Cafe 34 - Awesomeness from Heart

Cafe 34 - Masti that never Ends 

Just thought of writing this and showing my true feelings for the group which was formed at a time when it was much needed. “Café 34” for all my references in future for the group will be Café 34.

I being consultant keeps travelling to places for so called consulting, but actually either it is forced travel or becoming a prey to circumstances. But this time coming to Ahmedabad, I will call it as my decision. 

I don’t know if I have now crossed the time when I just take decisions and make it right…

Nevertheless, I always find people with whom I gel so much that rest of the things seldom matters (Touchwood, I am very lucky in that aspect).The journey of such a wonderful time begins when I joined a project in Ahmedabad and came to stay in guest house where my first encounter was with Prudhvi, with whom I have learned being Solution Architect, since that day he has his own thoughts and has become famous for thoughts only. He can think sitting over commode, under shower and even eating food.

I was introduced to Nitin virtually when Prudhvi was talking about him, I will not comment here why virtually but he has become the Jaan (u can take it as Jaam also) of the group later.

With limited people to talk here, I was getting moved away with my decision. I use to sit and speak to Prudhvi when no one else I got to speak to, that’s become the natural choice. Sooner realized a common motive of cribbing about everything in Gujarat which has become our close bond. We drank royally the Black label which I have arranged legally having a permit. I call it royally because we never knew that Nitin was on his way back to spoil our kidneys, lever, and what not.

After that there never came a royal Daru and it always was a choice between RC and RS. Beers have started flowing in our bloods, still remember a day when we got around 4 Crates of Beer (10 in each Crate) and cant imagine that it was finished in less than a week’s time. Nitin- to introduce him, he is such a decent guy (Don’t ask what decent means here, if you know you will never call anyone or yourself decent) who manages the permits of the people so well that you can forget your leave dates to be filled in Myte but he will remind you the dates of Permit renewal which in turn will remind you your travelling out of Ahmedabad or Gujarat for that matter.

There is a matrix being created for everyone’s travel to adjust to the needs of this Drunkard. We all use to change our travel plans to feed this Thirsty (Of Daru only) Fellow. I always remembered the tale of Mahabharata and Bakasur in that, the villagers use to go turn by turn to become his food (Do I need to mention who is who).Now here comes the reason why there was the need of this much liquor and the reason was more or less Anurag—we use to discuss about anything in office and Anurag has all the counter justification to make us feel guilty about our thoughts. This whole frustration of losing an argument to Anurag comes out in night while drinking. He was the one who might not have seen Inception but such a talent in implanting negativities in your mind that you will never know when you have become prey to him. This we realized only in Appraisals ;-) (Guys please relate to it, wants to open a forum for argument again)

There was this Laurel Hardy team of Anurag with Naidu, who was staying in guest house but was with such a great will power that in spite of all the tricks Nitin played, he never drank alcohol.

Naidu Bhaya has changed our accent to Telugu slangs so much that we never realized when we started calling Bhaiya as Baya ;-)We all were happy without Girls until Vikas joined, don’t mistake me, he is not having different orientation but he comes with girls. I remember Comic books of Nagraj where punch line says “Nagraj ke aane se pahle unke Naag aatey hai” same with Vikas, before he hitting a place his girlfriends are there to welcome him. The day when he joined also was the day when he was spending time with a friend (obviously a girl) and was just ignoring our calls. That day like Bheeshma Pitamah, Nitin declared that this UP wala launda will be either fantastic or will be other extreme, can’t be in between. I still remember how correct he was. So enters Vikas in our lives along with Chhota and Mota (I have to take pains of remembering their original names). I on behalf of the group will always be thankful to him for bringing a mixed flavor in the group and made it more lively.

With Vikas it was difficult to track him with his sudden disappearances until one day he introduced all of us to Chhota and Mota to avoid any sudden encounter and people talking something else.

