, which I only picked from the ‘oven’ in the kitchen where it was kept safe by the resort manager Alwyn, and handed over to Jeetu.
As usual, I was awake real early and ahead of everybody else. Saturday went by a bit slow. Most of the crew were busy getting things ready. Even Noel and Bhavya was busy writing their vows and practicing their first dance as a couple to be staged later on that evening. Muni, Jeetu, Rupak and I decided to just bum around, coz somebody really needed to enjoy the place and actually play the role of guests – we took up that one responsibility and lived it to the T. All we did was play in the beach, chill with beer in the afternoon, eat a king fish, and just short of catching an afternoon nap, coz wedding was to begin pretty early at 5p.m.
At around 4p.m, the clouds looked like it was going to open up, and this had everybody all stressed up. People started figuring out a plan B and stuff. But thankfully, it was just a passing shower, and soon, by about 5:15p.m the wedding began..
There was a ramp all the way from the resort to the beach. Chairs kept out at sand. A small alter facing the beach and the setting sun behind it. A priest that spoke very little, Noel and Bhavya reading their vows and Bhavya crying listening to Noel getting all mushy. Then priest asking them both to kiss and Jeetu and I going all out with our whistles.
I had witnessed the first live kissing at a wedding (everyone in my family in my generation intermarried, and we just never had any of this – that apart from the fact that it was probably never done in Goa!). so after this was the cake cutting, the first dance of Noel and Bhavya, and then, of course, some more drink and dance for the night.
Just before the family junta packed up, we did something very interesting – candle balloons across the beach. It was a really nice experience. All of us stood in pairs, preparing the balloons from the packets that Daniel there gave us. Muni and I set up ours with him balancing the balloon, while I lit the wax below it, and soon, all of us let our balloons off together. Seeing them drift off above the water was a lovely sight.

We got back to more drinking and dancing, and yes, more of the pool. This time I tried much harder at staying awake, especially with Jeetu threatening me to do all nasty stuff to me if I sleep off. So I did give it a shot, but by about 4a.m, I had to find the sack.
But just before we all packed in, was the next highlight of the night - Noel and Bhavya going on a ride on a white scooty studded with balloons and a a string of noisy cans tied at the back with their names written on them. After this, we bid our goodbyes and goodnights to the newly wed couple, and the rest of us bummed out in a bit.
Next day, Muni, Jeetu, Rupak and I decided to leave early, go to Arambole (where Jeetu and Rupak originally planned to stay, but ended up spending both nights here), grab a beer and some nice food (some more nice Goan fish), but by the time we finished socializing with everyone at the resort and bid adieu, it was time to leave and head straight out to the airport. We hired an active that Muni rode all the way to the airport, with Jeetu and Rupak following us on their Thunderbird and then they drove it back to Arambole.


October 30th: Metallica at Palace grounds
Wow! Just what else can I say about the boys in black playing the first metal songs you ever listened to growing up. It was a really great feeling. Especially when songs like “one”, “memory remains” and “nothing else matters” came on. Amazing!
So Muni and I reached Bangalore airport at 4p.m, exactly on time with thankfully no delays by the KF flight coz I really didn’t want to get late for the concert where gates opened at 3p.m itself. We rushed to palace grounds and finally entered by 6:30. Watched the opening band play for a bit, and then patiently waited amidst a jampacked crowd around us till 8 for Metallica to come out.
They did come out at 8, but it was not until 8:15 that they finally began playing coz they had to get the crowd to move behind a few steps to uncover some microphones that apparently people stepped over. So it was 15 mintues of Hetfields awesome voice begging people to organize, rather than say “fortune fame, mirror vain, gone insane, but the memory remains”.
Anyway, he did begin eventually, and then it was all about watching Ulrich do his standing up and drumming act, hammit coming up with some awesome finishes for every song, and the man, Hetfield doing what he does best – angry strumming, with some killer singing.
Its true what they say about Metallica – absolutely the most talented band you can ever come across. Its just mind-blowing how all that music is generated by just 4 guys, and still sound exactly the way they do in the recorded songs.
Jidesh, China, Muni and I were there together, and we were absolutely loving it. Headbanging, singing, and moving with the entire crowd.
My favorite part of the night was “memory remains”. Hetfield had asked the crowd to sing the chorus and sing it louder than the PA. Sing we did, well after the Hammit ended it with his signature fade outs. We just went on and on, till Hetfield just sat down and said “I love you guys..”. It was an amazing moment, and one of those few times you just love the fact that you are a Bangalorean.
Well, we left just before the last song to beat the crowd getting out, and thankfully so, coz I later read that there was a bit of a mess first with the bags that people had left outside going missing, and then with the parking becoming a mess with everyone trying to get out.
I managed to get home by 11p.m and spend a bit of time with parents before calling it a night and boarding an early morning flight to Bombay.


