There And Back Again

A week passed by... (not) just like that.

I, dressed as Batman, marched amongst 100 universities hailing from length and breadth of India, along with my friend dressed as Superman. All this weirdness and it still felt normal.

I saw people from a university called GNDU. I joined the mocking laughters aimed at them only to find out that they were smart enough to make a GNDU out of everyone else there. (In their zonals <north>, they claimed 22 out of 25 first places. They were the hosts.)

I witnessed unparalleled performances in art and music laid out before me by my country's finest. A sight of what they create makes you so happy within that you might hug them out of joy. I would.

I slept on make-shift beds/benches with my friends in the hall haunted by the phantom of folklore department, Kalyani University. We survived.

I met fellow quizzers; smart (they knew of our blog QBIT and even our names!); friendly (known faces from Jadavpur); hardworking (a team from Jodhpur which literally read whole of the Manorama yearbook in front of my eyes) and also some unethical ******* who thought it was okay to be asked if 1800 was a leap year or not in a national level quiz.

And, I learnt 'ki kahin khaajja milega, kahin pijja (pizza)...but khush rehna apne hath me hai.'
Thankfully.

*****

On 4th of Feb. 2011, I went on my first 'quiz trip' with (what we later branded ourselves as) the RedBay Brothers. With an average of 3.667 trips per semester and two years hence, on the very same date, we set out on another one. University of Kalyani, Nadiya (Kolkata). 28th Inter University National Youth Festival 2012-2013.

Merry Go Round. And Around.
Buoyed by the 1st place win in the zonal youth festival, we were determined to get our bite at the apple in the national round. The invitation never came. Nevertheless, four days prior to the commencement of the event, we took matters in our own hands and started running from one office to another. All thanks to Lord Brahma for saving us the trouble of finding a Team Manager who wasn't only the most suitable person for this purpose but also a big help in getting through the massive paperwork, permissions, signatures and sanctioning of money involved. Yet he couldn't save me from being tackled and pinned to the wall by the Dean Students' Welfare's PA who acted like he was the Secret Service to President of USA and I - a suicide bomber.
Anyway, 17 hours and 28 minutes before the scheduled time of reporting at the venue, our registrations, reservations, etc. were finalised. The word was 'GO'.

***

The contingent comprised of seven members:
Team Manager sir.
The 3 Redbay brothers.
Mr. N (because 'the guy who wudn't go to kolkata and stay back to study for mid-sems' is too long a nick name).
Mr. Canvas (because he is a great artist and not because of that phone always in his hand).
Chhoti Bahu (because he always found that elusive corner where he could fulfil his 'Call Of Duty' uninterrupted). 

The journey was pleasant. The destination - not so much.
Poor arrangements for accommodation at a national meet does give one a reason to grumble. We adjusted. And used it as an excuse to run away to Kolkata city whenever that 94 minute local train ride seemed feasible.

Getting There.

Department of Folklore.

                 ***

The Bat-March
The opening ceremony required all participating universities to march around the university and a part of Kalyani locality in a procession. Our Team Manager sir insisted that we do something to make our march a litte more meaningful. We hadn't brought along the college banner. A plain printed placard was all we had to bring BIT to everyone's notice.
Amongst the seven of us, I had the smallest baggage. Yet, I was carrying my Batsuit. I always do. Somehow the joke began that I wear it during the procession. I took it a notch higher by actually putting it on. I never intended to go through with it. But then one of my rebday brothers put on a superman t-shirt. I felt encouraged and decided to go with it.
I even prepared an answer in case I was asked why was I out on streets of Kalyani instead of Gotham. 'I am BIT-man from BIT-Mesra.'

Warming Up.

Ready.

The BIT (BAT) - March.

                                       ***

Over the next three days we participated in three various events.
Mr. Canvas drew a truly delightful and eye-catching poster for his event poster-making.
Mr. N and Chhoti Bahu put in nights of research and days of preparation for the Debate and saw through their event in as good a way as they had hoped for.

The quiz was an unmitigated disaster. Disregarding their own rules, the organisers went for a direct finale involving all ten qualifying teams from the five zones. The quizmaster, a professor from the host university presented a junior school level quiz. Sample the following questions:
>name the first indian woman to climb the mount everest.
>who wrote 'saare jahan se achha'.
>is 1800 a leap year? (unfortunately, the team that was asked this question didnt respond with the correct answer. Ofcourse they never expected such a question.)
Other Similar questions followed along with a couple of questions about the 'planet' pluto.
Two rounds later most of the teams protested (revolted). The quiz was suspended.
They never thought of hiring a proper quiz-master. Not even after all of it. Why would they when they could easily save the government fund allocated for it and wrap up the quiz with a 60 question - 30 minutes long AIEEE style paper.
We finished third.

Mr. Canvas' Poster & Redbay Brothers Quizzing.

