All of us were eagerly awaiting this day from quite a few years now. But somehow it never seemed to materialize. When one set of people are free the others are too busy n vice-versa. Finding all of them together in itself was like a mammoth task ahead of us, because since the last 3 years meeting some of the guys who were the very core of the whole group had become as good as impossible. What a tightly knit unit it was once upon a time. Literally unshakeable. Rocked the whole school in those 2 years. Some of the most unforgettable moments in school life were definitely shared with this astounding lot. Whether its bunking Balambal’s or princi’s class to play volley-ball or collectively eyeing leny john madam or watching ‘teach me tonight‘ in the comp lab. Everything we had done, we had done it together. So always if any problem creeps up, all 30 of us were taken to task (there were 30 guys n around 8 truly mind blowing chicks in our class). So teachers could never ever retaliate against us. It was actually a perfect example of the famous saying we have studied in our primary classes. “United we stand, divided we fall”.
So getting a chance to finally meet up with some of them n share a drink with them was like half a dream come true.
Note: very few of us were drunkards when we passed out from school and had never gotten together to even gulp down a few cans of beer ever since.
The whole idea of the get-together happened by chance. Just met up with a few of the guys after a very long time one evening in the Bball court and outta the blue all the other missing characters who had been absconding all these years happened to surface one by one that very evening. Took a stroll down memory lane when we again played football as a team and kicked some junior asses while playing.
So the date for the much awaited get-together which will remain etched in our memories for quite a few years was fixed now after consulting a priest from the bhuvaneshwari nagar temple. All very religious people in our gang and more over all are overtly superstitious. So 1st of Feb 2007 it’ll be. When all the forces combine and create a hell of a mess in Surabhi gardens. By the way. That was the venue for the occasion. A neat little garden bar n restaurant, a rocks throw away from ma place. We were supposed to meet there at 2 pm since rahu kalam would start at 2 n that would be an ideal time for all the devils to meet again. Wah!! What an auspicious start to the proceedings. Hmmm. Wait. Just the beginning. The game has not started yet.
Some 15 of us were expected to make it. But I would have been more than happy if even 10 turned up. To my surprise the attendance was pretty good. 13 guys made their presence felt on that day. Some on time. Some a little later. But nevertheless, they didn’t disappoint the organizers. Before I start off detailing bout how many bottles of old monk’s were gulped down or how much of nicotine was mixed with the oxygen in the atmosphere or even better, how theatric the after effects were, let me introduce to you the whole cast of this mega event.
Let me start off with the big guns first. M MOHAN, Age 22, final year BHM, only guy in the gang who is studying something different from all of us stupid engineers. The fact that he does not bother attending college is a totally different thing. Mastered in alcoholism very early in life. Just completed a PHD in nicotineology also. All in all. The leader of the whole group.
Bhagirathi govindaiah ANANTHA laxmi narayana. That’s his full name. Age 21, doing Engi in Shimoga. Everybody in the gang jus love to kick his ass. Since a hostelite smoking is just a matter of life. Thought he is a master at drinking too, but he proved me wrong.
Then come the other two hostelites. Nirmal Kumar Jha aka ALU, doing Engi in Kolar, have to accept he has mastered the art in both versions of the game and Arun Bharathi aka KUNJU, doing Engi in Tiptur, a total non smoker, the above quality does not match a hostelites profile actually, but a sound alcoholic.
Y Karthik, doing Engi in RVCE, the nerd of the gang, the brand name RVCE itself tells the whole story. Nobody ever thought someday they might see him wit a glass of vodka in his hand. But reality is reality. This kalla Brahmin also has become a pro now.
The rest of the crew included Abhijeet Dey and Harsh Raj. Both doing Engi. One a pukka drunkard and the other a mild one. Then there is the expert at boozing. Mr. A Chandrashekar aka SHEKAR. Will not just be bothered even if the roof above him collapses when he’s having a drink. But always in control of himself. Next in queue is Ralph Sunny Jose, has tried his hand at everything ranging from Bsc to Engi, now working. Weird character. Can sleep with his eyes open. Hmmm. Very hard to believe isn’t it??
And finally the CMRIT boys. Sanjay K Harinarayanan, has attained license in both versions of the game now, and very well knows his limits.Mandeep Chanana aka BOBBY, amateur at drinking which he proved in great fashion and a non smoker. Karthik Rajashekaran, The only booze n smokes virgin in the gang. Still we managed to coax him into having a few ounces of vodka. Sandeep Balan aka SANDY, started the alcohol therapy much before any of the above mentioned guys but still manages to maintain the same limits. Not too many fluctuations in the graph in the last seven years. A life member of the non-smokers club.
Most of the guys arrived in bikes and were on time for the rendezvous. By the time I reached the place the positions were already occupied n now the kick off hooter was blown. There were the usual hugs n wishes. But guys were excited not of meeting each other but of sharing a drink with the people with whom they share some unforgettable memories. Who in their wildest dreams would have thought of such a party 3 years back when we were still in school n all we use to think of then was play play n more play.
Rum n vodka was the flavour of the day with some beer adding some warmth. Everybody had their own preferences. Slowly the mood started to set in with each one of us sitting with our glasses in tow n savouring the taste of the starters. But the actual fun began when one Mr. Bobby arrived. In the first place he was late. So to make up for it he decided to have rum which he had never tasted before. Now slowly the pace caught up n each one was gulping down one glass after another wit Bobby leading them all. Shekar being his calm n composed self was sitting next to Bob n egging him on to drink more n more n Bob was just obliging to his wishes.
