Monday, November 16, 2009

A sabbath day

First, I must share with you the picture taken by Hasnain at the Church of those 59ers who came ON TIME for the photo session.



Annikki will get very angry with the title, as to her the only Sabbath is Saturday! However, I am using it metaphorically, as I could not blog on Sunday because at Alibagh i did not have access to internet.

Mika, Annikki and I chose to go by car. For Mika to step onto the ferry would have been very difficult. We left at 08:30 and reached Alibagh at 11:15, well ahead of the guys and gals on the ferry. We went to Viney's place, where he and Purnima had moved his mother and sister to town to allow us to stay in their home.

Annikki and I fell in love with their home.

Our first event of Sunday was at the home of Madhu Kapur. What a heavenly place, so futuristic that only our Ashok could have dreamt of a house like this one. All our thoughts were of our dearest friend. All of us could feel his presence amongst us.



The infinity pool had my hair standing on end. The bathtub on the verandah in the bedroom was outrageous! The snacks and the food were simply ravishing. It was great to meet Ashok's daughter and her husband and Ashok's son and his wife.

Madhu was a perfect hostess, aided by Suchita and Shivi and Ashok's two children and their spouses. They had all struggled to get the place ready for our get together.

We especially remembered Pamela in London who was celebrating her birthday on this day.

After the lunch and a short rest, we went to the Sai Inn Resort, where many of our colleagues were staying. We had a session where everyone had a chance of introducing themselves. Some of the info was fascinating. How I wished people had sent in this info to Annikki to include in the Coffee Table Book.

Back home to change and then to the Ruia's place for our second major Alibagh event. Another outstandingly beautiful home and beautiful garden, with a lovely lawn and an open air dance floor.

Amla, Ashok and Anil, had done everything themselves along with their team of helpers. All in house! My thoughts here went out especially to Anil, who must have been wishing that his dearly beloved, Madhu, could have been with us.

I saw Amla individually supervise every small detail. What a lady. All the time, even under the greatest of pressure, she looked as cool as a cucumber. She reminded me so much of my late mother, who, even when the world was crumbling around her, would never get flustered. Ashok has been blessed with a wonderful partner.

The evening was great entertainment and fantastic food. Each snack and dish was labelled after a participant - a very novel idea - but just imagine - over 50 different dishes.

The atmosphere was unique as a special Master of Ceremonies kept the evening buzzing with games and music. Ashok had organised for everyone to have their photograph taken and a framed copy with the event to be prepared on the spot.


Jangoo gets a head massage while Robert waits his turn
and Armeane is getting in line!


There was a massage room where many were able to enjoy a foot or head massage by experts. What organisation! No wonder Phoenix High Street is such a success!

The new house and garden are a spectacle. There is a meditation room for as many as a thousand people. A garden unique in itself. Beauty unsurpassed, as we imagined how wonderful this would be when it was completed.

After a superb vegetarian meal followed by a sheaf of deserts, it was sadly time to draw things to a close. We returned, all, to our respective places for the night and ready for another day of comradeship.

What glorious reunion it has been, and one hoped that it would never end.

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