12th Jan 2015 – 18th Jan 2015 [Khandala]

 

11^th Sun: If one looks around, you find many people as owners of Bunglows and exotic properties. But do they enjoy it?

Mona knows how to enjoy ‘Bunglow’ life. Most of the people buy Bunglow for snob value. They move around in circles where you have to say, ‘I have a Bunglow…..blah..blah…blah’. They hardly spend time there, leaving the property for servants to enjoy. For those people, real holiday is going out of country or relaxing in 5 star environments in posh location in India. 

Good thing about Mona is that she enjoys the brief stays at her Bunglow, taking time out from daily grunge of life. She will take care of minor things, ligting that corner, reparing that section, do gardening during her routine visits. For her, if Bunglow is not laced with latest luxuries, it is ok, but all comfortable living gadgets should work in perfect condition. Be it boiler, TV, micro wave or flood lights. Then when she is satisfied with appearance of Bunglow, she will invite few guest one at a time. She is very particular about appearance, comfort, food etc. This week, she has camped at her Bunglow for six days with Shobha / Dimpi / Ananya [three generations] and send invitations to all. We were accepted as first guests on Sunday for overnight stay. Rest of chawla sister with follow, one by one.

I had during this stay, one mission, click Ananya’s picture. Sweet, ‘Shant’ kid, born to Indian Sindhi couple, settled in UK. In London, she is surrounded by her parents only. And in Khandala she was surrounded by 10 people, pampering her, pestering her, drawing her attention, but she only stuck to her mother and ‘Nani’ like a glue. She is programed in such a way that every 10 minutes, her body will automatically turn in her mother’s direction, wherever she is, and grab her!

On Sunday night, Kashyap and myself played with lights for photography experiments. Dhwani has not started to glow, so this experiment with her in glowing lights is presented here. Soon, glowing Dhwani's will adore this space. 

 Next day was Photo Shoot day of Ananya, which eveyone enjoyed fully. I kept clicking, Dimpi kept changing her dresses, Shobha kept running after her, Muskan & Pashu kept giving her posing instructions. This must be first Khandala visit when Pashu and Muskan happily allowed Ananya to over shadowed them as photo subject.

 

Mona had planned ‘Lal Loi’ for the evening. Excellent climate, Family in attendance, A baby full of joy, superlative food by Mona, no pollution, no noise, no TV, no mobile.

What else can you demand from life?

Akshay & Muskan are having Gala time, on Monday they returned from two days weekend(?) from Khandala and again they were off to Lonavala for Saturday – Sunday weekend, this time with Pinakin and Payal Chandan with twins in tow from Mumbai. Chandan Family of Sindhi Building, Ghatkopar is still deeply attached with us. On off we keep talking about them and are in loop vai our kids. Kashyap – Dhwani drop in Ghatkopar, to have lunch with Illa and enjoy playing with Pinakin’s twins, thus life rolls on.

One more Dodeja wedding preparations are on. This is going to be in Hydrabad or if boy side agree in Mahableshwar. Most of the guest from our side will be from Mumbai – Ahemdabad and Pune. This is confirmation of generation shift. If Dada was first generation in India, the current lot of boys and girls getting married is fourth generation! i.e. great grandchildren of Lokram Pessumal Dodeja. First great grand child to get married was Neha in 2004.

 

by P G Dodeja

17th March 2014 – 23rd Mar 2014 [Holi Ke Rang]

 

A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on.  ~Carl Sandburg

Rang Barse……

We started from Wanwadi, ‘Aaramsee’. Akshay has started cycling towards Khandla from 6.30. So we expect him to reach his destination by 12 O’clock. In Xylo we were only 3 members and we have to make many stops in route to Khandala. Office -  Bakers Pride – Daimond Bakery – Pimple Saudagar – Medical Store – Krshna Kunj. As the topography of Pune is changing very fast, I missed one turn, this extended our driving time by 30 minutes.

 

Ready for Holi, with different hair colors!

Mona had planned this event and was highly tensed up, according to my sources.

 However, I was sure that we will all enjoy, simply because we were meeting after many years for Holi. All in all we were more then 25 souls, some carrying bad feelings, some carrying new feelings, some carrying nervous energies, some carrying holiday mood, some carrying stars in eyes and some carrying nostalgia in heart.  

