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

India: Land of Ironies

Rajasthan's Gehlot, Karnataka's Yeduyarappa, and now even infamous smoke-phobic Ramadoss have all unequivocally sounded off the "pub culture" in India. It apparently goes against the "traditional Indian culture". If the pub culture in India is what I know it to be; people unwinding to music and drinks in an ambience conducive to the same, then this is a culture that I have grown up on. My entire formative adolscent years were in these places. It is my culture! Being an Indian citizen, isn't it ironic that a culture that I thought was mine is being brandished as anti-Indian!
Look at all the ironies around us today:
1) "pub culture" is being touted as the root of all evils, and politicians are "voicing concerns" over girls and guys walking hand in hand into pubs. But then, the violence in the Mangalore pub attacks were not caused by people drinking and socialising inside the pub, it was caused by outsiders, who didn't hesitate to bruatally showcase the attacks for a cameraman present there as well and let the whole country see what they are up to. If "pub culture" really is the problem, how come it is not the people inside the pubs that's ruining this country and making headlines!
2) Politicians and Activists are talking about going back to the "Indian culture", something that according to them has dwindled in todays times. They are resorting to violence to ensure this happens. I wonder, was violence itself ever really a part of our "culture"! Wasn't it the exact opposite practiced by our proud showcase to the international community - Gandhi? Isn't it ironic that violence, which is against our "culture" to be used to go back to our lost "culture"!!
3) The people behind all this violence go by the name __ sena. The __ could be replaced with any Gods name you can think of. Is the work of God actually to vandalise and cause harm to innocent people? Isn't the whole point of religion to teach us good values and behave like good human beings? Sena's today are originating at such a fast pace, that it seems like they are soon going to run out of God's names even.
Who are these people? Who gave them the right to do God's work? Who defined "culture" to them?Aren't we living in a land of ironies? I increasingly feel I'm living in a country I can't seem to relate to anymore. It's almost as if I have outgrown my own nation. I feel the country itself has not been able to keep up with me. And I'm just a regular kid, who's in fact never been out of this country. Isn't this the biggest irony of them all - a person feeling he's not a part of his own country!
I feel saddened by everything that's happening. Worse, I feel scared. I don't know how it was to a be a part of colonized India, but I don't feel like I have any freedom at all now. I don't feel like I'm a part of a democracy. I feel like I'm ruled by people who don't understand me, people who want to drive things down my throat, and will even resort to violence to ensure this. I could have very well been one of those people who were attacked in that Mangalore pub. It's almost the same feeling as sitting in Leopold and having terrorists fire at us. No, this feels worse.. The people responsible for Mangalore are around me right now. I am living with them.. This is definitely worse..

Mukund 'Marriage' Treat - 25-Oct

Hey! The meet was good.. though not many turned up.. it was good to meet up after a long time..
Me, vikram, supriya, mukund, kedar, sharath, dumma & mozz were the only ones who turned up. The food was great man.. and the desserts were yum.. and i miss them even now man.. :p It was a total binge out!
I was there as usual.. on time. And had to wait for about an hour for the others to pour in.. and there is nothing new about me.. working with Yokogawa, still alive and kicking! And i wasnt shy the other day ok.. it was just a way to make the others involve while making plans to meet up.
Vik turned up 20 mins late.. I meet him every other day so it wasnt so great to see him.. and there is nothing new to him either :p he is one kid who will never grow up. :p Oh yeah.. he did give a bad news, said that dumma couldnt make it cause he had booked a wrong flight and had missed it..
Soup came an hour late.. The news is.. her job is to teach french, table manners, etc etc..(forgot what the others were :p) and the big thing.. she got an awesome hike in her salary the other day.. so its gonna be her tret next.. :p
The man of the moment.. Mukund, came after soup.. The news is.. He has lost weight! And he cant stop blushing.. lol.. u just have to see him when he blushes.. hahaha.. talk abt bhavya.. oh sorry rashmi.. (His fiancée) and the next second he is all smiles.. giggling.. reaches out for a glass of water.. oh! Dude.. Is this really you? :-) Anyways.. cant wait to see mukund on the wedding day on the stage.. :-) and after a year, holding little mukund.. :p
Kedar & Sharath followed dumma.. and the news is kedar seems to be pissed with his job.. it was so visible.. (currently working for KPMG) and sharath was happily showing off his new phone.. it was quiet a cool one.. :-). Oh the driver code to the camera of that phone was written by sharath himself.. wow! and also seems like he is the next one to get married after mukund.. :D atleast looks like he is all ready!
Dumma makes a surprising entry.. he never misses a thing like this.. so proved it again.. :-). The news is.. he looks just the same to me since college.. :-) the little rock star!
Finally.. Mozz lands up after everything, he was starving so much that he didnt mind to finish the left overs.. hahaha.. the news is.. mozz is a business man now.. he manufactures jacuzzis and he talks in fluent kannada.. and he has put on loads of weight!!
Whoever missed it.. actually missed it! So next time, make some free time.. and lets plan properly so that more guys turn up..
Cya allPraveen