Hence comes Chhota and Mota and became the integral part of our Group which got its name Café 34 because of our one point meeting every day after office.The meeting use to be so refreshing in few aspects, first we use to forget all the pressure being given at office and secondly the feeling of awesomeness of cribbing about Gujaratis to a Gujarati. It’s like a psychologist giving the team of task to hit at the photo whom they hate most ;-)

No hard feelings but we love gujjus somehow because of Chhota and Mota. I would really appreciate their patience of not retaliating to anything we say about Gujjus, I don’t know if we say it just to provoke them which never happened.

With this group we did all the mischievous mastis, parties, outings that I really sometimes want the time to be stopped here.We together have formed so many memories and became part of each other’s life so much that without pinging and remembering each other the day doesn’t start.Chhota and Mota we met only when we went to Jhanjhari falls, I don’t know they have taken so much of liberty that they don’t even discuss with me and commit from my side about any kind of Pick and Drops. This blog will not go without introducing my Sweetu (My Car) here. It is always being part of the family and never ever have complaint about any torture (Pick and Drop ;-)).  

Jhanjhari trip was start of being use to such incidences where I have become part only when it has been decided and imposed on me, but I loved it.

This group will be remembered for so many things but few of the best I want to quote here.

I have shifted to a flat quiet a far from the office and guest house, but I rarely have stayed there till Nitin was here in guest house. We always planned to go to the flat and prepare something there and relax for a day but it always end up having a daru peg in hand and laughing at Nitin’s room. Once I tried so much and convinced Nitin and Vikas that we will be going to my flat (Prudhvi was on his marriage flybak and Chhota and Mota were just ignored for such parties ;-)) On the way this terrifying horrible thought came to Nitin’s mind that in those remaining 2 bottles of beer if Sunil and Vikas will ask for the equal share then how he will survive and this has changed the whole game plan. You won’t believe this decent guy Nitin at the verge of crying convinced us to take a U turn from half way to fall in his room drunk. J

After even completion of parties with diminished vision and high response time I always saw Nitin with one more glass in his hand and having a devil laugh at us. There was always this discussion of paying and sharing equally which made all of us the equal shareholders of such sins.

There was this incident without which the drinking party will never be remembered. The day when I was at home, Nitin was just counting on the bottles remaining in the guest house and Vikas was equally confused with whom to meet and with whom to stay with (Poor Guy, having so many commitments). As Nitin knew that it was my turn to get the liquor on the permit, he started troubling me 2 hours in advance may be 4 hours ;-). It was decided that everyone will come to my house and we will plan from there but Nitin’s mind works on different calculations as to how to get the liquor bottles and back to room by 8 PM. We all fall for this trap always and same happened this time also. Rarely he calls, but that day he called me and that to over facetime so that I can see his tears and will get emotionally trapped in his drama. Before seeing his tears, I had spoken to Vikas and refused to come there as I had so much of household work to complete. But after seeing his tears I decided to go and help him get his dream achieved of drinking daily without any gap ;-). With me thinking that its only 15 minutes remaining and how to reach the spot, these guys have already started begging Auto Drivers for their icards (permanent address) so that something can be arranged for Big Brother. I took a challenge and started from my house and reached the spot within 15 minutes as committed (I remember how 

I have drove my car without a single rule followed). The ultimate drama started from then when I took Nitin and Vikas to Marriot to realize that Vikas is not carrying Driving License to show it for permit renewal. He called up Prudhvi who had to catch a train that day to attend his friend’s marriage. Vikas played safe and told Nitin to call Prudhvi.

The conversation between them was awesome but a lil censored ;-) Prudhvi was not at all willing to move from Guest house and was abusing Vikas left right center. Vikas was suggesting Prudhvi to catch an auto and reach hotel, but thanks to demonetization that Prudhvi has to be picked by Vikas. Here needless to mention the support Prudhvi gives to demonetization that he was travelling cashless J somehow the juggalary worked and we all were at Marriot. Vikas rushed to Hotel counter without the tickets which were in the scooty dicky, I really feel proud of Nitin who manages all this shit and co-ordinates for a successful closure.

