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Different Stroke! |
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I was very delighted when Guru (my colleague) called-up to invite for his daughter. I readily said "Yes, I am coming! " . Then I planned my journey to Nottingham, in the north of London. There were few more colleagues to join me. |
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This is very different update amongst those posted till now. This doesn't talk about long roads, deep forests or high mountains. This is all about homes! Yes, the family life that I experienced recently when I went to attend the birthday of my colleague's daughter. |
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We reached Amar's (my colleague who lives next to Guru and is alone in his two BHK apartment) place on Friday night. Guru asked to come home for dinner, but we decided not to bother him at 12:00 in the night. Next day morning, we went to wish his daughter in the morning. The house was nicely decorated with birthday balloons. Prithi, the birthday girl, was playing there. She is very cute. Bhabhi (Guru's wife) welcomed us. I was feeling very homely there. Then we had breakfast. You may feel that is it really worth mentioning about breakfast? But think again, it's been around four months; I have not had home-cooked food. For me it was feast! And the food was really delicious! Soon after the breakfast we started off to visit the city center. We wanted to buy a gift for Prithi. We found a useful toy laptop computer and got it gift-wrapped! By the time we reached home in the evening, Bhabhi had nearly finished all the preparations for the party. Her friend had come to help her out. It was the first time in UK, I saw women working in the kitchen and Men sitting out and watching TV! Trust me, it simply doesn't happen here.. |
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Within a short time, all the guests arrived and the party started. It was an Indian get-together. There were choices of best of india receipies. The great Curd rice from South India and Gulab Jamun and Chhola bhatura to represent North India! And same thing about the people; everyone was from different geographical location. But all were Indians. Not everyone from was from IT. One was doctor, other a HR and one guy was doing PhD. All married. All had got their children along and it was a houseful of children. They were playing, fighting, crying and doing everything to make most of it. I was the official photographer of the event and I tried to capture all the moods in the camera. |
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Prithi was going to be 3 this time and she was quite excited. She looked very happy to receive gifts! One guy (Guru's friend) had brought is Mom and Dad along with him. These elderly people, too, enjoyed a lot! He then invited all of us to his place the next day for Lunch and to see the India-Srilanka cricket match. Without a little thought, I agreed to him. And so did others. I was very happy. The second day also we were going to be home! |
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We got ready early in the morning (by 12:30 PM) the next day. We reached that persons home at 1:00 PM. The area he lives-in, is dominated by Muslim community and was something as seen in the movie "East is East " . The house, too, was no exception!. But everyone in the family truly reflected the warm Indian Hospitality! They greeted every one of us with great joy. We all sat in the hall, watching the match. It was great experience as everyone was shouting for every run Srilanka scored and cheered when Indians got wicket. The house was turned into stadium. Soon we started enjoying lunch. That was a great south-Indian cuisine! We had curd rice, Lemon rice and some subji. I ate like anything there. The food was just too good. Meanwhile, the match was abandoned due to heavy rains. I was very much disappointed; Not for losing the match; but for missing the Indian dinner! It was so sad. We had no excuse to sit there for another 3-4 hrs till dinnertime. We sadly said goodbye and left. |
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Amar then suggested visiting "National Ice center ". I too, wanted to see it as I missed it in my last trip to Nottingham. National Ice center is meant for ice sports like ice-skating and ice hockey. When there are no matches, this ice stadium is open to public for Ice-skating at nominal charges. Me, Bala, Amit and Amar went in for skating. I hired inline ice skates. Skating has been my passion since childhood. I made three rounds to the stadium when others could hardly manage to stand! There were around 150 guys on the floor doing skating. It was fun as I got to dance on the best pop-numbers played on hi wattage speakers installed there. I was sweating even though I was standing on the tough ice ground. Skating takes lot of energy and I had no practice since long. But I enjoyed it to my fullest. It was great fun indeed. |
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We left Ice center at 5:00 PM and took a nap at Amar's place before going to Guru's place to say good-bye. We finally left Nottingham at 9:00 PM. That was the end of my Homely-Weekend. |
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Certainly, it was a different stroke in my bachelor life in London! |
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Regards, |
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Rahul Naodhar |
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(Thursday, 3rd Oct 2002/ London) |
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