I had kept the month of April clear of all engagements when my school buddy, who is now settled in California, called up to say that she was coming to India. A meet up was a given.
It’s generally three of us. And our rendezvous is always Triveni Kala Sangam in Mandi House , a place redolent with nostalgia for all of us. Our school’s just close by. Often we walked down to Mandi House bus stop to catch our respective buses if we had a late stay in school for some project, extra curricular activities or exams. In short when the school bus was not available.
One of us was a student of dance in Bharatiya Kala Kendra, again situated within the vicinity, where after school visits were quite often. Triveni has that typical ambience – subdued and sophisticated – and a strong reminder of our teenage years !! So it was not an unusual choice to get together and reminisce about old days.
But this time was a bit different. Three more of our school buddies, with whom one of us had reconnected, wanted to join. And of course we said yes – more the merrier. What followed were big bear hugs and a rowdy (in terms of Triveni’s code of conduct) reunion. Triveni has a well known terrace cafe where the decibel level has to be of ‘certain’ frequency in order to allow the ongoing workshops and classes to be carried on unhindered. We more than once crossed that limit, were respectfully rebuked which we dutifully ignored and continued to be our chattiest and noisiest best. Triveni should have known that we were together after more than four long decades!!!
Friends’ union is incomplete without a feast. So the starters, an assortment of crisp pakoras, preceded jackfruit biryani, keema paranthas, salad, papad and raita. For desert there was beetroot halwa which was a first for all of us. We were not only inquisitive but game for all sorts of experiments.
The conversation was predominated by reminiscences of school days, the pranks that were played as a tribute to our conscientious teachers, our situations now and getting updates on many of our class mates – where they were now and what they were up to.
Soon it was time to say goodbye with a promise to meet again but not before we had left our loud presence in the corridors from where we were politely shooed and shown the exit. It was mid afternoon when we finally parted ways to Triveni’s immense relief. Three of us took a few minutes more to browse through the renowned painter, Anjali Ela Menon’s paintings exhibited in one of the Halls therein.
What next? A sleepover at my place and more chats, more catch-ups, more laughter and a lot more memories.
On the aside, we also took a vow to steer clear of Triveni for a whole one year in fear of getting blacklisted permanently.
Yep! That’s how it was….
It’s good to meet long time friends. I haven’t did it for many, many years. They say, life is short. Lovely photo, gc.
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Thank you so much Hazel 🙂
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My pleasure, gc
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A splendid gathering
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Thank you so much Derrrick 🙏
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Some bonds don’t fade with time… they just get louder, warmer, and even more beautiful when you meet again 🤍✨
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Absolutely Rajeshwari. You are so right.
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यह दोस्ती हम नहीं छोड़ेंगे
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😂😂😂😂
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How awesome. You must’ve had a wonderful time
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Yes, we did 😆😆
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🥰🥰🥰
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Near that halwa , white liquid seems mattha something (butter milk treated with ghee, cumin seeds, mixed with ginger coriander). You haven’t mentioned in the gourmet list. Well, I am quite impressed by the whole idea of reunion and really envy all of you for being so creative in choice of place and items. 🌹
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That’s the raita Professor Sahab
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Raita you drink in glass ? Great ! 😊
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Sorry Chhaanch! One of us had ordered it. I forgot. I only mentioned what we all had.
However, the raita I make at home I do have it in glass. It’s light and runny. I don’t prefer the thick one.
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Yes agreed, so my guess was right , it was Chhanch … Mattha we call in Marathi 🌹
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Such smiles, how lovely! The food list is quite tempting.
You mentioned about katahal biryani and keema paratha when I was in New Delhi.
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Thank you Rupali. Kathail biryani is quite a favourite in veg biryani.
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There is truly no bond like school friendship. I could almost smell the pakoras and hear the laughter through your writing. ❤️
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Hee..Hee..the pakoras were transcendental and the laughter soul uplifting!!
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Looks like a lovely loud gathering.
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Yes, it was…😂😂
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A reunion; plenty to catch up on, loads to laugh about, many hugs and claps, such fun and merriment.
😍 ❤️ 😍
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Yes, it was like that. 🙏
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