My 26 Birthday

My 26 birthday was on 20-08-2008. isn't that a pretty cool date! 2008-2008!! i was kinda hoping that even the day would turn out as spectacular as the date, but on the evening of 19th, i came back home with absolutely no plans for the night. couldn't remember the last time i had no plans on a birthday eve of mine.. anyway, decided to work it out once i got back to my guesthouse. but getting back itself was a problem, because exactly on this day, the skies decided to open up and bring cats, dogs and elephants down on Chennai. so i got stuck in the rain and used the time to buy some chocolates that i can distribute the next day and browse through some groceries. but no matter how much browsing i did to cut time, the rain just wouldn't subside. so i got back wet, only to find no power in the guesthouse. it was the only flat in the entire apartment without power! so there i sat, in my room, all alone, wet from the worst rain Chennai has seen, with no power and no plans for the night, and nothing but a box of chocolates for company. even my roommates who were staying in the guesthouse until a few days back had vacated. so lonliness had taken a whole new definition in my life!
i called my only good friend in Chennai - Harsh, and pretty much forced him to come out and spend some time with me. he was totally surprised that i don't have any plans for the night. i had to explain that i was in a strange city with very few friends and really with no options of going out and having some fun. so the poor guy obliged, and came riding all the way at 10 in the night. by the time we went to our usual hang-out - bikes n barrels, the only pub that allows stags (coz they have a separate section for "scum-bags" like us), it was past 11. we ordered beers and just hung out drinking and chatting. just when it turned 12, the waiter brings a cake! i couldn't believe my eyes. just 2 hours back, i was wondering how today is going to be my worst birthday ever, and here i was, having a good time with a good friend (which in so many ways is better than being out with a 100 people who hardly matter to you) and now with even a cake to cut! so i blew the candle, made an apt wish for the night and cut the cake and shared it wit Harsh. i gave him the rest of the cake and asked him to distribute it wit his roommates. soon the calls started coming through and i was wrapped in that for the next one hour, when Harsh drove me back to the guesthouse. pretty soon, i was grabbing my 40 winks and the next day, i wore my new 'birthday dress' and went to office and distributed the chocolates to everyone. spent the whole day doing the work my boss gave me and attending to calls and answering msgs on gtalk/orkut/facebook. by evening, i was once again faced with the dilemma of a plan for th rest of the night. i decided to ask my 2 colleagues out for dinner, and Vergis and Bishak were only too kind to give me company. so we went to a restaurant that i really wanted to go to for some time, had an awesome meal and then, after bidding goodbye, called Gita as she said she would meet up in case she was free. she was indeed free and i went out with her and one of her friends, Karthik to Zaras - the best club in Chennai. of course, it wasn't very happening as it was a week night, but we hung out there any case. just as were about to start on the drinks we ordered, the waiters began doing a round of the entire restaurant in a train like fashion with a cake in their hands. i was beginning to wonder whether it could be for me. but then dismissed the idea coz we just landed there, and there was no way my colleagues could have planned so much for me.
but all of a sudden, all the waiters gathered around our table, began singing happy birthday, even got my name right. they gave me the cake to cut and it was the sweetest thing ever! i shared the cake wit the other 2, and after my beer, came riding back to my place. when i entered the room, i find a bouquet of flowers saying, "wit love, from Bangalore" i knew instantly that China and Sin were behind this. it was the best thing ever. come back home after a really long day and find a beautiful set of flowers from the most beautiful city on this planet!
so now, im sitting in bed, just 15 minutes after my 26 bday (its 0015 hours now) and wondering how a day with maddening rains and no electricity turned out to be a day with 2 cakes to be cut, hanging out at two cool (of the only three!) places in Chennai, wit really cool friends and most of all - a lovely bunch of flowers from my favourite city.
this was really a fabulous birthday and i must really thank all the lovely friends that made it so special to me.