***

So, if you ask me whether its worth going to such an event, I would say : You would be mistreated, ignored and made to face unfair judgement. You may even get that feeling of not having been granted enough opportunities to prove your capabilities. But then, you could be mistreated, ignored or falsely judged even where you are breathing right now. At least there you will meet some rare and genuine people. You will rub shoulders with the best of your time. Whatever the destination, I promise that the journey will always be fun.
Keeping all these odds (and evens) in mind, imagine yourself snatching a victory.
Now, wouldn't that be something ?!
So, from my point of view, the word will always be 'GO'.

Rangoli Making.

Clay Modeling.

***

Some people (GNDU) spend upto rupees 4 lakhs on their contingent.
Some (Mumbai University) send their dancers to assam for 75 days to learn Bihu.
Some (Kerala University) travel all the way up to West Bengal by bus undertaking a 4 day road trip.
And some (us) extort money from the college and miss classes for the whole week before the mid-semester exams.
Not all of us win big. Not all of us prevail over the connections, sources and corruption required to make the judges blow your trumpet.

Still, it takes nothing away from the odyssey underwent. For all that it took us across, was valuable in its own simple way.
My week was spent with the titans of my time in their respective fields.
My week was spent with a gem of an artist - Mr. Canvas.
And the guys like Mr. N and Chhoti Bahu who stayed up nights, worked hard and smart to put on a good show. (and perhaps their remaining awake fended off the phantom of folklore department.)
And my redbay brothers with whom it doesn't matter where or in what conditions we quiz.
And my Team manager who made more friends and interacted with more number of people than all of the Kalyani university organising committee taken together. Gratitude to him for his ever accommodating pleasant attitude and perspective. And his jokes....and the final killer line after the valedictory ceremony on the last day..
"Ye kalyani wale east zone ka quiz dekhe hote to **** *** **** ****."  :D

***

The trip was over.
My final idea was to run away on the last day for a ride around the city on the Tram.
Never came around to doing it. Had I done so... maybe the redbay brothers would have started calling me 'Tram' instead of 'Sangam'.

*************************

Rights to exaggeration and bragging reserved.

No characterisation intended.

Everything is relative to your perspective.

***

'The People I Don't Meet'

"Classmates ke sath gye the?", asked I was, in course of multiple questions that followed up my arrival home after a ten day long trip.
"Nahi. Mere branch ka koi nhi tha unme se."

"Achchha..fir tumhare hostel wale rahe honge sab ke sab." 
It wasn't a question, yet an incorrect deduction I thought I should set right.
"Nahi. Mere hostel wale bhi nahi the wo sab."
*

I don't even see them everyday.
But then again, there are so many other people I don't see often. Yet, the daily or weekly or monthly interaction I have with them is by no means any less pleasurable.
They are the ones who make the return to the lonely hostel-room less loathsome.
They are the people who are missed when the internet is down. :P
Separated by space or owing to the changing times or both...
...they are the people I don't (get to) meet.

***

The Godmother 

'I will kill you' is her favourite line by far. Her phone calls carry that definitive threatening tone. And she makes me 'eat jaggery and die' ...again and again :D
I first talked to her when I tried to fix her up with my friend, the Godfather. It didn't happen. Not until June 13th, 2008. So, initially I used to talk to her now and then 'cause she was my best friend's girlfriend; but gradually she bullied me into believing that I should be glad to have known her. I truly am.

I wonder if Godfather realises that the things I usually do for him on his b'day or otherwise, I always have a set of instructions. She should be an app for plan-making. One moment she would be flying to Ranchi and the other moment cursing me for not materialising in Delhi along with Godfather. The next day it might all be about a reunion back at our school. She calls with a problem and then herself comes up with 3 probable solutions. She laughs. She curses. She cares.
And in all this time I have met her only twice.

Last Meeting: July 8, 2012
***

Sir Jee

'Sir, I have joined NIT, Rourkela', I wrote in his Orkut Scrapbook. I thought I would see him around in the campus in a day or two. He found me two hours later.
After leaving school I had developed the notion that there was no point keeping in touch with the people of past. He made me realise how wrong I was. All that he did for me then and in days to come will keep me forever following him. And it isn't a bit hard as he is perpetually online. :P

He ceased to be my favourite senior for a while when I received a resounding slap from him. (I was talking while he was the prep monitor.) But then he regained the position when we went for the 'Odyssey'. Today, he is the first stop to my day to day queries. And he has to bear with Godmother even more than me. Respect Sir.
Treat when we meet!

Last Meeting: Jan 2012
***

Dubs

Somehow, I always miss his calls. (And that pisses him off big time. He thinks I do that purposefully. Well, not always.)
We became better friends after leaving our boarding school. Back in Kota, his place was the only place I could go to. Supportive and funny in his own strange way, he is the person I love to irritate. You can irritate him even on chat. Just reply with one of these words : k , hmm , lol , watever. 
Now in BIT, Patna, he is not that far. Still, the same holiday timings of ours, ensures that he is at his home when I m back in Patna. Perhaps he blames me for that too.
Watever.

