Alumini 2017
ALUMNI 2017
My anxiety to attend the meet started 6 months back when the date was
announced by the permanent convenor to the alumni- C F Antony. Two over
enthusiastic members; one from Mumbai,
booked the flight ticket immediately and the other and another from Chennai offered his
Mulanthuruthy house for a full day extravaganza. I kept my emotions under control for the fear
of not being permitted by my four pillars of support-wife and three
children. I feared that they may block
my travel siting health reasons.
When the final bell was chimed for the head count by the convenor, just
two weeks before the date of meet I casually messaged my younger son Johny to
look for the availability of ticket to Cochin and back on 7th and 10th
of July. There were mild protests
whether I can withstand the travel alone.
When I told them that if in doubt, please join me for the two days
outing, they relented, saying Paulose would be there to give company while in
train and thereafter.
I would have opted for a sleeper berth as my maximum comfort level, but
children are generous in making parents more cosy, booked AC sleeper with a
pocketful of money to cover the expenses.
My elder son Tony in NJ instantly
queried the reason for the travel, as his IRCTC booking site is used for
registration therefore email intimation has reached him. My daughter who participated in 2015 event
was happy to know that the meet is
taking place. She is eager to attend the
next meet with two children when they are back in India next year.
When the D day arrived I packed my baggage light for a comfortable
journey and took the suburban train from Wimco Nagar to Central Railway
station. Hope to travel by Metro next year as the tunnelling work is
in progress for linking existing Chennai Metro.
Journey was comfortable, only discomfort time of arrival at at Cochin at
2.30 AM. In the packed cool comfort of compartment, knowing the destination in early hours was a
tough one. Another first time fellow
traveller asked me to wake him up at destination, but was in deep sleep covering his face with
blanket. When the rain reached Cochin I was in a dilemma whom to wake up
because the upper and lower berth fellows covered their face while sleeping.
Train halted at South station at 2.45 AM, a slight drizzle forced me to
sing in the rain. O my God, Sitaram had booked a double room near North
station at walkable distance from the
station and had sent me details of booking in Whatsapp. When I opened the cell
it said ' sorry, image does not exist'.
I could not recall the name of the lodge; made a call to his number, no
response. Four repeated calls: no response.
With no other option tried for a room in the south station locality till
the day is dawned.
Luckily my mobile started ringing, it was Sitaram. What a surprise, he asked where I am, and
when are you reaching the lodge. He had
a calf muscle contraction while turning on bed and had to get up to see the
time. Saw the missed calls on the mobile
and so the call. Thanked God for the
telepathic message to him made the spasm to his calf muscle forcing him to get
up. Explained the way to lodge, the name
and the room number. Thanking almighty I
took an auto from the auto stand and joined him in 20 minutes. Spent the rest
of the morning hours talking and talking filling the gap of 46 years; sleep and
rest was not all that important for two friends seeing face to face after
1971. Confirmed our plan to visit Fort
Kochi, to meet CFA and to trace his childhood roots in Kochi where his father
was a Post Master in the main post office where he resided in the first floor
overlooking KJ Jesudas' residence and Dutch St Francis Xavier's church where
Vasco Da Gama was buried. I was eager to
search for my favourite edible roots,
purple yam and cassava. In
Malayalam ' kachil and kappa.
We got up early, had our breakfast at Ramnivas veg hotel. Both of us settled for puttu and kadalai
filled our stomach to keep hunger at bay till evening. Waited for our bus near
the Town hall bus stop. Bus arrived and
we settled in two nearby seats. The bus
driver like an African Safari contestant took the bus on the bumpy roads like s
of 'Vettel' or 'Lewis Hamilton'. A
person with spondylitis is sure to have his spine strong or disintegrated in a
few days travel. The bus passed through
our Alma Mater, where we bowed our
head. A co passenger wanted whether we
wanted to get down in this stop. Sitaram
proudly responded ' this is where we studied 46 years back.
