H2 Pictures - 1st July 2009

(Hurriedly written blog - pardon the apathy!!)

Hey ho! Small things that take you to heaven! After a long time, I am enjoying societal life again ... a not-so-temporary move to Bombay looks imminent already.

My much-hyped (at work), and much looked-forward to (by me) trip to Bombay has been such a festivity till now! The one thing I decided in the 23hr Bangalore to Bombay, pretty nicey, train journey was to make the most of the visit - and three days hence, I have succeeded comfortably ... 

Thanks to the train-waalah attendant, who had some wonderful stories to tell about his train trips all around the country (that's what I like about Mumbai - people connect within instants), I got to sit at the threshold of the bogie during as the train cringed through the ghaats of Lonavala and Khandala. Don't you go, "So what?!" ... because, boss, there was intense competition for the spot - but my comraderie with the guy got me the place (jugaad works ... always)!

Reached the Lokmanya Tilak Kurla Terminus at 1430, and Bandra at 1530 ... and I simply dashed off to meet ol'friend Sushant at Colaba's Theobroma. The one great thing about meeting Sushant is the perpetual smile on his face ... it's leaves you feeling positive!

I used to buy fake ManU jerseys - and jerseys of the besht-est quality - from Anil Bhai who sits on the Colaba Causeway. As I approached Colaba on foot from Churchgate, I wondered about two things: whether Anil Bhai would still be there (or the thullas would have got rid of him long time ago) ... and whether he would remember me at all. Warna Sushant ke saamne mast katne waala tha. 

Thanks to the almighty - both things went my way. Probably the biggest pleasure of my life is for people, with whom I had formed some very unknown bonds over the years, to remember me. Yaar ... that's better than most of the things in life ... 

For some reason, the babe index of the causeway, and also of Bombay, seems to have lowered a little ... 

Yenyway ... bought a ManU vest from Anil Bhai, and after a brief stop at Phonologies, dashed back to Bandra. For some reason, the family decided to watch, "New York" - Katrina aunty is losing it big time these days with her choice of films ... :(

Yesterday was spent loitering all around the campus ... tried to seek a seat at Gulmohar ... but had to settle for a lunch at Laxmi with the Modern Phantom of IITB Campus  - Ghaza. As far as the IIT campus is concerned, Gautam Hazari has attained an omnipresent status ... it's been 12 years, and one can still find him attending lit events, meeting people, sipping at the shack ... and, very reluctantly, crawling back to the department.

Met Shirish Walgude ('71 graduate) who heads the Alumni Cell ... the new PRO Jaya Joshi, and Damayanti of the Alumni Cell - and they decided that I can take ownership of the souvenir shop and the merchandising of IIT Bombay. Hopefully, Toube Bas will hit new levels - though I am still wondering if I should create a new brand for my B2B activities - no, right?

Met the DOSA's PA Shanta ma'm - who was such a lovely help during my GS-giri ... and she was as graceful as ever! Who can forget apna Vijay at the shack ... and ofcourse, the bunch of Monties with whom I exchanged greetings the way we've always done ... ! I had to meet Dr. Appaji ... and the support staff at SAC (with whom I bitched about other IITs, and some not-so-special coaches at apna gymkhana ... just like the ol'times)!!

Like I do with the meals, I saved the real desserts for the last - a trip to H2. Ofcourse, with none of 'my people' around, the fun element was missing - however, bumped into the washing-machine guy, Siddhartha, and tried to hunt for Gopi ... (who had gone home by then). Sethu's still the hally ... and as smileful as ever (though, like always, he must have been thinking in his head about rooms available, rents to procure, and stuff that hallies think) ... Check some of the pictures below ...

A beautiful evening with Taxi and Meenakhsi followed (at their home, where Meenakhsi read my hand, and did pretty well, I must say), and then we three mini-celebrated Neha's bday with Pdot and Mane at the table as well! Guys ... Hiranandani has changed ... changed big, big time! It smells of ultra-pseud giri, and, as the guys told me, the coffee shops like CCD and Barista, and a new place called, "Aromas", have taken over the coffee shack as the hangout joint.

:(

Plan for today: What else! Visit the campus again! Hopefully will meet Shyam Babu, Dr. Edwin, John, Amit Agarwal ... and Bansi Kaka (at Chakra) ... 

Enjoy the not-so-clear pictures below!

H2 - The Mess Entry

H2- The Approach

H2 - The Front View

H2 - The Corridor

 H2 - The Kho Kho Field

H2 - Footer Field

"Agar Hindustan Main Kahin Jannat Hai, To H2 Ke Footer Field Main Hai."

- Lot's of 'Anonymi'