Last Meeting: May 2011
***

Jai Jagat

She often checked me for biting my nails and not eating properly. She told me once that if I ate properly, I would flatten girls. She knows I took it too seriously. Not the eating part though.
Like Sir Jee, she too was my favourite person back in the school. I would find her on her way around the school just to say 'Jai Jagat' (a slogan we had picked up during our participation in an outstation literary fest where we got acquainted).

I forgot her after she left school. Almost an year later, I received a good luck card from her for my upcoming 10th boards. I replied to it three months later. And this initiated the most 'intelligent' and pleasant exchange of mails I have ever had. Weekly letters, email-forwards, poems, problems, I made her listen to it all. Those initial out-of-school-stuck-in-Kota days were made easy by it all. She remains one of my favourite persons and certainly at the top of my people-to-meet list. :)

Last Meeting: March, 2006
***

అనూషను

'I don't know you, just a fellow Oakgrovian', I told her. But I knew her from somewhere. Some incident that I just cudn't recall. So we discussed how and where we might have come across each other. We never closed in on a definite answer.
The placement season was on. I was hardly doing a good job at keeping the tension at bay. Perhaps thats why Lord Brahma brought her in the picture. A week later, I was placed. Naturally, I clung on to this lucky charm I had found.
 ఏ మాయ చేసావే  :P
I may not have known her for long, but I know she knows a lot about good music. All in all, in her own words, its 'ice' to have known her.
Bagunanu.

Last Meeting: Never met
***

Sister Little

She was my brother's classmate back in O.G. I don't clearly remember how I came in touch with her. But I did and I would be forever glad for that. Her too, I never knew back in the school. (I was a dumb*** back in those times. Too preoccupied with my own self to bother about anybody else.)
She holds me in a much higher esteem than she should. I m always too lazy to follow up on the innovative ideas and interesting activities she keeps bringing to my notice.
She is my store-house of regard and best wishes. I just hope I do better by her in times to come. :P

Last Meeting: Never met
***

The Hell Boys

It was a big gang. While the ties with other classmates from school diminished, with these three the connection always remained. We shared the same corner of the dormitory, sat nearby in class, all of us were in the F.C.Stimulus main team. Two of them were the best sprinters in the school. In class eighth we could run the 4x100 m relay in 47 seconds.
Today, one of them is studying rocket science. I keep in touch with hope of getting a ticket to moon through him someday.
The second is in Bangalore and I most probably will be seeing a lot of him six months from now.
The third, perennialy football crazy, draws up a plan every year for the return of the F.C. Stimulus to Back Pitch.
Inshaallah boys. Bounce back. Soon.

Last Meeting: June 2009
***

The post may end but the list doesn't.
Abhi bhi 'dimaag pe zor padta hai to' I remember the Nablas I met in Kota. We might not meet but sharing those 'Michael memories' are always a treat.
I still knock onto my old quiz partner though he insists he has long given up serious quizzing.

7,089,360,000 of us live on this planet. There's an ancient Chinese myth about the red thread of fate, its said the gods have a red thread around everyone of our ankles and attached to all the people whose lives are destined to touch. This thread may stretch or tangle...but it'll never break.

******* 

Rights to exaggeration and bragging reserved.

No characterisation intended. 

Everything is relative to your perspective.

The kKOnkan Holiday !

December 23, 2012 
08:42 pm
Mumbai

“Allahabad se hain kya?”, asked the auto-wala dropping me off to the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus.

“nahin, nahin….Patna se hain”.

“achha…yahan job karte hain?”

I braced myself. This auto-wala was going to interview me. Maybe it would be a good distraction. I was getting nostalgic. The ‘fellowship’ had just ended.

“nahin, abhi college me hi hain”, I said.

“fir yahan kaise aana hua? ….ghoomne aaye the?”

“haan…nahin..ummm..yahan IIT me ek fest …programme tha naa ….usi me participate …ummmm …attend … dekhne aaye the...” 

(..par kisi din poore time wahan nhi rahe. After the stay in Goa, even Mood Indigo didn’t feel ‘happening’ enough. So we ventured out… everyday/night… after taking that customary breakfast/lunch at Gulmohar, IIT Powai, Mumbai.)

I had every intention of participating in (all) the quizzes… but,

Dekh nazare, sab plans hue minus,
Aur ho ham itne cool gye..
Ki quiz-quiz karte rahte the..
But quiz karna hi bhool gye.

N.P. Bey!

Auto-wala’s queries continued. I kept answering, my train of thoughts running parallel to it.

