Friends

"Saale, tu kuch karta nahi hai...", Chins said to Anky, and we all laughed at it. 

This was around 24-25th time, we heard this dialog in last 4 days. This was the last day of us together, at friends marriage, and the time was around 4.00 in the morning. This was certainly not the time to make jokes. But we did.

It has been around one and half year, after college and first time we all were together at one place for Abhi's marriage, for having fun, and for so called 'Reunion'. Everything changed after getting a stamp of MBA. Everyone is now busy with individual career. There have been so many commitments to everyone that we hardly got a time to get together. Finally we got an occasion,  AB's marriage. 

Sweet......Nothing, a photo by Vikram K. on Flickr.

One by one we all joined the celebrations, less of a ritual, more of a fun and recalling the days, we missed so very badly.

It will be a start of new life for Abhi, but for all of us, it was like reincarnating into college life, the countless nights spent in chatting, maggie and coffee. The computer games, the discussion about projects, exams, submissions and growing together as friends and every other thing we enjoyed, we shared and the moments we lived together.


Everyone is well connected with each other by electronic communication, but this was the first occuasion we all are together after college.


In the early morning, we all were waiting for autorikshaw, and may be for that last time that year, the very famous statement cranked on the laughter. But this time there was a tint of pain added to that, because for all of us, tomorrow will be bringing back our duties, routines and every other things which makes our usual life, except THE FRIENDS!

When everything fails, the hope rises again....

we shook the hands towards each other, wishing bon voyage, and with the assurance that,

"It will not be too long for next celebration"

(note - this was a long due post, I wrote last year, but hardly got time to complete it, thus posting it now)
Chins, Anky, AB, Tips, Vaibhs, Vishla, Esha, Mru, Archi, BK, and all others, who made my life special, missing you all...

Ideal couple

That was a wonderful evening...

They were meeting after a long break. Before that, distances were spicing up relations, sometimes bringing them closer, or else creating walls between them and their thoughts and Finally here they are, together, to enjoy an ideal evening, just like crafted carefully for them.

She was working with one of the top notch company. He was just a struggler, waving on the flow of destiny, looking out for destination. Both are from different places, different surroundings, studied together, 'n slowly entered into a bond. After the college, everything changed, right from the location. When they used dream about smooth running life, and suddenly were down. Right on the earth, in the company of so-called hi-profile people, who used to comment like, 'Postgrad is great, but what about job? my (someone's someone) did his PG from (XYcollege) now works with HDFC/ICICI/HSBC/Standard Charter earning (some two digit number before 'Lakhs')...

She was brilliant and made it to her dream place, and of course, a place for which everyone will dream for. He decided to take his own path. Non-glamorous, but highly ascertain and sometimes illogical too. They used to talk every night, briefing about each others life, funny creatures they encountered in the day and so-on and so-for. But unknowingly they were not at a same level. Later on, even the phone-calls reduced their timing, Subjects changed, contents changed even the details and ideas. Still they love each other.

One day, he asked her, about engagement. She was like stumbled in-between. She asked for some time. Later on, the reply was, "It might be too early to decide something now!" He was happy, waiting eagerly for her response. Meanwhile he is judging himself, entered into a business, started working and enjoying that. Again the matter came into hit point and he asked her about marriage. She asked him few questions. Mainly related to the things he knows about daily life and a specially about earning. The hidden meaning was about whether you are capable of earning which is sufficient for them together.

He realized that, he was just loving her, and hardly ever thought about practicability of relations. Was he wrong at that time? Again the matter postponed. Time was running, so as seasons and finally they found an evening together after these events. They got a neglected corner in that small bistro, and ordered each others favorite dishes. Conversation was important for them, not the coffee. They were talking, opening up with each other after so many days. Just like they used to do during college days.

The lights went dim and music stopped. That was the sign that Bistro is closing down. They came out, hugged each other. Went on to the opposite sides and disappeared in the dark shadows of night.

No one knows what happened after that. For spectators they are like an ideal couple. Even their college friends think the same. Made for each other.

But finally relations are all about what happens between them, not about what other perceives.

a lot can happen

Cafe CoffeeDay, a place very close to my heart. especially during my Bangalore days. I shared almost every special moment with a good coffee and special friends. The celebration for first friendship day, plans for intra-college fest, may be the decent propose, or even the celebration for getting summers joining, CCD was the place which shared everything.

Right from first cause to celebrate 'a bunk' to 'the last moment in college life' a good coffee always secured the place in my life. The things went so smooth with it and numerous times came up with the solution to some of tedious tasks. The reason to recall this was my recent trip to Ahmadabad.

My friend took me to a rocking place Shambu's Corner, which is a similar place like CCD. I was thinking about the name, and he clarified that, the person shambu started his business from a simple corner, and now owns some 4-5 exclusive outlets.

The place, like CCD is providing an ambiance to the crowd, which is necessity for every busy place. No wonder that these places soon becomes cultural hotspot. Everyone coming there is from varied backgrounds and situations, some might had a fight with boss, someone may be want to spend few moments with the dear one, other may be jus looking for time-pass. There are different occasions, causes and reasons, but together it blends with the relaxing and refreshing ambiance, everyone forgets the worries, problems and challenges. Even then, someone gets a guitar, or a mouth-organ and the venue itself becomes the celebration.

Once I was alone at Jayanagar 7th Block CCD, catching my fav roadside seat, I jus observed a couple, may be a new affair I thought. The girl was fuming with anger and the guy was trying to explain her the reasons may be. but there started a romantic song by a group just next to them, one guitar and added to it a hot coffee, after few sips, the girl was quite relaxed and started enjoying the songs. Lastly, they left the CCD with cheerful mood and holding the hands.

On the totally other side, I had some really great brainstorming and gameplans on the same venue, just the time is a bit early evening.

Now I am missing those moments, and the CCD, place which recharges, the thought, the mood and the person.

Truly "A Lot Can Happen Over A Coffee!!!"