The year-end has been busy, filled with frantic activity. A cousin in the hospital, operated for gall-bladder stones meant frequent visits to the Command Hospital, Pune, which is like the other side of town for us, followed by visits home while she was convalescing. All this just before my trip to Bombay, which was even more hectic than ever before, was sapping out my energy reserves (not to mention, patience reserves).
Bombay was crazy as ever. Hot and humid, with no sign of winter – I left Pune huddled up in my sweater, wishing I’d worn something thicker, and when I emerged from the car in Bombay I was wishing I’d packed sleeveless stuff – the sweater was definitely not going to be used! Hmm…Bombay after a month. More changes in the area I’ve grown up in – as always I greedily soaked in the sights and smells (yes, even the smells)! It was crazy – having to cancel previously fixed rendezvous in order to spend more time with someone else (flushes guiltily), but it was worth every bit of the exhaustion, sleepless nights and running around trying to reach places at the right time!
Threw caution to the winds and went in for a daring (for me) short step-cut, bidding adieu to the waist-long hair that’s my only vanity…it will be some months before I’ll be able to run a comb down those long heavy tresses and fling them over my shoulder…sure as hell feel light-weighted with half my hair gone! But looks good, if I may so myself – pretty sexy for me! Hehehe! Let’s see how long I enjoy this – probably start pining for my braid within a few days! ;-)
Pop Tate’s is still churning out good food and attracting wanna-bes and groupies and the hep-n-happening – spent a nice lazy afternoon there with Kunu Baba.
Barista Versova hasn’t seen much change except for a new guy at the counter who was actually trying to flirt with me! Actually had me turning around to see if there’s someone behind me – jeepers bleepers – doesn’t he know no one flirts with Plain Jane a.k.a Ice Maiden Geets! ;-)
Spent oodles of time with Amit – getting my bheja-fried and falling prey to his usual tactics at raising my hackles – when will I learn! Smart ass that he is, he sure knows how to get under my skin…but then I adore him for that. Stop complaining Geets – you enjoy every minute of it! ;-) Saw Khamosh Pani at Fame Adlabs and shared more than one Candy-floss. Word of advice – never have more than one Candy-floss on a nearly empty stomach, no matter how high the temptation; it leaves you feeling very very queasy.
Snatched two evenings with cousins and two of my favourite nieces – spent a night with them, giving up my usual independence in Bombay – I’ve been spoilt by the luxury of having Suku’s fully finished flat available, through which I can waltz in-n-out without worrying about other people’s schedules or offending someone with the time I’m returning!
Finally managed to go meet Mechthild – the German student who’s down this year for the exchange programme with the Univ of Mumbai. Gave her some pointers on where she should go, what would be the better option for traveling etc etc. Since I was at the University I also dropped in to meet my mentor Dr Bharucha – oh it felt so damn good to knock on the office of Head of Department, and walk in to see her and not the ogre Dr.Bhongle! The Department is FINALLY in good hands!
Patricia and Bernard (mes amis Francais) are here for their honeymoon – I got them back with me to Pune. Showed them around for 2 days – oh how much we walked – saw some areas of Pune for the first time myself – including the red-light area in Budhwar Peth, that we stumbled on inadvertently and backed out hurriedly when I saw the looks we were getting. *Shudder* Sumptuous dinner at Riverview for Xmas eve, when Kunal joined us rather late, coming in from Bombay after a full day’s work. Christmas day was equally nice with a visit to Lonavala, Bushy dam where we discovered a lovely spot by the water, perfect for a picnic and yet another sumptuous meal, at Fariyas this time. After bidding adieu to Patricia & Bernard, Kunal and I went for Raincoat, after a long leisurely walk in Nala Park. Finished off a bottle of Montbazillac later that night – excellent wine!
Now – we’ve got some cousins who’ve driven down from Bangalore – the year sure is spiraling into a busy end!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
wowwee!!! busy, busy, busy! ;-) dats great - hols are sposed to be like! welcome back to blogland, though!
PS: yea, i was curious abt raincoat too - but my frnd, who saw it, said it 'ok, but nuthin great'.
The last time I went to Bombay (this Feb), we had a school batch get-together at Barista's Versova. It seemed like a pretty good place to hang out, and the coffee though strictly ok (pardon my critical nature, but I hail from the mother ship of all coffee related places : Seattle), nothing beats being next door to the beach. Where exactly did you grow up in Bombay?
Rahul - Hey, yeah it's nice being busy, specially since I'm so vella these days. But you know what, after a few days I miss my usual routine!
Phal - *embarassed* Haven't been back to that school of ours since we had our reunion, which itself was like 4-5 yrs back...keep planning to go back but never happens. Infact Kunal is also a fellow AVMite...
Parth - oh I totally agree abt the coffee at Barista - I actually prefer the CCD coffee - though both are equally garish and over-lit. Prefer my cafe's to be dimmer, dingier and cozier! This time I couldn't even bring myself to finish the Cappucino, so bad it was. But Barista Versova is a usual rendezvous point with a friend of mine, for various reasons. And I was brought up in that very area - 7 bungalows/Versova - totally best place in the world! :-)
Phew! Just reading through the post sapped me out ....you've had a heccctic routine..but wowwwww! for all those times of fun!!!! LIfe is a Rush..ain't it? :)
Heey I had seen "Raincoat" last week- could sense the depth of the emotions disguised in the conversation ..it left me numb reminded me of a few dark shades in my life..but I must admit well-taken..wish we had more of such realistic movies!
Have a grrreat time Geets!
You've surely been busy!! actually same goes for me , just got back from dehli, doing the entire tourist thing.Well I'm back in Pune now.I saw raincoat, well it was good but it wasn't anything great,I liked the score though..I should follow your advice and get myself the soundtrack.
happy trails.
Bombay/Mumbai- I dont know much.
Hang-Over - Oh yeah I know that feeling :-)Hooh Haah !
I agree 200% with you. It is the best area in the world. I grew up in Andheri(W) and in my 22 years before I moved to the US, I changed three houses ... from Veera Desai Road to Four Bungalows to RTO (close to the RTO office). I even did my entire schooling and engineering in a campus a couple of kilometers from where I stayed. I have spent more time roaming the seven bungalows, Rock Beach area than I have attending lectures in my college. I had written a blog entry on it a while back: http://parthp.blogspot.com/2004/08/achingly-perfect.html
Go Andheri(w) :-)
Hey Pratima - amazing co-incidence that we both saw Raincoat on Xmas - or was it simply coz it had just released and we both wanted to see an intelligent movie for a change?;-)
Akshay so thee is back frm thy vacation eh? You know the plot of Raincoat is no great shakes - what I liked about it was the dialogues - amazingly well-written with subtleties that one isn't used to in our Indian films.
Parth - oh yes, totally, ANDHERI WEST RULES BOSS - I have this one fav spot on that beach, from where you get a fab view of the Madailand fort - ever walked up to the fishermen's village where the water is sometimes so clean it's almost pinkish clear? Been a while since I went there - next trip defi!! :-)
Sreekesh - there are hangovers and then there are hangovers ;-)
Post a Comment