Ranchi – Mumbai – Goa – Mumbai - Home.
Kela – King – Kaka – Khan – Illad – Ghatal – Bongali – Shanky – Adi – Sangam - Kullu (guest appearance).
Bongo – Bansuri – Ukulele – Hat – Jhanda – Cards – Hajmola Ka shishi – Batsuit.
Avenger – Riio – Sonrise – Heikenberg – Tattoo – Mahto (John Karthik).     
Doomsday – Chowpati – Feluda – Last local – Indian Ocean – Water Kingdom.  
Thattasss! – Chill-out-dude! – Aye Bhaaii! – N.P.Bey! – Chatak!!. 

Some fries m*****f*****.

***********************************************

December 15, 2012

‘Delayed Beginnings’ 
09:23 am
Hatia Railway Station

“Aye Bhaaii!!”
“Hatia to source station hai.. yahan se train kaise late ho sakta hai?”

Our 9.40 am departure had been rescheduled to 1.40 pm. 4 hours late. Naturally, a wave of exasperation swept us. But you can’t bring down the Indian Railways, so the opportunity was used to get a hearty breakfast and the rest of the time was whiled away  loitering around the station..sitting on the foot-overbridge etc etc.

Quick calculations were made to ascertain if this delay would make us miss the train we were going to board from Mumbai. With a gap of around seven hours between the two trains, we just hoped that the train wouldn’t lose any more time on the way. The ‘what-ifs’ and ‘what-nots’ were discussed anyway.

“Chill out dude! We will take a bus.”, King had spoken.

*****

 ‘Chatak!' 
11:16 am
Platform 1, Hatia 

We weren’t the only people out on an odyssey. Infact, as it appeared to me, half the final year was out for it. All familiar faces. All different groups.

“Shanky! Udhar dekh!”

Shanky turned. Whatever met his eyes, didn’t seem to please him much.

“Chatak!”, bellowed the others. I was still alien to whatever was going on.

Somewhat agitated Shanky answered back, “bhakk #**$%#@ , aaj subah se chaar baar chatak ho chuka hai.”

At first I didn’t get it. But it kept happening over the coming days. Most often, Shanky being at the receiving end. Then I think I deduced what it meant and began to silently enjoy as others got ‘chatak’ed. Was it cruel?…was it insensitive?....i didn’t think so. Hell…I thought it was hilarious! …and fun! …especially the look on Shanky’s face when he was ‘chatak’ed.

It was all rainbow colours for me. But then it hit me. A silent realization.
It was our second night in Goa. It was past midnight and we were all at the Calangute beach. Sitting, most of us a beer or two down. Shanky had just been ‘chatak’ed in a pretty severe manner. And I was sniggering mockingly while thanking my stars for not subjecting me to it. And then I thought about the nickname I had been given. That’s when it hit me. I had been living in the state on constant chatak.
Adi announced, “Budweiser laane jaa rha hun. Kis kis ko chahiye?” 

“King?”
“Haan”
“Kela?”
“Pint”
“Sangam?” 
Chatak!

*****

The Hatia-LTT Express rolled in at 12.40pm and rolled out at 1.40pm. Between this time, we reclaimed our seats from people who had occupied it. Illad, who had his berth in some other coach, managed to convince a guy near our berths to exchange berths with him. Two more of our berths were elsewhere. Negotiations to get them more closely located failed. Gradually, it was all settled.

All cooped in.

Jolly.

Kaka slept.

*****

‘The Card Trickster’ 
04:17 pm
S9, Hatia-LTT Exp.

I didn’t know Khan sahab.

Had never met him before this trip commenced. Needless to say, he was clearly everyone’s favourite person… resourceful, entertaining, involving, upfront ‘pehle aap’ outlook and ready with the plan B whenever needed. Within an hour, he had everyone playing the card game ‘President’ and a few other games a while later. Ranchi to Goa was a long way. And these games certainly made the time move swiftly while leaving everyone well entertained.

And when people took a break from the games, out came Khan sahab with his bag of tricks. His clean acts leaving us all bewildered and astonished. Ask Illad and you will know better.

On reaching Goa, I came to know Khan sahab barely slept the last two nights that we had been journeying. His plans were  kind of last minute, hence he didn’t have confirmed tickets. We had promised to manage, but actually he managed it all. And if this was a trip to remember, I am glad that he decided to tag along, ‘cause as I see it.. he made things easy. Ghatal had been the mainstay of the ‘Tour Plan Execution Department’ …right from arranging lodging, conveyance, handling finances, deciding menus, drawing daily plans and all other minutest of the things. Supported well by Khan sahab and King while Shanky, Kaka and Bongali took care of ‘other important things’. Illad and Adi lending their hands in various activities all the time. Frankly, I think Kela and I were really the baggage on the trip. Kela still would have contributed in some way. Speaking for myself, I only remember saying ‘yes’ to go on the trip. For once I didn’t have an iota of responsibility. I was just bouncing along, having the most fun time  I have had in a long long time. Thank you my N.P.Bey Brothers. I owe you all one each. :P

*****

‘Kaka Ka Chaddar’

11.45 pm

Major stations were a little scarce on the route this train was taking. Our dinner comprised of whatever edible things we could find. By midnight everyone had bellyful of stuff and retired one by one. Kaka was one of the first to put himself out. He took the upper birth.

