Sweet 60
25.3.2013, Mumbai
As you turn 60 Sheeya, your gang of friends presents you a bouquet of sweet sour memories...
Cynthia remembers you in a flap skirt and T shirt sipping tea in SIES canteen…
Tabi in a crisp sari draped over a sleeveless blouse squatted on the marble steps of KC College…
Sarita recalls your romance with Johnny and marriage at a local church…
Bharati cracks up imitating your mother’s attempt to converse with her in Hindi at the Big Boy shop…Once on a winter morning in Atlanta Bharti went shopping with your mom and another friend and all three got lost in separate directions.
I have memories of you mistaking dhoklas served at my Kings Circle home for fried fish and shocking her mother…I remember you driving all the way to New York to take me home with you to Atlanta.
I remember a crazy dinner at a seaside restaurant when we saw the sun dipping into the water…Next morning; you took me to church and asked her not to follow you to the priest. But I did foolishly and unknowingly received Communion...
Then Urmila was Baby…Sarita was Sarrta…Bhakti was Tabi…Cynthia was Cynthu…Bharati was BP… and you were Sheeya…!! Those were days of 8 Ltd buses, 8.40am and 1.40 pm local trains, 25 paisa tea glass and Rs 3.50 for non veg samosas. Then we were forever hungry and forever broke, forever anxious and forever joyous…!.
They say memories were frozen into time but as I write this I discover that the fragrance of our friendship over the decades is intact. Milestone birthdays are reminders of our weak and strong moments, happy/ sad images of sepia days…
We remember how you loved painting your toe nails and relished your monthly facials at the beautician. You loved idlis and generously soaked them into a plate full of sambbar and savored every bite. You had favourite expressions and they were so characteristic you.
Whenever any of us purchased or wore something attractive, you gave an appraising look and whispered ‘Giving…?’ When you wished to tease us about our indulgences you said ‘Rich people…’ and when you were disappointed with outcome of events you merely sighed and said ‘Sad yaar…’
At an age when it was easy to follow the herd you had the moral courage to stand apart.
You were the first to protest our idling time at Hotel Ritz and set an example by staying away. You were against splurging on taxis and mastered the art of expertly traveling by public transport by hopping into buses that brought you closer to destination.
Then, we thought you were crazy. Today I feel it is an innovative technique to not just travel but lead life.
If we take one step at a time there is always a solution to every problem. We don’t need taxis for short cuts when we can hop into innumerable buses and reflect on our journey of life…
Love from the gang.
Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com
25.3.2013, Mumbai
As you turn 60 Sheeya, your gang of friends presents you a bouquet of sweet sour memories...
Tabi in a crisp sari draped over a sleeveless blouse squatted on the marble steps of KC College…
Sarita recalls your romance with Johnny and marriage at a local church…
Bharati cracks up imitating your mother’s attempt to converse with her in Hindi at the Big Boy shop…Once on a winter morning in Atlanta Bharti went shopping with your mom and another friend and all three got lost in separate directions.
I have memories of you mistaking dhoklas served at my Kings Circle home for fried fish and shocking her mother…I remember you driving all the way to New York to take me home with you to Atlanta.
I remember a crazy dinner at a seaside restaurant when we saw the sun dipping into the water…Next morning; you took me to church and asked her not to follow you to the priest. But I did foolishly and unknowingly received Communion...
Then Urmila was Baby…Sarita was Sarrta…Bhakti was Tabi…Cynthia was Cynthu…Bharati was BP… and you were Sheeya…!! Those were days of 8 Ltd buses, 8.40am and 1.40 pm local trains, 25 paisa tea glass and Rs 3.50 for non veg samosas. Then we were forever hungry and forever broke, forever anxious and forever joyous…!.
They say memories were frozen into time but as I write this I discover that the fragrance of our friendship over the decades is intact. Milestone birthdays are reminders of our weak and strong moments, happy/ sad images of sepia days…
We remember how you loved painting your toe nails and relished your monthly facials at the beautician. You loved idlis and generously soaked them into a plate full of sambbar and savored every bite. You had favourite expressions and they were so characteristic you.
Whenever any of us purchased or wore something attractive, you gave an appraising look and whispered ‘Giving…?’ When you wished to tease us about our indulgences you said ‘Rich people…’ and when you were disappointed with outcome of events you merely sighed and said ‘Sad yaar…’
At an age when it was easy to follow the herd you had the moral courage to stand apart.
You were the first to protest our idling time at Hotel Ritz and set an example by staying away. You were against splurging on taxis and mastered the art of expertly traveling by public transport by hopping into buses that brought you closer to destination.
Then, we thought you were crazy. Today I feel it is an innovative technique to not just travel but lead life.
If we take one step at a time there is always a solution to every problem. We don’t need taxis for short cuts when we can hop into innumerable buses and reflect on our journey of life…
Love from the gang.
Bhawana Somaaya/ www.bhawanasomaaya.com
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