October 31st: Halloween party at Parul and Anchal’s place
I reached Bombay at 7a.m from Bangalore after the wild Metallica concert and headed straight to office. As usual was super busy getting through work, and in the evening, we had a Halloween party which Geeta organized really amazing. She sent out fliers, got cut outs to prepare for the party at night, and all the works to prepare for an awesome party.

Bangdu, Amit, Suyash, Priyanka, Parul, Surakshit, Ritika, Neelam, Geeta and I were the ghosts for the night. All of us got into costumes and make up. I was Jack Sparrow, the easiest guy to become, Geeta was the Onida devil, Ritika and Parul were regular witches, and we got Amit and Bangdu into costumes after they came straight from office, looking scary as hell in their formals!
We first made Bangdu two-face from Batman, and then Amit joker. Both of them Batman villains and looking pretty good.
Then we drank (good old Gentlemen Jack and Grey Goose Vodka for the ladies that Geeta very sweetly bought from duty free on her way back from Bangkok), danced, watched MJ’s Thriller, and then, of course, played mafia. Man, we fought and fought so much, and finally by 3 had to call it a night.
I was dreading the thought of office the next day. It was one crazy weekend that began on Friday night (Noels Sangeet) and went on all the way to Monday night (Halloweens) and with barely 4 hours of sleep every night. But then all parties do have to come to an end at some point, and then we gotta wake up to go make some money for the next party! So without any more complaints, I slept and woke up in 4 hours..

Birthday 29

Birthday 29:
So it was the last of my 20’s, and boy has it been a fantastic decade for me! So many highs and lows, and stories worth writing at least 10 different books! Only if I can get down to it, that is. I’m already getting a feel of how the 30’s are gonna pan out – boring as shit. But that’s how life possibly works out. All the stuff that happened in the 20’s and kept life so exciting is totally out of the question now on. Life is all about working weekend to weekends. Working enough days to earn that hiatus. And then go to some exotic place and blow that cash up. So apart from a few exciting weekends and that one or max two odd trips in a year, life has nothing much else to offer. But back in the 20’s (I’m already giving the 20’s an obituary, although I still have one final year to go) there was just so much happening! So many friends, so much of drunken revelry, so many fiascos with women.. man, it was something else!
Birthday 29 actually started off as drab as it could possibly be. We just reached home after a trip to Scotland that turned out completely opposite to what I hoped it would be – not one person liked it. Naan and Geeta were pissed on Day 1 of Scotland itself. I was upset seeing them that way and admonished myself for actually planning a trip like this, when we could have easily gone to a place like Edinborough. I mean, really, the places we went to were where the Scots went to after retirement. It was interesting and all, in a way of doing something different, but come on, I get one bludy week of leave in a year, I’d rather live it up.
Anyway, we got home and Geeta very sweetly made the most of what was available at home at that point, and arranged a cake and a can of JD for us to drink. Given the way the last 2 days went, I was glad she and Naan even took that much effort to do this. Anyway, we had a decent time drinking that JD and chatting into the night.
But the next day, the entire day was spent shopping! I mean, there was no doubt that we had to do it, coz not just for us, but there were people back home also who expected us to bring some things back. But the fact that it was all we did for the day was a real bummer. Anyway, nobody to really blame here. We were so drunk and slept so late that the day started late for us and shopping even the amount we did was all that we could do for that day.
Of course, the way the day ended was good. We went to a really neat steakhouse and I had probably the best steak I’ve had till date – one called rib-eye which I keep hearing on TV. So that was the highlight really. But frankly the best we could salvage of the day. Anyway, I was fine coz being in London itself was a friggin big deal right. So no complaints at all. Figured I had one more good birthday.
And that was until exactly a week later, when Geeta planned this whole thing out for me that turned out to be probably the best birthday bash ever.
For the last few days I kept telling her how I’m missing my school friends. Dunno why I was on the trip. No, actually I know exactly why I was on that trip, but that’s a separate post now. So basically, I kept talking about school and friends there, that Geeta decided to use this as the theme for the party.
So I come to a place where 2 of our office friends – Parul and Aanchal stay, and thought I’d be picking her up from here and going to Bangdu’s, where we would drink and do the usual. I least expected a “party” for me. But the moment I got there, there was a board on the door saying “NJS welcomes Dumma”. I get in and everybody there – Parul, Aanchal, Gannu and Geeta were dressed in school uniform and recreated an entire school environment inside for me. So there were pictures from school days that Jeetu had mailed Geeta. There were words like Prasanna Ma’am, NJS and even Tyke written and strewn around. And the best part was, Geeta actually carried clothes for that resembled my school uniform – now wasn’t that something! So I changed into that and Gannu brought his Xbox 360 that all of us began playing – which was supremely entertaining.
We had a bottle of Gentleman Jack that I couldn’t wait to open, but G kept asking me to hold on. I figured we were waiting for Bangdu to come in, but then at 10 when the door bell rang, and in came not just Bangdu, but even Amit and Suyash, and all three wearing a costume similar to what I was in - white shirt, tie and shorts for all three. It was hilarious. I couldn’t believe they actually did all that and landed up there.
We finally opened the bottle of GJ and started drinking. After a bit, we ate, played DC and having so much fun, that it actually turned bright outside and only then did we crash. I didn’t realize when I slept off, and woke up with a killer hangover – which basically meant I had one helluva party.
Now that was a nice birthday number 29. And it was only possible coz one person believed in it. Thanks babe :)