Those of us who were awake went about talking and then onto another game of cards. Something was needed to be used as the table for laying out the cards. As we were looking, hung down from above kaka’s chaddar (sheet) like a curtain hanging from the heavens! And then the jokes started. Kaka, fast asleep, was oblivious of all the roaring laughter below. I have forgotten the jokes. Its been two weeks. But I remember the laughter. All the jokes somehow included an ingenious method to use kaka’s seemingly very long chaddar. When I retired onto the middle birth below kaka, I remember taking the hanging chaddar of kaka and draping it over myself saying its long enough for both of us. It indeed was.

By 2 everyone was asleep. Day one over.

All’s well that begins well.

*****

December 16, 2012

Decembers are supposed to be cold. Very cold. But as the train moved from east to west, it also seemed as if it had been moving from December to June. Before midday, all had changed into tshirts and shorts.

Meanwhile, our train had done well so as to not lose any more time. We were positive that no plan B (taking a bus to Goa) would be needed. 

The highlight of the day was eating ‘vada-pow’ at every station and discussing which one was better so as to find the city with best vada-pow before the end of the journey. Rest of the time it was cards mostly. King and Kaka did invent a whole new game! I think it was given some weird name as well. I played it for over an hour. Never understood a thing. Just that it involved a lot of sledging and Kaka doing the thing he does with his tongue and the gap between his upper jaw incisors.

On some occasions kaka’s Bongo and my ukulele exchanged hands and music was made. Shanky demanded that he be handed the Baansuri (flute). Bongali was totally against it as he could forsee the havoc that would be unleashed if Shanky was to lay his hands (and lips) on it. Frustrated Shanky banged the bongo instead. All this while, the Tiranga jhanda we had been carrying fluttered proudly by the window where it had been securely placed.

*****

06:45 pm
Waiting Hall
Kalyan Junction

“Aap log social worker hain kya?” asked a total stranger leaving me too baffled to answer straight away.

“Wo aap log Bharat ka jhanda le ke ghoom rhe hain naa, isliye poocha”, explained he, seeing my inability to grasp his motive of asking such a question.

Finally I replied, “nahi, hamlog aise hi bas ek competition me jaa rhe hain Goa. Usme iska kaam padega…” ..and before I went on to weave more of the story, he patted my back and left.

Our train from Ranchi had left us with over two hours to catch our train to Goa which came right on time.

Next morning at 7:30, we were all at Madgaon Railway Station.

Goa.

(Thank you Lord Brahma!)

*****

December 17, 2012

‘Jessica SaffrOn’ 
11:13 am

Jessica SaffrOn Beach Resort. (Don’t ask me why the O was capital in saffron.)

It was located near the Calangute Beach, another 35-40 kms from Madgaon. It took an Innova and 96 minutes to get us there. Well not quite there.
Ghatal called the hotel for directions. The person went on for 5 minutes giving out all the details. After hearing her out patiently, Ghatal said to her, “thank you, now please repeat the same once again to our driver”.

10 minutes later, we were finally there. Straight to our rooms we went. Two double bed-room suites. Comfort.

*****

‘John Karthik (Mahto’s)’ 

12.33 pm

Before everyone could freshen up and be ready, Bongali, Shanky, Adi and King had already ventured out, found a place called ‘Bob’s Den’ and begun their beer count. Later I came to know that they had some 20 count beer target in mind. Ofcourse they needed to start right away. I and Kaka joined them and got treated to Beef Roast, first of the many weird things we were going to devour. For the record, Kaka had his first beer. I finished it for him.  Before leaving a suspicion was confirmed. This place could provide the platform for using up the two Hajmola ka shishis that had been brought along. Bob (Marley’s) Den. It was all in the name.

The whole group sat down for lunch at a restaurant nearby – The John Karthik’s. For some reason unknown to me, the others termed it as the Mahto’s. It became the regular spot for our everyday brunch. Well, anyway, the beer carnival and sea food fiesta had begun.

As I had heard, beer was cheap here. All names I had ever heard – available. Barely having to pay even one-fourth of what I paid back in Ranchi for a pint, my initial resistance was futile. So much so that when I got home my mother remarked, “beer pee pee ke motaa gya hai!” Now that I never expected to hear.

*****

‘The Rides’ 
02:19 pm

If you are in Goa, you better know two things.
To Drive.
To Swim.
Well, swimming not so much as driving. Bikes and Scooties are available at rent everywhere on nominal rates and they make conveyance so much more easier.

