Raindrops falling on our heads

By Rahul Banerji

Raindrops hiss when they hit standing water. Submerged, all you hear is a scattered, random pitter-patter. This – and trees waving in drizzly downpours – would turn out to be the backdrop to two days of partying, gluttony and nostalgia at Wilderness Araanya over September 27 and 28, 2024 when the AFCS Class of 80 congregated at Karjat for a third get-together in four years after Kasauli and Mussoorie.

Sitting here today, an informed guess suggests that most – whether present at Araanya or the ones that were missed – are already counting the days towards the next one.

Two of us – Rohit Goswami and yours truly – had opted for a train to Mumbai ex Hazrat Nizamuddin. My co-traveller further fine-tuned the itinerary as the route was a slightly roundabout one that sideswiped Agra, Gwalior, Bhopal (where our missing dorm-mate Saleem Qureshi has pitched his tent these past few years) and Nashik, so we were able to hop out at Kalyan, just eight short stops away from Karjat on the suburban Central Line.

Having saved at least two hours (Kalyan to Fort and back again) we were practically the first to arrive other than Venkat, who had driven in with the beer supplies from Pune. Awaiting were the new Organising Committee (Nandita, Manish, Shailendra and Kirti) – and makaan malik Sudhanshu Purohit – with marigold garlands and event photographer to chronicle our doings. Others would follow in twos, threes, fours and more till the last attendee had checked in.

Along with the arrivals came the rain which was to be a committed companion for the next two days.

The event has already been recalled in some detail by Vaishali and Dony, so let me add a few notes:

Back in the fold: Chandan Muzumdar returned to Class of 80 activities for the first time in some 14/15 years and it was a pleasure trying to fill in a gap that had lasted for that long. He still stands the tallest amongst us and adorned with Sudhanshu’s Panama topi, could have walked out of a distinguished personages list. The other was Lajwanti Chandani, Lajo to so many of us, and Heena to the others who we all met after 46 years. The decades in between vanished quickly. Welcome back you two and hope to see more of you from now on!

Accommodation: We were distributed across 20-odd spacious cottages on the property, all connected by paved paths that led to the heart of the resort which quickly became Party Central. Complete with pool and a makeshift but well-stocked bar, this is where the 29 would meet ahead of breakfast, lunch or dinner over the next 48 hours.

Each cottage was a destination in itself for the tired or jaded traveller with a massive bed, comfy divan to loll about in, a restroom straight out of a home design magazine paved with stone slabs, punctuated by pearly white pebbles and daytime illumination from skylights above the shower and king-sized bathtub/jacuzzi.

A final touch was the verandah complete with a large lounging chair and little table. My lodgings were along one side of the resort sloping into an overgrown field that received much of the rainwater runoff from the property. I therefore had a personal stream flowing past the front door and sitting on the verandah with a contemplative tea/beer/fag was a simple little act of rejuvenation.

Khaana-peena: Thanks to efficient Shaurya Shetty who oversaw our stay in every aspect along with Sudhanshu and the OC, here are some of the delectables that were curated especially for the reunion. Topping the list for me was the aloo-puri, a delightfully plump and pillowy oil blast that just begged to be repeated. The bhakri-mutton curry combo was another one to remember though a promised lesson in making the super soft chawal ki roti never materialised. The Malwani pomfret, veg kadhi, mirchi paratha, sabudana khichdi, matki usal (a curry of sprouted moth beans), bharli vangi (stuffed brinjal curry), koshimbir (curd salad), knockout green chutneys and sinful lauki ka halwa were for many of us first-time or rare experiences.

Here a special thanks to the young chef, who took time out to understand the strange request to make fritters out of pumpkin flowers that we picked up on the way back from Bhivpuri Falls, and did a mighty fine job of it too despite never having made anything like it before.

Special mentions also for the brownies generously provided by Nita’s daughter and for Lajo’s confectioner son who packed slabs of delicious chocolate that were put away at high speed, not to mention the roughly half quintal of butter bhakervadi she brought along too!!

Gaana-bajana: As always, our host did the main honours with his medleys and nostalgia pieces that kept us on our feet after a saucy hour-long performance by a Lavni troupe. The dance is described on one Google site as a morale-booster for troops as part of its origin and quite a few of our troop certainly had their morales raised by the end.

And then there was our man from Perth, Ravi Grover, with his energetic displays both on the dance floor and the sports area including ripping off press-ups by the dozen after some prompting from the sidelines.

Looking ahead: For 2025, the OC has a new member, the energetic and enthusiastic Vaishali and we look forward to seeing what they come up with. Early bids have been logged for Ooty and Goa, with a third destination in Central India as the current outsider. Whichever way it goes, the OC has made a terrific start with Karjat 2024 and we all look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

And in closing a word of appreciation for those who launched this reunion initiative all those years ago and kept an extremely diverse and opinionated group more or less on the same page.

Well done, guys!!