[nukkad] Happy New Year Friends......missed you all on the nukkad

["Ragini" <>]

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The first problem for all of us, men and women, is not to learn, 
but to unlearn. -Gloria Steinem, women's rights activist, editor (1934- )
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Hello Friends,

How are you all?
It is good to be back home after a vacation.

Though I did read you all once in a while, as and when this
vacational-'jeevan ki aapa dhaapi' permitted me........ but just did that.
Though was wanting to write about all.

I was so happy to see some of you in India and hear other few on the phone.

To begin with, I have to sincerely thank Ravi Menon to have come to the
Airport at the last moment even though the occasion he was in Bombay was
grave. I could barely talk to him for 2-3 mins across the 'laxman rekha'
drawn out by the unfriendly security guard at the departure gate. As I had
preponed my flight telephonically I was apprehensive about the surity so was
anxious to check that out and thought that I will come out and meet him
after checking in but forgot that rules were different for international
check-ins, though I was flying domestic but my ticket was routed
internationally.
That snatched my chance of meeting Ravi at ease. I am so sorry about that.
He was so nice.

Yes, yes, I could meet the wonderful Asha Anand in Bangalore. She too could
make it only to the airport . She was as nice to talk as her write-ups and
poems. And yes, she was real :)
For recognition we just described our clothes to each other. It was an
enjoyable half an hour with her though she was busy ahead and was rushing to
her institution for a function.

The first nukkadite I met after reaching India was Guptaji in Delhi...the
gentleman that he is here, was perfect so there. We met our families too. I
am so happy to see his paternal duties a little relieved as his older son,
atlast, gave-in-to-guptaji's-desire-to-see- him-settled-with-a-wife ...:))
I must say I felt so honoured when he put me on such a high pedestal in
front of his sons and asked me to talk it out with them on the issue.
Thank you Guptaji.
He is as normal a father as fathers are and sons are as all sons these days
are.

Next I met Dr Taher on Jan 1st. Though I talked with him on 23rd and 24th
Dec during my first touch down in Bombay (...by the way, I hopped, skipped
and jumped Bombay 4 times in 10 days, which is another story in the next
long mail:)..). On 23rd and 24th Taher was my long distance pediatrician and
telephonic saviour as my little one had taken ill after drinking 'ghaat
ghaat ka paani' (Bisleri, too boiled) in my whirlwind frantic relatives
sojourn. He advised me fine with medicines and I could carry them ahead to
Bangalore. It was so nice of him. I could not meet him for the same reason
though he was passing through the neighbouring area with his wife, and I
missed the chance. But on Jan 1st I had time to catch up and joined him at
an eating place near Bandra, though he desperately had been wanting it to be
at Barista coffe shop..Yes, perhaps the same Barista where nukkatdites met
earlier. I have to find out why :)
I could, ofcourse, place him immediately as had seen his earlier Barista
pic. We enjoyed our meeting and chatting of 40-45 mins. But Gosh, all the
pediatrician fee he 'vasooloed' from we with his shooting off 200 questions
at break-neck speed......uff,
And then he asked me 'You look reserved, you have nothing to ask...I had to
say...you have to give me a chance :)) I was speechless, for a
change...heheh.
I thought I alone was talkative but he beats me hollow.
Jokes apart, it was such fun. I did not feel I was meeting him for the first
time. He was as transparent as I had thought of him to be by his postings.
Though he gave me a good mix of some nice and some left handed compliments
( i wish I could tell you the hilarious description of what he had imagined
me to be before seeing me) but it was fun making a good new friend who can
also laugh at himself.)

Moral of the story: Beware of telephonic advice from Dr Taher :))

Both these times in Bombay I got a chance to talk to Ninad Chaaya too....at
length..... but that's about it. It was nice talking to him . A very polite
guy but workoholic I guess...... sincere at work as his 'bhratashree'...so
much so that he did not even pretend to reflect that he had time to meet any
nukkadite :)...though he did try to find out Mayank's no for me when I
requested him to do so as I was leaving Bombay in a couple of hours and I
wanted to talk to him before I left. But I guess I remembered the wrong
email id of Mayank and time passed by. I loved conversing in chaste Hindi
with Ninad, he being a Gujju.

