Goa with Raos

Me and gajju went on a trip to goa in January 2006 on his recommendation
I cannot plan a holiday on my own.Goa was never in my list, it is a place we visit casually and it is the place we have visited the most , so there was all kind of reluctancy and hesitations when Gajju suggested this place , and i later realised his reasons for doing so .
Somehow Gajju and I , the Twain , met and we decided to go to Goa.
In todays time , you are considered a good , responsible, loving family man,only if you take your family out 3 to 4 times in a year on vacation , whether you can afford it or not . I fall short of this consistently year after year . I wanted to be as good as Gajju and so was catching on the opportunity and had agreed to spend obscene amount of money on a Goa trip.
Bookings were done by Gajju with our constant reminders to keep the budget in mind .
My constant cribbing for budgetted holiday must have been difficult on Gajju but he had committed and was not in a position to fall short of his commitment .." as they say ' looking good makes you powerless' and Gajju LOOKED GOOD ".
Both me and Gajju tried persuading our friend Ashish to join us but he didnot. We without Ashish are incomplete but for Ashish to travel with us... he has to plan it, he doesn't believe in following on others plan.
The Raos reached the airport good 45 minutes after us and made us understand that they were the seasoned travellers and we were lesser than that .
But we were committed to have fun , as we were spending a lot of money , so we enjoyed those 45 minutes having fun with each other , inspite of all the anxiety of being ticketless at the airport and the fear of we missing the flight .
The Raos emerged and the size of their bags was another proof of us being lesser travellers , our bags were smaller and qualified to be carried as cabin baggage , we were carrying the bare essentials for a 3 day stay and they were carrying stuff with which they could settle down in Goa for good .
Looking at our bags ,anyone would have said we were travelling separately and were heading for different places , else how would one justify two families going to the same place , same number of days but so different baggages .Another proof of we being lesser travellers and under prepared for our vacation .I looked at Seema and thought , ' only if she had the wisdom that Beba had '.
I was sure the Raos are going to have more fun then us , they came late , they had bigger bags and were so casual in their behaviour . Travelling by plane and being at the airport was like going to bus stop and catching a BEST bus for them, yeh nahin toh doosri le lenge , unlike us , it was a major event in our lives , there was excitement , adventure and we were cherishing every moment of it .
Their entry was like, nothing short of , Page 3 personality and we were the ones who read them and see them on Page 3 and we were delighted being with them for the next 3 days and will get a glimpse of their lifestyle .
To prove my reach in Goa i had instructed my friend Girish to receive us at the airport and if possible to arrange a vehicle for us at the airport .
But my middle class values got another pleasant surprise , Gajju had arranged for a SUV and had people holding placards with our names on it .Girish and his indica went unnoticed. .
Seema and kids too hopped into the SUV . They were too attracted to good things Gajju was providing .So human .
There were certain things Gajju was very clear of :
First----- no travel by cheap airlines or train
Second---- no stay in ordinary hotels
Third------ holidays should not have any budget.
After 45 minutes drive from the airport we reached Calngute and started our search for CSM - Colonia Santa Maria . A boutique hotel with a beach.
All of us liked the place and were unanimous that we stay there.
Gajju , inspite of referring his numerous stay in this hotel , could not manage to get us a room .
At last, my friend Girish was of some value to us and he managed to get us a room in another hotel but in the same compound and of the same ambience . His being local came handy as the girl at the reservations could relate with him and considered us living in midst of white skinned foreigners.
The hotels in Goa are not comfortable with people who swim in their pools or beaches with their salwar kameez , denims and tees , kurtas or in their 3/4th pants and for most of us these are swimming costumes . We believe in over dressing whether its pool or wedding. Anyways , the kids were excited they were getting to play in the pool , beach and the sea. Women were happy to see shapely men for a change and their glee was so evident , despite their best attempt to hide it .I was overjoyed seeing my family happy .
Gajju had his past experience about the place and so was keen on staying there. Another thing that I noticed as we entered CSM was , Gajju hiding himself behind dark sunglasses so that his other reasons for staying there got camouflaged and could not be read by others.
WE all entered the allotted room with our luggage . The cottage had two rooms . a bedroom and a sitting room. I was delighted that we were saving money and were also to stay together.
My happiness shortlived , Gajju organized a better and bigger room and that too in CSM the next day at some distance so that we could not see them , hear them and disturb them .
Gajju’s perception of holidaying together was to meet occasionally , staying separately ,and eating separately . Live separately and Let Live separately .
He would have had his way but Bhai was a spoil sport in his scheme of things , Bhai wanted to have all the fun with Shruti and Pari ..
Our next three days were very memorable , kids were having loads of fun , women were relaxing ,Gajju had hired a masseur permanently . All of us meeting at the breakfast buffet as it was the cheapest option to eat to your hearts content .
Gajju spent most of his time on the beach wearing his dark sun glass and seeing the kids play in sand and water and giving us instructions in between to take care of the kids without getting up from the bed laid on the beach , else he would have missed out observing the scantily dressed women thru the lens of his sun glass . This observation was an occupational necessity for him , you never know when a creative person might have to recreate the previous experiences and observations. It was a forbidden fruit for me though.
We were having great fun in our respective ways . On the third day of our stay we decided to cut short our trip and return back against the wishes of Bhai ,Shruti and Pari.
Gajju made few frantic calls to his agent for air tickets , the cost at which he organized those tickets are only known to him and I have not asked him about it till date. My middle class values have taught me not to practice certain virtues if they cost you .
In the end it was a wonderful holiday for me as I remember every moment of it even after 2 years.
I have forgotten the money spent but the memories of this vacation all of us will cherish eternally .