Thankfully for us, out of ten people, exactly five had driving licences. Kaka, Shanky got themselves Avengers. Illad a FZ. King and Ghatal : Activas. Rest of us were to be the pillion riders. Ghatal paired up with Khan sahab. King took up his son Kela. Adi and Illad had already drawn up a rider-pillion agreement. Shanky and Bongali were made anatomically made for each other. So I had Kaka. I was apprehensive in the beginning. Hadnt he chosen a bike too heavy for him? As it turned out later, he handled it quite well. I, behind him, switching between the camera and nokia maps, had a good time navigating almost halfway across the state of Goa. It was fun.

*****

‘Bat on the Beach’ 
02:51 pm

I was watching Kaka park his Avenger at the Calangute Beach Parking when I heard these three pieces of news :

Illad: “King ne apne activa ka key uske dickie me chhod diya.”

Kaka: “Shanky ne apne Avenger ka key mod diya.”

Shanky: “Bongali ne mudi hui key ko seedha karne ke chakkar me usko tod diya.”

I had to see it to believe it. A Solid iron key Snapped right in the middle. But then you look at Bongali. And then your mind rationalizes it and you agree that its possible.

Anyway to alleviate these key problems I summoned  my mystic powers and within 117 seconds it was all sorted. King got a spare key. Shanky found the guy who fixed him up with a new key.  Bongali smiled.

All this mystic energy had activated the batsuit in my backpack. I knew it had to be unleashed soon. I did.

Soon all of us had found ourselves a spot on the beach, tore down our clothes and ran in. Bongali made the ultimate sacrifice of staying out of the water so that memorable pictures of ours could be taken (and also our belongings could be guarded).
After a while in water, it was time for me to unleash the bat as prophesied before the beginning of the trip. On came the mask and for the moment the world around stopped looking at the plethora of things male eyes pry into.

The mighty cape fluttered. 
Kaka was proud.

 

 

***** 
‘Gollum’ 
Anjuna Beach
06:21 pm

“Sangam, I have failed you. If we get lost….if we run out of petrol before reaching the pumping station…blame it on me. You’re a gem of a friend. I will forget twilight or vampire diaries, but never shall I let fade the memory of you. This I promise as we delve deeper into this imminent oblivion.”

These were the words of Kaka as he and I tried to find our way which we had seeming lost while trying to get to a petrol pump. We had been riding out into the dusk for quite a while. The locals had spoken of a petrol pump and pointed us in this direction. Owing to the ‘lost neutral’, Kaka and I had gotten separated from the rest of the gang. Now we were riding into the dark, Kaka peering deep into the winding road ahead and me trying to find a way out via Nokia maps.

Five minutes later we found the petrol pump. Others were waiting.

Booze wasn’t the only thing cheap there. Petrol was too. Rs. 55 per litre.

Once the fuel tanks were fed, a nearby rocky beach ‘Anjuna’ was given a visit by us.

A rocky beach indeed. No sand. Large rocks jutting into the sea. And slippery. The only way I could think of for moving about those rocks was by squatting down and using the hands to move around – just like Gollum (LOTR).

We Gollum-ed around until it was too dark to see anything.

*****

‘Tattoos’

08.29 pm

Samundar me naha ke aap aur bhi namkeen ho jate hain. Aur aapki body ke pore pore me sand bhar jata hai, nomatter how much you wash yourself. Nevertheless, we all came back to the hotel to try.

‘futebol e religião’

“This is what I am going to get tattooed on my arm. Why? Because I think it holds a meaning in my life and I want it inked to permanency on my skin. Because in future I won’t be bak***d enough to try this.”

Whatever the rest of the people thought, King had me and Bongali reeled. We too, were going to get tattooed.

Bongali called dibs on the Qbit logo. Not that I was thinking about it but it did seem meaningful.

“Tu kya banwayega?” I was asked.

“Bat-symbol..”even I could gauge the unsurity in my voice. What holds meaning in my life? While I was still mulling over this question, the needle talk began.

“G***** *** jayegi ….bahut dard hota hai ..infection ho sakta hai …ghar se pooch  le ..kahin mummy hi pakad ke na peet den…”
I dropped out. I thought I should wait until I truly find something meaningful enough to be inked to permanency on my skin. I just hope that when it happens I will be bak***d enough to go ahead with it.

*****

09.57 pm

King and Bongali, with newly tattooed arms, joined us for dinner on the shore-side shacks and thelas. King fish, pomfret, sharks, crabs, prawns and the good old chicken – they were all given a bite. It was uneconomical to buy water or cold drinks. So beer it was for all except the tee-totalers like khan sahab.

Post dinner, as we headed back to sit on the shore, a random local stranger came up with an offer I instantly refused.
“Sir, Disco, body massage….sab milega. Chahiye sir?”