There were lots of stupid talks going on now. Each one had started speaking crap so confidently that he was just encouraging the others also to follow suit. High fives were being exchanged after every small conversation. Old memories were being refreshed again, petty arguments over trivial issues were starting to heat up, everyone seemed to be so much in love with each other that swear words seemed to be flowing in at such a premium n hugs were being exchanged every second minute, In those few minutes it felt as though time stood still on us n all of us were in seventh heaven. From Kunju exhibiting his multi-lingual talent to Anantha cracking his ever so famous PJ’s to the calmness n concentration of Shekar while having his drink. Each one of those little moments was a Kodak moment. He he…
The active smokers were urging the passive ones to break their shackles n to take a few puffs in, but the latter decided not to try anything new n stay put at the stance they had taken at the start of the party.
We were now starting to feel the heat slightly. So every now n then took a walk outside on the road to inhale some fresh air n then come back n continue gulping some more. Most of us had peaked by now n it was almost two hrs since we had made our entry. Mr. Y Karthik made a belated entry in between n straight went on attacking his drink without wasting much time. The experts in the field were enjoying the feel of it, but the amateur’s were slowly giving in.
The first sight of this was Abhijeet going missing all of a sudden. Nobody had any clue where he was. Tried calling on cell n no response. Some of us were actually way too high to even bother bout his whereabouts, so we continued partying. Next to pop was Anantha. He had a cock tail of Beer n Rum suggested by the ever clever Mohan, n he started his omelet sessions next. But it was easy for him since all he had to do was to turn around n puke in the so called garden behind. By now Bob had gulped down four n half glasses of Rum. The rest half glass he had dropped on the floor in the excitement of the matter... He he... in the process breaking the glass also. But he didn’t care a shit. He was more than happy for a first timer in managing to drink so much. Who anyways tends to bother bout the aftereffects.
Within another 15 mins a totally high Bob had lost control of himself. Went n had some good puke sessions buts still, man he was out. Completely. Some of us started panicking now. 3 of them already clean bowled by now, another few in their own world n the rest who are fine helping the people who are out, get back to the pavilion. Outta nowhere Abhijeet surfaces now fit n fine as ever with his ever so standout sunglasses. Just an enquiry into his whereabouts revealed that Sir was happily tucked into the girls loo n enjoyed a sound sleep there for an hour. Crazy shit. Howz that even possible all of us thought. But as they say. “Nothing is Impossible”.
Now we knew our time was fast running out n needed to pack up quickly. So just settled the bill quickly n started the process of taking the injured soldiers of war safely back home. That was the most difficult part though. Somehow managed to put everyone in bikes n rode back to Drdo in a semi drunk state. The next destination was Mes service centre just to refresh ourselves. The fit soldiers tried various means of first aid n second n third to get the injured ones back to normal. But it was not happening that easy. I tried ma hand at football or sorry leg at football in the marginally drunk state. N man. I wasn’t that bad. Managed to kick legs easily, no problem what so ever wit ma eye sight. Everything I looked at looked like a football. God knows how many juniors cursed me then for hitting them without reason.
After all the AIDS, our last throw of the dice was to make the injured soldiers eat something. So we carried them on to the now most happening spot in Drdo.
Mr. Anantha still had some tough work ahead. He had to get himself onto a bus, go to Majestic, buy train tickets for Shimoga n get into the right compartment n find his seat all in this drunken state n most importantly all alone without anybody’s help. None of us were sure if he’ll be able to come out wit flying colours in this ordeal of his, but by god’s grace everything went fine n Anantha reached his college hostel safely the next morning. Only problem was that the pungent taste of Rum was not letting go of his tongue n everything he ate thereafter just tasted like Rum. Lol. Bob also was dropped back home n managed to carry himself off in a dignified manner just like when a soldier returns home from war. So everyone bid good-bye to the others n vowed to meet up again very soon. Hmmm... What ever happened, whoever got drunk, every single one of us enjoyed to the core. It was just an awesome day for all of us. A day we had been waiting for since very long.
Had to also take Y Karthik back home that night. After getting back home both of us acted perfectly normal. Mom didn’t have a shadow of a doubt that two drunkards have come home. Went to sleep that day wit a lot of satisfaction n pleasure of such a wonderful day. He he. What fun. Hope we could have such fun everyday. But life’s not just bout having fun its something much more than that.
“Friendship is a treasure,
That doesn’t happen, it is earned.”
3 comments:
It was never meant to be a thought provoking, moral-centric post, that way its no doubt a 6.5...I guess you did manage to pull of the 'long' post at a decent pace(only a one-time read though), but then under tremendous pressure, excitement about the topic and the hehe endless need to cover it all, the end result only managed a few smiles here and there, and so 5.5 and the repetitive slightly immature descriptive style hehe therefore 4.5, i wud have given a 5 at first read so bro i guess you more or less were correct after all hehe...
(Good Work, hehe Long Posts are always challenging to guys like us man, hehe the illiterate sorts ;)
"Driving by a drunken person shall be punishable at the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with a fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both; and for a second offence, if committed within three years of the previous similar offence, imprisonment for a term which may extend to three thousand rupees, or with both."-Some clause,Unknown ACT under the IC ;)
Verdict: Drunken driving's a menace contibuting to traffic deaths!!
Ha haa n d post,as i alredy told ya...had me laugh thru,cos it was a direct invitation to an all guy's booze party...he hee surely one cannot live thru it, i can't :)
Emotions attached wit the reunion weren captured like they were supposed to i thought...cos i guess alcohol n smoke took the centrestage ;) Also the detailing,mentioned to you..a drawback.
However,the length of the post surprised me,Sandy reading at a stretch was unimaginable n now writing...???Hmmmm....Grt going,hopin yu keep yur blog readers hooked ;)
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