A couple of weeks, received an email from Sarita, announcing her impending visit for the reunion at Baroda and that she would be travelling via Mumbai! YES….we decided to meet up during her visit, though briefly, since she would not have much time.

A couple of days later, another email that said…..Anjali on her way back was also going to be in town, Khyati & Sejal en route to Baroda would also be there; to keep 31st December afternoon free; it would be good to meet up, with others too???

Sure thing! My dream come true….4 lovely ladies:); then Crash went all my dreams……since all others were mentioned…..BUT as they say, God looks after its innocent brethren….Sunita did not know anybody; Sonal probably knew Sejal since she came in 11th, Huseni was too far off; Sarabjit never returns any calls or attends reunions unless you force yourself into his office, so there I was……..

With a bit of muddling; mis communication about Anjali’s flight, Sejal & Khyati reached quite early at Sun N Sand where anjali was staying too. By the time Sarita (from Colaba) & me (from Lokhandwala) made our way, the ladies had run a riot in the coffee shop…..food, conversation et all was already in the cruise mode. Quickly loading Sarita’s bag into the car, so that we do not forget at the last minute:) we went in & there was chaos…..my personal observation is that only the baggikhana can create so much noise….Prakash (anjali’s husband) smiled from the sidelines; whilst Priyanka her daughter looked stunned for a while, wondering how her prim & propah mamma turned into someone, whom she could not really identify, but guess it was the company.

Whilst, ordering pizzas to continue the food saga, we quickly did away with the photographs (me for proof…..eat your heart out milind, sumir, natu, ajay, PP…..and Sundar…..hum toh aise hi hai, ab tum preach mat karna). With the number of cameras, looked like a photographers convention. Before the Repast

Then the questions & answers started……whilst in no particular order……some people with their wit, charisma took pole position…..

Nitin, Neelam, Sundar, Milind, Jayesh, Natu, PP’s far east travails, everyone’s technological challenges; flitting from 77 to 2008 without worrying about the in between years & YES we concentrated in sharing information (gossiping for the uninitiated) about everyone not present there & our lips are zippered…..

There was curiosity about two reunions, but we swept it under the carpet like those fights 30 years ago & decided to have a blast, reliving the present & future…..However a couple of Q raised by the ladies stumped me & my respectable memory did a Ghajini on me…..Can some one help me pick up the pieces….Sundar, Nitin Wadi, Ajay…..whoever

When did I join BHS?
Which Division was I in till the 10th?
Which Division was I in the 11th & 12th?
Did I opt for Science or Commerce?

During this time, a couple of comments like……you were never seen in BHS; not talkative; quiet….made my day!!!….BHS Boys eat your heart out.

With Time closing past, it veered to when & where do we have our next Reunion…..whilst it may not be feasible for everyone to attend……we decided LONDON…….one of my favorite places, now with Prakash & Hitesh (Sarita’s husband, not met but sounds our kind).

Pushing each other away from the table, making an effort to leave, with the girls having to catch the Baroda flight and my Girls (wife & daughter waiting for the evening party plan) started walking towards the entrance. And here Priyanka made an observations….

You are in control, like to control, are you a Leo…..everyone burst out laughing….Anjali clarified that I was a Saggi….but she was correct, after 20 years of living with a LEO (Nippa my wife for those who have not met); a lot of characteristics have been transferred.  Leave Taking

A couple of snaps outside the hotel & off everyone went……Sarita, Khyati, Sejal to catch the Baroda flight; Me to attend 2 birthday parties & 2 New Year Eve; Anjali & family to relax a while, explore the beach & take the sight seeing the next day of Taj; Trident & all…..similar to what Doc Nene insisted on during his brief visit a couple of weeks back…….

Sumir Patel the man from Greece after having been caught quietly slinking in & out of Mumbai a couple of times in the last 10 months, finally decided to spend a long weekend in Mumbai. Milind was supposed to join him, but his patients & suchitra got the better of him. Though Suchitra & Milind both have promised to spend the weekend of 31st oct - 2 nov in Mumbai, God & Patients willing.