“Nahi.”

All of us had to keep such offers at bay throughout our stay there.

We all sat in a circle on the shore. Hajmola was out of the bottle.

‘Damsel in Distress’

11.13 pm

“Ma’am, I am with the government of India. Are you fine? Do you need help?” King, clad in a Chelsea jersey, shorts and slippers, with a Heikenen in one hand and a J in the other, said to the damsel in distress.
It so happened that a drunk and out foreigner was lying flat on the sand close to the water and people were creating a scene around it. Initially none of us were involved, but later when the crowd had gone off and the damsel was still in distress, the moral obligations sprang king and Bongali up to their feet. And they ensured that the lifeguards knew about it and that the damsel was brought out of the distress.

December 18, 2012

‘Un-Beer-able’

01.16 am

Well you just cant keep drinking up. More so if you are a newbie like me. Sooner or later you arrive at the point of immediate release.

“Sangam, give it back to the sea” , they said. I didn’t argue. I went down to the slopes and gave it back to the sea. Did people see me ? More importantly, did I care? It was too late in the night anyway. King followed suit. He gave it back to the sea as well.

The plan for the next day was made.

“Subah 6 baje uth ke yahin aayenge, aur sunrise dekhenge, fir old goa challenge”.

‘The Race’

01.49 am

I was going back to hotel riding behind Ghatal. Why had kaka ditched me? I cannot remember. Perhaps I was too drowsy by then. The pair of Illad and Adi was riding by our side. And then we stated racing each other. How did it start? I don’t remember that either. What I do remember is that within 19 seconds I was wide awake, holding tight to my seat, a FZ vrooming beside the active I was on. And it continued. Ghatal made it fly. And soon we all realized that we were about to reach Madgaon. We had missed the turn to our hotel long back.
Honestly, I had never been in one such reckless drive.

Even more honestly, I loved it.

***** 
06.00 am
Room 203, 204. 

Sun rose. Nobody woke up.

Surprise M*****f*****!!

*****

‘The Riverside Roadride’

 By the time everyone was actually all ready and we were done with eating up at Mahto’s, it was already midday. We were going to ride for about 20 kms to south goa, panjim and other places.

The road taken was what made the day. Once we crossed the panjim bridge, there was a narrow road running alongside the Mandovi river. The 10-15 minutes that the five vehicles of ours zoomed past that stretch was utterly butterly deliciously blissful !

 ‘Abbey Road’

The first destination was the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Across the road from it was a museum belonging to the ASI. 

While walking across it on the zebra crossing, we tried to imitate the Beatles album cover Abbey Road. It didn’t quite turn out as easy a job as it looked to be.

‘Miramar – Dona-Paula – Miramar’

Kullu joined us here. Grandly dressed. Riding a red active. He looked cute actually. I took to walking across the entire length of the Miramar beach while Ghatal photographed, Khan sahab did some yoga asanas, Shanky-Bongali photobombed and Kaka buried himself in the sand.

We had missed the sunrise but thought of watching the sunset in its full prime at the Dona-Paula Beach. We drove there and found out Miramar would have given us a better viewing. So after deliberating around for a while we raced back to Miramar. This time I was pillion rider to  Shanky for a change and he took it upon himself to make me hold on for my dear life as his Avenger sped past at 87 kmph.

“Lamborghini dekha tha raaste me?..red wali”, he asked when I touched down upon the ground.

“Haan”, I said. What I didn’t say was, “10 microsecond ka time tha mere paas bas Lamborghini ko dekhne ke liye!”

Soon it was dark enough and late enough and we had a long ride back. So back we rode. Only his time Bongali expressed his desire to drive back on Kullu’s res active. And he did. Red Helmet, red Activa and his giant persona – he himself termed himself as a (cute) pizza boy speeding back over the 60 mark.

09.00 pm. We were back at our favourite spot at the calangute beach. A quick dinner and we were back sitting in a circle, bottles in hand and Hajmola out of the bottle.

‘Hukka Bar’

10.27 pm

I had tried that before but never quite got the point of it. But that night King made sure that I drove the point home. Ohh I did and it really left me wanting for more.

The setting demanded a pink Floyd sond to be played. King approached the Bar DJ with his request.
He came back and asked, “abbey , the end naam the koi gana hai kya Floyd ka.”

“nahi”. It was a very definite ‘nahi’ from Bongali and Shanky.

While the contemplation was still on, we all heard the song.

‘one thing, I don’t know why

It doesn’t even matter how hard we try…’

Kullu was up and he finished the rap.

So this was it. The DJ actually played ‘in the end’ by linkin’ park. For him it was a Floyd song.