Rendezvous at Jags (Genre: Fiction)

When you’re living the fast life, meeting new people and making friends the rate of new born hamsters, you barely are left with any time to meet the friends closest to you. My life has lately sky rocketed to such speeds, that I nearly forgot the existence of my childhood friends. But of course, they’re always a part of my life and they know it only too well. Just that I got to take that extra effort to try and get them together for a chat.
So that’s how it happened - Rendezvous at Jags; the place that taught me to drink like an old man and cry like a baby! I reached there first (as always) and ordered a bottle of cold Kingfisher. Was just relishing the taste of sweet cold beer when I got a slap on my back and a string of words thrown at me that went something like “son of a.. couldn’t wait till I got here.. don’t you know ur supposed to toast before drinking..” whatever! I hadn’t really expected James to show up so early. He’s usually one of the last to turn up. But glad I had some company at least to begin my binging session, and we ordered another beer. James starts off about the girls in his college. “man, so many hot bods, you gotta wear glares man..I think I’m gonna get action pretty soon man..” James is this typical “I wanna get laid” sort of guy. Funny thing is, he’s a terrible flirt. He just likes noticing girls from the corner of his eye. The types who will look away the minute a girl looks back at him. Don’t even get me started on what happens when a girl tries to talk to him. Not that he’s not good looking or anything, just lacks complete confidence around girls. However, in spite of his poor self esteem, he’s managed to have quite a fair share of girls in his life. Guess its got something to do with his charm. In spite of being such a mess around women, he somehow always manages to grab their attention. But then he’s got a terrible choice in women and I don’t think I would ever want to be seen out with the kind of girls he hangs out with.
So I was almost squirming inside when I asked him “who’s the new chick then?”
“its this girl Molly dude. She’s really cute. But I’m not sure if she’s into me”
Just like James, absolutely no confidence! So I ask him “You planning to make a move anytime?”
He says, “We were at a movie the other day and I really wanted to kiss her. was in fact inches from her lips at one point of time.. but just couldn’t!!”
Didn’t surprise me at all! James has hardly ever made the first move. Almost every time he’s got action, it was initiated by the girl!
“You should have just gone for it bro.. u know its just the first move that’s difficult right?”
“I know tat.. but thing is, she’s seeing someone.. so I’m not really sure..”
Well, in spite of the kind of guy James is, he’s got a conscience!
“Anyway, what about that girl Ruth you were talking about the last time we met?”
Ruth is this girl I can’t stand. Just the kind of girl you would probably expect some kind of action from and end it there.
“She’s out of town right now man.. but I’m petrified of her returning. I’m so attracted to her, and very worried that I may not be able to control myself if I see her”
Another conscience issue with Ruth; James managed to get her hooked on to him. But then realized she’s a virgin and knew he didn’t want to be the first guy she should be with, especially when he’s not interested in anything more than sex with her.
Like I said, James is really a mess around women!