Sumir needed to attend a nice vegetarian kid’s party at Prabhadevi on Sunday 19, 2008 so planned to come in on 18th & leave on 20th. However Ajay Padhye’s presence & a promise of MNDFCK party on 17th made him change his plans. Read the rest of this entry »

On the way to Ahmedabad, took an impromptu decision to stop by Baroda. Called Dilip & Sumir from Surat. Reached Baroda late on Saturday 11, 2008.

Dilip & Sumir were meeting up with Ajay for dinner, so we called up Milind, who insisted that we meet closer to home as he was likely to get delayed; so the venue was decided as Prashant’s residence.

Whilst waiting for milind to join, we started calling up others (hoping that by Baroda standards they were not fast asleep) Tushar, Amar, Dramil, Dharmendra, Anil, so on asking them if they were free to meet up the next day at Sumir’s farm with Dramil being specifically warned not to bring his car. Read the rest of this entry »

On our recent trip to Vadodara had a lovely time arranged by Tushar at his place on Sunday 25th May before leaving the next day for Ambaji. Read the rest of this entry »

Milind as I first saw him:

I had joined BHS from Bombay(nay not mumbai) via Vidya Kunj. Not wearing a uniform on the first day but nonetheless extremely respectably attired in short pants white shirt tucked in. Classes had just begun & in walks a boy - blue shorts with white shirt, buttons having lost their fight with the holes; black belt cinched tight enough for the shorts to go tokyo & the shirt london with the half way tie going back to russia. Grubby shoes with socks thru which a tinge of white was visible, hair flying across the country like a dust cropper plane AND a peti under his left arm dragging the shirt out of the shorts - May I come in Mam - Contractor says - Put your bag & stand outside - The day for Milind Nene had begun - His crush eminently visible on his face & thru the various nudges amongst the young girls & boys, he does so & requests - Can I take my book & listen from outside - Gales of laughter follow this - YES - merrily our man steps outside - this class was probably the last or 2nd last on the right side when you face the canteen - the next 25 odd minutes was my induction into how popular our man was with teachers, students,peons & the little birds, butterflies etc moving around. Read the rest of this entry »

PART I

Your reporter DON reached Baroda (Nay, I refuse to call it Vadodara)on
friday evening after reconfirming that Viresh Dhaiber is also reaching!

12 Noon SATURDAY…… Had received half a dozen calls from everyone;
some like Dilip who enthusiastically wanted to share the burden of
work, whilst Milind refused any assistance.

Manisha wanted to meet early since she had to attend another party…
though I said, What Party!!! I mean there cannot be a bigger & better
party than BAGGIKHANA MEET after 30 years!

Jigisha was not contactable on the nos procured/provided!(acc to milind)

Mona had left of Malaysia! (acc to anil mistry, conveyed to everyone
at 10.45 pm though in the morning & the previous day he said
Panchgani!!! No wonder Geography alongwith all other subjects was a
sore point with him)

Milani Desai nee Anjaria could not make it from Ahmedabad.

The Great Mahavir Incarnate sprained something & was advised bed rest.
(acc to Milind…..Guess who this is & in part 2 shall also reveal why
milind is extremely unhappy at him after 3 decades also)

3 PM SATURDAY…….. Dr. Nene had faithfully collected medicine
required, however the Key medicine was not available in the market
since due to the matches, everybody had started hoarding. Dilip swung
into action, trying practically all the unknown shops, but
unsuccessful.(How I wish I had not listened to both of them & carried
it myself from Bombay like the last 2 times)

A couple of text messages later, Viresh & Amar swung into action,
keeping the faith.

8 PM SATURDAY…….I report at the venue & Guess! Vintage Milind
texts me “Make yourself comfortable, Running an errand back in 10
minutes” A couple of minutes later Sober,worried Jayesh Rathi pulls up
in his car, we introduce ourselves, both wondering if we know each
other. Just as we were thinking of gong in, Another text “The Dog
upstairs is OK, beware of the owner”

Then comes Shashank Patki, as crisply dressed as ever, shirt creases
as if starched again after getting down from the car.

Standing near the porch…..A car made for family driving vrooms &
zooms, braking just a foot…feet away & out jumps the dapper,
debonair & young Dr. Milind Nene!