“abe aise jagah yahi milega. Chalo sab asli night club me. Entry passes hotel me mil jayega discount pe.” : Ghatal

“haan be, ek baar to kisi ko bolna hi hai, ‘can I buy you a drink?’” : Kaka

By midnight, everyone was back at the hotel and all dressed up and ready for it. Khan sahab was the only reluctant person. But he was pulled out of his sleep and made to tag along with us.

“Chal be, regret karega bahut nhi gya to”, he was told.

*****

‘Riio’ 
01:03 am

What happens in Riio, stays in Riio.

u must know my friend when 

u shudnt push to get 'pushy'

if pushier yet u be then 

chali jayegi sali khushi

Sab man ki hai utha patak

Galat direction me mude nhi ki 

nazar padi - ho gya chatak

so what happened in riio

must stay in riio

naa ho uspe kabhi discussion

par naa ho paye control agar

yaad kar lena the dance Russian

so lets never push to get pushy

let the universe play it out

tushtushi tushtushi

tushtushi tushtushi

“Jaam chhalak gya re!” : Adi.

*****

“Kal subah 5 baje uthenge, aur Agauda Fort jayenge. Wahan pe sunrise dekhenge. Wahan se wapas aakar lunch karke. Checkout karke Colva jayenge. Wahan dinbhar rahenge aur raat ko train pakad k eagle diin Mumbai.”

*****

December 19, 2012

‘Son-rise M*****F*****!’

It was about 9 in the morning. Needless to say, we had missed the sunrise again. Instead we had to make do with the Son-rise. (if you know what we mean).

(gif)

The plans were redrawn.

 

‘Dil Chahta hai’ 

01.15 pm

Nobody was interested in the history of the Aguada Fort. All we cared about was finding the spot where the Dil Chahta Hai sequence was filmed.

*****

‘Water Games’

03.17 pm

Colva Beach. White sand. Crystal water. If I m coming to Goa again, this is where I will stay. I, Shanky and Kaka also bought ourselves Hawaiin Shirts here, just a trip souvenir.

We took to the sea water once more. Bongali stayed out once again, accompanied by King and Kela. They chose to opt for a bout of beach football.

Kaka and Shanky went para-sailing.

After they returned, I and Adi joined them for the banana ride.

“life jacket pehan ke Bane jaisa feel aata hai”, confessed Kaka.
I focused my attention on what the instructor was saying.

“ham log aap logon ko 2 dip karwayenge…e keep me aur ek shallow me.” I wasn’t exactly clear what he meant by the dip. I found out soon enough.

“aap sabko thoda bahut swimming aata hai naa?” he asked.

‘haan’, said everyone but me. I looked up to Shanky, Kaka and Adi and got got back the look ‘nahi dundne denge be tereko’ look.

Came in our inflated banana ride and we mounted it. It seriously felt like I was riding one of those giant birds from Avatar. Once we were far enough into the sea, we were asked to raise our hands. Then the banana took a sharp turn and splash-dip into the water went all of us. So this is what they meant by the ‘dip’. Being thrown in the open sea. Life jacketed I might have been but still I had my heart in my mouth. Floating in and out in harmonic motion llike a cork in the water. I grabbed the rope and demanded to be pulled up instantly and was obliged.

To my utter horror Kak**** had some daredevilry planned for himself. Out he came of his life jacket and swam across underneath the banana boat.

The other dip was a little less horrific. My feet hit the ground ater a few moments of frantic kicking about.

It was enough adventure sports for a while now.

The final dinner was done in a Shack on the beach in total style. So much so that at one point we risked missing our train.

That never happened. Nothing had gone wrong on this trip. Nothing could go wrong on this trip.

*****

Madgaon Railway station

07:54 pm

This is all that Goa had in store for us. Didn’t really feel like leaving. But a train came few minutes later and took us away.

I had a feeling that I hadn’t had enough of Goa just yet.

“Bangalore se Goa kitna door hai be?”, I heard Kaka ask.

Seemed like Kaka hadn’t had enough of it either.

Or the others.

********************************************************

Mumbai
December 20-23, 2012

Initially I thought I just wouldn’t have enough to write about Mumbai. But now I find that it would need a whole post for itself.

The Local train journeys, Nariman point everynight, Kela’s rendezvous at chowpaty, Trident ke (saamne) ki chaai, Asking a BMW owner for lift, 01.40 ki last local, doomsday, Room 901, The Great Ghatal Guess and the aids ribbon, The Back alley beer buy brawl, McD Division Bill, and the way back from the water kingdom on the final day. And I didn’t even count Moodi.

To be written..

***
  
“Kaka, tu essel world mat jana.”
“Tu essel world gya, to tu wahin reh jayega. Fir ghar nahi nahi nahi nahi jayega tu.” 
:D

***********************************************************************************

Its not how it happened, its how you remember it that matters. 

Rights to exaggeration and bragging reserved.

 Data and Information used might have been skewed to suit the storyline. 

No characterisation intended. 

Everything is relative to your perspective.