We were just about to finish our bottles when a figure just slipped quietly into an empty chair next to us.
“Johnny, you nearly scared us man” James exclaimed.
“sorry you guys.. wat you drinking?” said Johnny in his usual soft voice. Now Johnny is this total introvert. Just into his computer, his music and his scruffy looks.
“Don’t you think its time you shaved and had a hair cut?” I told Johnny.
“Don’t you think you should shut up and order me 2 bottles of beer” he retorted.
“2 bottles!” I exclaimed.
“Yeah, I gotta catch up with you guys right..”
Oh yeah, Johnny is the drinker in the group. And drinking is not his only vice, he does anything that gets him high. Crazy bugger…
“Well, James and I were just talking about his social life. What’s the scene with you?” I asked Johnny.
“I’m getting action from this girl Ginny”
“Ginny!! Like Ginny and Johnny?? Isn’t there an apparel brand with that name??” James begins to laugh
“What do I care.. She drinks, parties and rides me like Jenna Jameson”
I guessed that must be one of the porn stars in Johnny’s elaborate porn collection. And I was glad that Johhny is at least talking about being with someone. Coz he’s usually just stuck with his laptop; coding, music, movies and everything else capable of that little machine, and I sometimes think he’s having a relationship with it! But Johnny’s not the types who discounts recreation with women. Just like the rest of us, he too doesn’t believe in using the hand too often. Prefers getting it done! But trouble is, his choice of women is as bad as James’. The last girl Johnny was seeing, Rash, was as much into drinking and smoking up as Johnny himself. And looks like he’s managed to bag another girl just like her!
“Sorry I got held up guys” said a deep voice as he sat on the last chair on the table. This is a guy I like to call SJM-Stylish Jock Misinformed. Uber cool, always well dressed, driven by ambition kind of a guy. A typical stylish jock! And he actually has every reason to believe himself to be one! He’s always been one of the most popular guys in school, at work and even in his post grad now! But I know him only too well. Behind that smart exterior is a pusillanimous guy, one who is constantly worried about what people say and feel about him. And that’s why I call him ‘Misinformed’ he thinks he’s a jock, coz people around have made him believe that, but he’s nothing inside!
“So what’s the topic of conversation?” asked SJM
“Same old.. women” I said
“Ah.. I’m sorta into this really funky girl. she’s sorta into me too. But we can never sorta be together..” said SJM
“What” we all responded
“Who is she?” I added
“lets just call her Funky for now.. coz its something that will take time to explain and we’ll leave it for another day”
“thank god for that” I exclaimed. “really can’t listen to more stories on women. Wonder why we make such a big deal out of it. I’m sure we have more interesting things to talk about, like..” I was raising my voice as i spoke without realizing it and suddenly felt a soft touch on my shoulder. I turned around to see Cindy, my girlfriend, looking concerned at me, and she says, “who were you talking to…”
I look back at the table. 4 bottles of beer.. and nothing else there..

To all my Shah friends of NMIMS..

What is the quote a Shah remembers after a Faux Pas?
Once bitten, twice Shah
- Courtesy Sumit Batra

What does a Shah say when they don’t get a 3+ GPA?
That is Shah-cking news!

Why do Shah’s work so hard at presentations?
Because they feel they have to make the best Microsoft Powerpoint Slide-Shah.

What does Vidishah Shah say before commencing on a project?
We have to Shah-re our work equally.

And what would happen if you don't Shah're your work equally?
Vidisha Shah will get Shah-ken and emo-Shah-nal

And what happens if you do Shah're your work equally?
Vidisha would say Danke-Shah-on

Why did Rohan Shah shift from Finance to Marketing specialization?
Finance concepts like Shah-dow accounts totally scared him.

What is Siddharth Shah’s favourite time pass?
Window Shah-pping.
- Scenes from Mahabaleshwar

What is a Sapan Shah’s dream profile in an organization?
Shah-ping its Shah-tregy.
- Inspiration from CP Joshi

Why did Vipul Shah drown in the swimming pool?
He used complex formulae to miscalculate the depth of the pool, and thought it was too Shah-llow.

Why is Sandy in a Shawl with the Shah's in the photo above?
Because he is trying to be Shah-ndy. Shah-ndy in a shawl.

What does Siddharth Shah think about the photo?
Shah-ndar