Followed by a sedate couple of cars……that disgorges amar & viresh
(v. imp with the medicine) Dilip, Satyendra, Anil.

And all of us troop upstairs……where we FACE…..

BARKING.. (supposed welcome by MISHTI - the bengali’s will understand)

followed quickly by Milind’s better half, who has a quizzical smile on
her face as if to question…..1) Are these guys sober, quiet (i speak
for only myself) really milind’s classmates? 2) Who corrupted whom?
3)Looks like a long night!!!

Just as we are settling down with cold/chilled water…in walk
shashank korde; rajan arothe; mukesh; tushar pandya; ajay padhyay.

Every pretends to be on their best behaviour for the next 10-15 minutes.

AND I SHALL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THE BREAK………… ALL HUSH MONEY
FOR & AGAINST REVEALING FURTHER INFORMATION TO BE DEPOSITED IN MY
ACCOUNT……

PART II

8.30 pm To set the record straight the following were now present in
no particular order

Anaggh
Jayesh
Milind
Shashank Patki
Dilip
Satyendra
Anil
Viresh
Amar
Shashank Korde
Rajan
Ajay
Mukesh
Tushar

Finally in his best “Silence, Begin the operation” voice, Milind
questioned – Do we start with phase 1 of the medicine or what ….
Unanimously… Dilip & Milind were voted as the pourers (for those who
are greatly challenged in spite of attending, Mrs. Dhar; Mrs. Rocky
English classes Medicine is Liqour & pourers is bartenders).

Taking a long look at everyone, Milind, myself & dilip decided to go
easy on the liquor. Somewhat luckily…..”Some of the elements pretended
to be saintly citing reasons such as Saturday, ganpati, having given
it up a year ago etc. etc.” enabling us to breathe a sigh of relief.

In order that Sundar & Milind take cognizance for the December Reunion
the following were the Non Drinkers

Shashank Patki – Given up a couple of years ago; but likely to start
by dec thanks to Milind
Shashank Korde – Happy about the days since he does not drink only on
Saturday
Rajan – Abstains during Ganpati
Jayesh – Permanent Abstinence

And the fun begins…….

Some lovely typical barodian dry snacks were served; great salad made
by Mrs. Nene; as also some Chinese samosa (the errand for which Milind
had gone)

The decibel levels had to be believed, with everyone trying to out
shout each other; trying to find out what each one had been upto
during the past 25-30 years; reminding each other of some small
episode that was pertinent to those lovely yesteryears.

Surprisingly, given the fact that out of all the gathered,
Viresh(couple of years) & myself(20 years) having moved away from
Baroda, except a couple of them, none of them have been in touch with
each other.

Conversation moved from the sublime to convenient memory loss. Some of
the topics:

1) Who finally married whom?
2) Who shifted & stays where?
3) Which teachers are where?
4) Some recent moving episodes that happened with……the first & best 2
having happened with Dr. Milind Nene as is always the case….(all
names are being protected, but can be guessed)
a. Trying to establish contact on instructions of Sundar, Milind
landed up at a store run by an old classmate, who unfortunately was
not available. Milind was extremely cordially received offered water,
tea (that amazed him since it exceeded his expectations) After a
couple of minutes he was taken to see where the glass had to be
fitted…..Teaches you that there is no difference in blue collar/white
collar
b. On one of his family outings at Inox saw a great Texan walking with
2 guns towards him, In his honesty gave a broad smile, but to his
extreme shock & disappointment was given the royal ignore both by the
Texan & the lady barodian. (All of us consoled him, that it is ok,
this used to happen to him 30 years ago also, since he has always had
the habit of being at the wrong place & time)
c. Shashank Patki though in a hurry to leave due to a previous family
engagement, also shared his sorrow, that a couple of days earlier, he
had met an old class mate, who refused to recognize him, on the
contrary claimed that shashank was junior to him by a couple of years!
Shashank cried saying “Imagine how this must have carried a STING”

Phew this is heavy writing….. Just taking a wee break & then the
suspense of A; B; C division shall come about…And except for the R & S
commenting….No other alphabets appear to be online…..even the
AATI SUNDER…