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maine Lahore nahin dekhya...

An eclectic group had decided to travel to Lahore via Waga border. As we always do this time too we surrendered to our trip planner Ashish to make plans and take decisions on our behalf which otherwise he would have done any which way.
Ashish, Gajraj, me and our families were few members of this eclectic group rest were not disclosed to us by Ashish. Ashish was to perform in a theatre festival in Lahore and we were getting an opportunity to visit a land that was part of India.. exciting, adventurous.
Exciting and adventurous because I was playing blind, I had no clue when were we going, how were we going and who all were going with us but nevertheless we were going to Lahore. Preparations were on I had to choose between Lahore and Nagpur and choice was obvious everyone suggested Lahore is once in a lifetime opportunity Nagpur can happen anytime, though it had not happened in 43 years of my life.
Among many uncertainities there was one thing certain and that was the uncertainity of gajju's departure with us, as always there were apprehensions and sceptism... which way gajju would head.. with us or not with us. He works double hard to find work around the date of departure if not work then he works harder to find excuses... this time he included Beba aswell in scheming and had made sure that this excuse will last atleast for couple of years. Gajju and Beba are going to be parents 2nd time and Ashish is frustated and angry with him cause he can't force himself on Gajju under these circumstances.
My dilemma to choose between Nagpur and Lahore continued and so did the uncertainities thanks to both Ashish n Gajju. For a month I had only two questions to them... are we going? are you coming?
To play safe I had made travel reservations for both Nagpur aswell as Lahore.
Got a frenetic call from Ashish a day prior to our departure to Amritsar to book tickets for all of us for the next morning first flight as we had to cross Waga border a day prior then he had assumed. I did as instructed, no question asked, booked all the tickets cancelled all my previous reservations. Later I distinguished that the very thought of going to Lahore had made me abundant, all the reservations were made on my credit card... or was it designed by Ashish to be that way?
On the eve prior to our departure we all met to celebrate Beba's birthday, lots of food , lots of fun and lots of camaraderie and bonding happened between all of us for the first time I sensed that Gajju may not come. One more time I asked him are you coming and he assured me that he certainly would try to come directly to Lahore, but this time I could hear clearly that he had no intentions, this was a birthday cum farewell dinner to all going to Lahore.
Next morning as always I, Seema and kids were ready on time standing down in our complex waiting for Ashish to come... once again forgetting that Sharma's and Vidyarthi's live in different time zones. Malad is good 40 minutes behind Andheri.
We all reached Delhi and both the families headed to meet their respective relatives and friends and were to meet again in the evening to take our next flight to Amritsar. Ashish had made this plan too... as it was convenient.
Late in the evening we checked in our hotel rooms and after a while we all went to Golden Temple for darshan, was visiting a serene place after very long time and enjoyed being there. The memories of operation blue star came alive. From there we drove around the city and came to Natyashala where EKJUTE had performed a play in the evening and we all were travelling to Lahore together. Few other members of the eclectic group were there,we had our dinner with Tom Alter, Juhi Babber, Nadira ji and members of her troupe.
Next Morning we were to get up early at 5 am to revisit Golden Temple and to have breakfast in some quaint street of Amritsar, though not aligned but we gave in to Ashish's wish and agreed to be ready by 5 am. We woke up late but were ready by 6 am and Seema was extrermely worried of the consequences of being late, she was worried that Ashish would be upset as we had missed the early morning prayer at Golden Temple, but our prayers at Golden Temple the previous night saved us and came to our rescue, Vidyarthis too didn't get up... Ashish was calm and didn't say a word. Seema is intrigued why Ashish bhai didn't say anything to me on being late.She is yet to discover .
We met Kewal, theatre actor and director in Amritsar, my brief encounter with him has left some great memories. the first half of the day was spent with him. We had early morning tea at Gyani's Moochmarod Tea centre,a must visit,if you are in Amritsar, we went to Jalianwala Baug, breakfast was chole puri and gur ka sheera, Amritsari lassi with dollop of white butter follwed and lunch was with Nadiraji and members of her troupe. From there we headed to Attari to see the Retreat Parade at Waga border. The atmosphere was electric, the BSF soldiers and Pakistani rangers jointly showcase a parade for 5ooo people on either side to the chants of Hindustan Zindabad and Jiyi Jiyo Pakistan. Our contingent had harried time, Ashish asking us to pose for photographs and the soldiers asking us not to get up from our seats. Thanks to Ashish's popularity amongst the BSF we were given the best seats and were invited for tea by the BSF Commandent and the kids were shown mortars and sophiscated guns, we could shake hands with Pakistani rangers and touch their land and feel their air. Travelling with Ashish entitled us these additional benefits.
From Waga we headed back to amritsar and came to Durgiana Temple followed by dinner n jalebis.
We returned to hotel with all the excitement as tomorrow was the day scheduled for our crossover to Pakistan. Everyone went to sleep except me,as disaster was waiting to happen. I fell down in the bathroom and tore a ligament or had a serious sprain.
Morning I realised that my foot was in bad condition and I could not walk. Ashish was preparing to leave and I was confined to my bed.
All the excitement and joy had disappeared from Seema,Shruti and Pari's face. They had sensed that our Lahore trip was over. We all bid adieu to Ashish,Pilu and Mowgly, the door bell rang and a man from the travel desk had come with our tickets to Delhi by evening flight.
As our flight took off I remembered Ashish saying all the time" jinne lahore nahin vekhya, woh janmya nahin". The Sharmas were so close to reincarnation but were aborted.