Silver Jubilee Batch Meet- Part II
…………………Alcohol was flowing freely by this time and the evening gala had arrived with lots of fun and activities for the kiddies. Formal self introduction of the families began and lasted for few hours before the families became too restless with the sumptuous dinner, waiting for us outside the lawn.
The buffet was very informal and more time was spent on catching up and net working with batch mates and their families. Lucky (!) few of them turned up on their own, like I did, last year. The singletons turned up mainly from the home land and as usual had lots of excuses for their families’ absence!!
For few of them the party had already begun.
It was all fun and frolicking by this time and people were belting out songs with full throttle in the open lawn. I sang my favourite of Maestro Ilayaraja’s, whilst few others sang their favourites. Premkumar kept us happy too with his old favourite, whilst Shankar, Kondalampatti, Selva, VS Venkatesan, and few others, kept us enthralled with their antics.
The traditional Kuthu time started very slowly. What I meant traditional is, what we normally indulge in during these time at the college auditorium. The usual rounds of Alcohol boosters, now flowing like Ganges, helped by the ever never inhaled but smoking chimneys, began very appropriately in the open lawn, next to the sandy beach.
No sooner it began, the stage, however was shifted to a sheltered venue, when a tropical thunder storm with paroxysmal lightening, started lashing our tired sweaty bodies with powerful laser beam like water sprays.
Late night banters ensued and the alternate for after dinner speech for few of us was hosted by VS Venkatesan, who came out with this incessant tirade about Sex, and the wives. It turned out to be a strictly, men’s area, under the open canvass of tropical bleeding sky, whilst we sat with bare chests, happily listening.
Few families did manage to escape back to their rooms, perhaps, possibly preparing for an early morning sail. Most of the boys, I must say didn’t manage to see our rooms until in the morning.
After few hours of sleep, Sunday dawned once again slumbering off its feet, whilst, I had to take the kiddies out for a stroll along the beach. Mukil and Dharshan came along with me. The sandy beach was as usual very beautiful and attractive glowing with the Chennai’s golden morning sun, whilst the local fishermen, kept busy at their normal early morning chores by their crab catches and the damaged nets. And there were few babes too (International!!), with skimpy bikini suits, bathing and braving the very timid looking waves. What a feast!!! Tropical sun rise is the best thing in life, especially to wake up your soul and in the process rejuvenating the tired cells.
After a quick but a relaxing shower, (possibly not all of us) we gathered in the dining hall for a lovely relaxing multinational cuisine of a breakfast. Many of us caught up with bygones once again, whilst nibbling away the munchies, catching up also with new arrivals of the morning, whilst fighting with few bad hangovers from the previous night.
Incidentally during the night one of our mate was found apparently unconscious, with a GCS of 3 outside our room by my better half and had to be wheeled off to his room on air by our good mates!! He was definitely alive, on that morning in the dining hall.
Well, after the lovely breakfast, it was time for some old Videos, one especially catching up with our Convocation ceremony in 1992. Its 19 years since the event and watching it made me wonder and wonder where all these time had gone by, which, in the process has taken and given back a lot for all of us.
However, Selvamuthu’s peppy, timely comments on the mike, on the video clips did certainly keep us engrossed, whilst mowing away the sentimentality behind the scenes.I have to mention certainly, some thing about Selvamuthu here. The guy had flown all the way from Malaysia
He therefore managed to keep us all posted and united in the process.
Kudos to Chandru too, who with the moment of sparkly inspiration managed to conceive the idea of Stanley
Well, the photo shoot followed the video show and it was so nice to sat, whilst the ladies stood on your back, (a very rare opportunity indeed!), with our better halves of both genders fuming their way through. Few nudges, here and there and few passionate, occasional glances to rekindle long lost romances!!!Every thing was there and to the full! It was memorable. It was of fun and laughter. Kids and families joined us too for larger group photos.
Snacks and friendly banters followed once again, whilst the new comers of the morning and early leavers getting busy with their chores, Notes were exchanged, whilst the missed calls were made. Some of the singletons made the best use of the time by more indulgence.It was lunch time by this time and what followed was the highlight of the morning. The whole party had to drive to nearby restaurant for the lunch, which was stuffed with people and food alike. You name it and it was there.
Biriyani, grilled fishes, Chicken, prawns, gamut of gravies and curries, and all sort of vegetarian items, with lovely desserts ensued, and were quickly gobbled as soon as they were laid on our tables. Needless to say Karthi had done his home work really well, for to lead us there. I am sure he had dined and tasted it few times beforehand and definitely seemed to have made a good meal of it.
More informal photo shoots followed. However, we slowly and eventually arrived at the melting point of bear hugs, farewell kisses and good bye utterances; now but reluctantly made our way slowly through the Sunday afternoon quite roads of SINGARA Chennai, hoping to meet us all again in another year or two.
Kudos to Karthi and all our friends, who made it possible, and who made to the Silver Batches meet; and for others, there is always the next time.
Thanks to FACEBOOK!!
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