And the surprise of surprises, was dear Virendra S Rawat. I would have
missed meeting a nice guy had he not given me his Indore phone number. He
was unlike anything I imagined Rawat to be...A very down to earth, humble
and unpretentious guy...As he lived near-by, he came to my in-laws place in
the evening ...asking for me....... with hands full of goodies and gifts.
Not only for me but for to-be Delhi nukkad meet. I was taken aback, and felt
so proud to introduce him to all that even did not care to see if the house
was tidy and forgot to even offer him anything in the 15 mins he was at
home......besides sweets he got me a lovely shawl. He rushed out as he
realised there was Sangeet function at home as a welcome for 'my
puttar'.....the youngest grandson. He did meet my family too and asked for
everyone by name :). I tried to make up for my inefficiencies next day on
phone but he was as nice. Nice knowing you Rawat. My only regret, I did not
get time to take a picture of him.

About the Delhi Meet, Jinx, Nexus ..whatever...we all know a lot now.
It was nice meeting Shefali Ahuja and Manoj Gupta, the Harshal Chaaya of
NDML. Surprise was they are married to each other.
Though making it in time to the Venue I could not be there for long after
8.30pm as you all know how popular I am and had people lined up at home
:)))). Our hero-cum-organiser Anirudh was more busy than I was, so I could
just be there for 15 more mins after the Royal entry of Sir A.
And let me tell you guys  ...yeh ladka bahut jhoot bolta hai.....:))
......about his telling besides expecting a hot babe or whatever when seeing
me there was no chance of his seeing another hot babe on the next table as h
e had no chance to look at any other table.. as soon as he entered he was
already trying to redial Guptajis number, perhaps, to place us and just then
I waived him and straight he came to the table...unless he was referring to
Britney Spears gyrating in skimpies on MTV then there ..:))
Guptaji, now it is your challenge to tie this guy in matrimony before you do
your younger son......He plans to go the Hanumanji way.
But he just fit the frame of my imagination...perfect.... Young fun filled
guy at heart......talks twenty to a dozen. He looked great in his black tie
and suit for the occasion.

Now about the pictures...The Delhi pics have got spoilt...as the place was
dark, we were sitting  close out of the four pics two have come fine. One
with Manoj Gupta and Anirudh is OK. Guptajis with them is very faint.
Shefali and mine has come only uptill the neck....ask Anirudh, how he
managed that. Shefali, Anirudh's and mine has come fine but my pic is not so
good and young Shefali is next to me...hehehe...so friends vanity is at
stake.
Jokes apart, there was 'Disk Error' when I transferred the pics to the
computer after reaching  here. My husband will try to fix the errors..give
me some time. I will keep you guys posted on that.
Asha and mine pics at Bangalore have come fine but she wanted not to be
shown to all.
and ofcourse Taher and mine are fine too as it was a good sunny day.

During the meet at Delhi it was wonderful talking to Anna and Mr Zaveri. It
was a nice gesture on their part. It was sheer nice to see how ice melted
between Mr Zaveri and me on the phone, chatted at length with him on so many
topics with such ease that I am sure Mr Zaveri gets free phone service there
in Dubai.......:)).

This is the warm blanket of friendship of 'nukkad' we all share.
Year 2002 ended on such a good note and blended smoothly into 2003.

See you all and more soon.

Cheers

Ragini

PS: The new posts of and views of Satya read as refreshing as Farook's
sometime back. Welcome.

and Praveen, you are so funny....kyoon itney 'adheer' hain aap..:))




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                         - A relationship is a garden.
It breathes when watered with love, hugs, tears & cheers.
But dries up if left untouched. Keep In Touch Always!-
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