Free love ... oops food!

Meeting B is always a pleasure, plus it was her birthday which meant free food and lots of laughter. She had sent me her address, but I still called up from the station. Pulse picked up and gave me directions (I thot it was B... they both sound so alike!). Somewhere near her house I asked a shopkeeper if he knew the chowk. He wanted to know which building I wanted to go to and also guessed which floor in that building I was going to! With such precise directions, I couldn't lose my way... so I landed up at the right house (and B thought I had a great sense of direction).

It was only 5:45pm and I was the first one to arrive and B was still getting ready (Pulse said that she was doing shringaar and all... which I can't believe about B). Pulse, who had arrived from Trinidad about a month ago said that she definitely loved India better than West Indies. While I sat chatting with B's mom and sis, she trooped out with a snake curled around her head which turned out to be a towel wrapped around her hair. We then sat discussing books, yoga and clothes over a cup of tea. A little while later Yogi arrived with his wife. It was his birthday too and he had come to click some pictures with B. He had to hurry back to a party at his house. Ro arrived with two cakes which B and Yogi cut to our besura singing of "Happy Birthday". Meanwhile B's eldest sis Padma arrived... just in time for some cake. Pulse wanted to demonstrate how bad the vodafone network is and called Padma's number while sitting in the same room with her. She got a message that the network was busy which she said was what she heard whenever she called Padma. Ro suggested maybe that was her caller tune! Padma vehemently denied it, but I think that surely might be the case :)

Then M arrived we clicked some more crazy pics and attacked the food (which obviously was the main attraction). There was puri, shrikhand, mattar-paneer (for the vegetarians), tomato rice and chicken curry. I overate and couldn't have dessert (I really regret it now B).

It was 10pm and unfortunately I had to leave since I had a long way to go.

Paani outside and inside

Since Chrys' cousin was here from Ahmedabad, we both decided to drop in at Dil's(another cousin) house to catch up with him. Dil has a pet now called Cookie. She used to be a quiet one till the last time we went there. But this time she decided to greet us with a boisterous bark. I stay frozen at the doorway till I was assured that she was tied up. After a nice lunch of prawns, dal and rice and a little rest, we decided to go to Firangi Pani. Now, getting everyone ready was the most difficult part. It was raining cats and dogs outside and everyone was feeling lethargic. Chrys and I were ready first since we wanted to reach there before all tables are taken. However Dil and Rus were of the opinion that a night out cannot begin before 10:30 pm. While Rus took his time to take a shower, Dil changed three different outfits to match her shoes, before deciding on something totally different.

Thankfully when we reached Firangi Pani it wasn't crowded. The rain seemed to have kept everyone away. A couple of friends joined us later. The music had started getting louder by then, so conversations were limited to a "Hello". I decided not to drink, but Chrys kept ordering pitcher after pitcher of beer. It was only the third time that Rus was drinking, but he assured us that his stomach was strong enough to take it. Dil wanted to order a long island iced tea and asked the waiter to make some modifications in it (don't add tequila, add only a drop of vodka, etc). The waiter looked totally lost, so I advised her to order a martini or something. She ordered an apple martini and then promptly went ahead finding faults in it (too much vodka, too sweet, too much lime). Several iterations and combinations followed before the waiter decided to ignore her totally.

Meanwhile Chrys and I were speculating how the fat middle aged man and his skimpily clad companion sitting on another table were related. We concluded that she was a struggling starlet and he was the casting couch.

After a few drinks everyone except me decided to hit the dance floor. At first Chrys was reluctant, but after guzzling down several mugs of beer, he joined it. It was fun watching every one's drunken moves. It was closing time and the waiter gave us the bill. But nobody wanted to stop dancing. Eventually when the music was stopped and all drunken rowdies were being bundled out, we paid and left after 1 am. Evidence that both Chrys and Rus were sloshed was given when Chrys uttered some nonsense and Rus couldn't stop giggling. The next day's hangover is worthy of another post altogether.