CFA was eagerly waiting for our arrival. Since I knew the house and
locality very well, politely said no to his wish to pick us up from the bus
stand. We started our exploration
immediately. First visit was Santa Cruz Cathedral where Sam ( 'i' removed from
sami to christen ) had his mavericks with Christian girls of this
locality.
Next we passed through the St
Marys HS where 50 years back his heart throbs stopped his heart beats
briefly. Through the Post office, parade
ground, Bishop house, light house and
the rough sea encroached beach barricaded 'out of bounds for the public' we
walked through the concrete pathway seeing the incoming ship to the harbour LNG
storage tanks and the coast line of Vypeen and Puthuvypu in the back ground.
Then we reached the Chineese fishing
nets. Foreigners were lending their
hands for a selfie or vedio after paying hefty gratis to the permanent workers
in the nets.
In the bus stand three bubbly foreign girls who were getting ready for
the 'took-took travel' ( auto ride) was
seen complaining about their big bums not being accommodated in the narrow
seat. When we reached back CFA's house
after pleasant stroll of nearly two hours morning breakfast digested, were
ready for a lean lunch. Settled for
bread and omlette at home, but who can
make omelette. Sitaram offered his help
to cut the edges of the bread, CFA offered items to make, and I boasted
of my culinary skills in making omlette.
Mrs CFA who was away for a family function was disturbed frequently to
know where the ingredients were kept in the kitchen. First double omelette was a disaster having
forgotten to add salt in the beginning and overcooking due to excess heat. However, Sitaram sacrificed his appetite and
took courage to take the burnt omelette and bread. But our stomachs filled and retired for a
short nap.
Antony Joseph offered to pick us up from CFA's residence and at 5.30
started to the festival. The Venue of
the meeting at “Sylvan Heights' in Kadavanthara a high rise building
housed retired Central Excise and
Customs officers in the lush green locality surrounded by canals and similar
illuminated high rise buildings. Host
Prince E C was ready to receive
us in the terrace of the 12 storey building.
Tables and chairs were arranged
to accommodate the participants.
Mrs and Mr Vijayaraghavan were the first to arrive and within minutes 23
of batch mates arrived. Regulars of the last many meets like Narayanan (Appu),
Capt B K Iyer and Kushal could not attend as they were away from India for
unavoidable reasons have made their appearance through Whastsapp call and
messages.
Kishore as usual lead the Mattancherry group arrived along with
Manoharlal who resembled bhajan singer ' Anoop Jalotta'. Hostess Mrs Prince arrived to give company to
Mrs Vijayaraghavan. Antony Joseph
inaugurated the meeting with a small prayer to our departed colleagues of 1971
batch. Next every one gathered for the
group photo and was instantly sent to their whatsapp account. Someone started comparing the present with
the past. But, many were disappointed to
find them matching or not knowing they were present in the earlier photo at
all. Next drinks of each ones choice
were served, like responsible citizens of Kochi
all were conscious to keep their limits.
Limited themselves to one or two rounds only; though arriving in hired cabs or own cars
with drivers, to escape the hefty fine of drunken driving. Everyone were sorry for Kishore and team who
abstained from food and fruit juice on account of fasting on 'full moon
day'. But they did not stop in
distributing Gujarati delicacies to others.
All others enjoyed the dinner consisting
mainly vegetarian dishes with an addition of chicken gravy for NV lovers
to enjoy with drinks.
Convenors for the next meeting being co opted, Venkatesh took the responsibility and CFA to
assist. Before closing time Thomas made
his surprise appearance, in the
closing time many had departed and therefore missed a photo with him.
Our team was the last to depart and Antony Joseph dropped us in CFA's
residence at
11 PM.
Bidding good night to CFA, retired to the comfortable the first floor
bedroom to my host's house. Had a
peaceful and comfortable sleep, woke up
early in the morning to go to Cathedral Church. In the evening before departing Mrs CFA
arrived to bid me bye with tea delicacy of sweet jackfruit adai cooked in
plantain leaf.
Bye to all till we meet again.
K K Xavier
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