Our lunch was planned at Prakash Chawla’s Bunglow. It must be more then 10 - 15 years that I got the chance to eat Lunch made by Bhabhi. She is typically Sindhi lady (though she would disagree), very good in cocking 'Kari-Chawar'. The best item she cocks still now is ‘Dahi Wada’s’ Wow. I was busy clicking pictures of new generation. Mehak – Mehar – Rohan and new member Aarti, Kunals fiance. Just as we were getting into a productive streak, lunch was announced. And I left my camera behind and attacked dinning table.

Evening was spent in clicking the newly engaged couple, Kunal & Aarti. Narang family is still joint family, living right in middle of Mumbai’s most glamorous, materialistic society. So this new edition in family will have to understand this unique position and join the family. She is showing already the strong sense of possessiveness towards Kunal. He is enjoying that extremely, happy and content. Everyone is sounding various opinion on her, and I find it very difficult to form an opinion based on brief meeting and Hi – Hello on a social meet. Extremely difficult.

Lonavala has grown into a modern township from a laid back, weekend town. All kids wanted to go out for coffee and some snacks. We started for one 'Dhaba', Sunny said, we will have to return from there as the waiting period will be more than 60 minutes! Next alternative was go to Multiplex! Lonavala today boasts of 3 screen multiplex with more than 11 different restaurants! And can you believe the ‘Cream Center’ where girls wished to eat also had waiting period of 45 minutes in a Mall! So all who were hungry have to settle for pizza – pasta -  coffee – Pav Bhaji dinner.

Holi day,started with Mahek – Mehar – Myself getting busy filling the balloons with water. Ravi soon reached Khandala for Holi. Ravi – Bhabhi – Pammy – Bindiya – Khoshboo –Mehak – Mehar – Rohan, all formed a party of DO NOT TOUCH ME. I had other ideas, but was not sure if that will be accepted or I should pester them. 

So I started without color with Mehak – Maher. I have to run after young and energetic Ravi, just to come within striking distant of ‘pitchkari’. I failed in my first attempt, he was very fast.

Holi started earnestly with throwing of Akshay – Muskan in Swimming pool.  Akshay with Muskan was in swimming pool most of time. Muskan brought her oil jar, skin cleaning solutions etc and kept applying it. Sunny and myself were busy applying color and rest were busy removing it. 

This Holi I had planned to use Bhang in big way. But, my idea of Bhang failed. Bhabhi did make separate portion of ‘Thandai’ with Bhang. I drank half glass with no reaction. Khushbo drank one full glass with no effect.

 Rest I used as Holi color. Because whom so ever I was offering, some joy killer will come and warn, ‘Do not drink this, Jiju has added Bhang in it.’ Holi continued with series of No-No by victims, followed by ‘Lepa Poti Rang Ke’, in reaction of "LepaPoti' a dip in swimming pool. This process continued to my satisfaction. Mona was insisting on organic colors, whereas I have bought standard 5 kg color Gulal, After some time she also started using routine color, as organic color is good for pics only, not for Holi.

Best part was, when I would apply color on Aarti, Kunal will feel bad about it and will get busy in cleaning her face. And it was visa versa when color was applied to Kunal. So during this Holi, both newly engaged love birds were inseparable.       

 After Holi, may be some residue effect of Bhang made me confront Pammy in big way. I harassed her consistently for not playing Holi, so much that at one point, I was sure she was going to give her tongue lashing. Poor girl managed to control herself.  I was cajoled by her mother, who was enjoying this Pammy bashing to extreme. Even Dilip who stays away from all this banter, took me aside, and said, ‘If you are feeling so bad about her not applying color, please do so now.’

I replied ‘Wrong, I am feel more good by harassing her. When will I, get such opportunity again?’’

With Pashu not participating earnestly, Bhabhi / Vishal coming very late, Prakash feeling like vomiting, Pinky clicking picture, Mona all tensed up, Sona protecting her kids, Tina devoting her time to Rohan, No one in mood for dancing, so, we ended our Holi by 2.30.

It was one of those balanced enjoyable Holi, good, but could have being great celebration.  

 

by P G Dodeja