We standing outside lost all hopes because the time was over and started checking with other hotels if they sell liquor on permit after 8 PM. I couldn’t see Nitin’s innocent face of losing the opportunity of getting permit in spite of all the documents in place until we got a call from Prudhvi of what drink to be bought. I cant explain the moment which has brought glow in Nitin’s eyes. I never ever have thought otherwise I would have taken Nitin’s before and after pic to overshadow even VLCC’s ad of before and after pics. I was laughing when Nitin was becoming impatient in telling Prudhvi to buy anything as it was time of closure. Finally we got the drinks and had moment of the Project. There then has come the disclosure of Nitin being decent. In these parties there were so many disclosures so many confessions that if we release it, many will have different lifes. Thanks to our reporter Vikas who silently records every confession and blackmail others. But after so many parties everyone has some or the other recording that no one will dare to release any of it because it’s counter attack is available. 

  Its not that always for Daru the drama happens, when Nitin is absent the drama happens even without Daru. There was this incident happened when we all planned to meet at Café 34 and the message was passed to everyone before the tragedy of the decade happened when all mobile networks were jammed. With some networks and some intelligent proceedings, we are left with incomplete messages which created the whole mess. That day there were many indications god has given us not to proceed with the plan, but we being so much desperate not to break the trend of meeting every day we proceeded. To start with I was waiting downstairs in office when Prudhvi and Vikas were coming by lift from 10^th floor. The lift came to ground floor and the doors dint open. Me from outside and people from Inside were struggling to open the door. I remember pulling the doors apart to open it thinking that if Sunny Deol can pluck the hand pump why can’t I open the lift doors. But Reel and real are different, I realized and called the security to help us.

After so much of struggle Vikas and Prudhvi were rescued. To get trapped in another wonderful mess. Vikas’s phone was not working and not even his girl’s phones (They not even have same service provider but similar numbers also) Prudhvi got the half message from Mota that she is coming but where and when nobody knows. She was just disconnecting Prudhvi’s calls, which Vikas was justifying stating that she is with husband (this mystery can’t be resolved here, need another blog to decode it). With half the information and Anurag heading towards my home with luggage we were in tremendous pressure to start for my home. Anurag here has to be mentioned to pressurize all of us with his loaded tempo and asking every 5 minutes “Aagey Badhun” ;-)

I told Vikas and Prudhvi to start to my house and let everyone meet there, the moment we started and reached a mile ahead, got a call from Chhota (All mistiming have happened that day). She started scolding Vikas for not bothering about Mota (Her Younger sister, irony here is Mota is younder and Chhota is elder) and leaving without picking her up. Vikas as always confused to make everyone happy just jumped out of the car and ran towards Café 34.

I tried convincing him to come with me only as no one’s phone was working so lets go to home and whoever gives call or pass on information will be asked to come to home. But Vikas got more influenced with Chhota as always than us. Vikas was running with his sandals not giving him the support he required, and Mota was missing.

Meanwhile at my house Anurag’s tempo was standing and we got busy in getting the luggage arranged. I got a call from some unknown number which I usually don’t pick and same treatment that unknown call got that day. I got the same call again after some time and this time I could hardly listen to the other side. I doubted it to be a known call and called back, to listen to Mota introducing herself as “MOTA”. Without blinking an eye I recognized her, as this is the only name we recognize her.

She asked me to come to a nearest landmark to pick her up without any delay as she will be reaching and cant call everytime borrowing other’s mobile. I relally felt pity on Vikas who was waiting there at Café 34. I realized that where we stop thinking Mota starts thinking. Mota as I always say is such a fantastic person in manipulating thing that nobody can compete her (Aankhon me dhool jhonkna Mota se seekho) Now we three me, Prudhvi and Mota are together waiting for someone either Vikas or Chhota to call. Vikas called and finally after struggling for hours we all met to end up having a good laugh and a fantastic dinner.

I don’t have the words to say thanks to all who have added to the list of experience of life, I am gonna miss you guys wherever I will go, I might call people Baya to remember Naidu, I might refuse to get into autos for a special reason to remember Anurag, I might drink and smoke to be with Nitin, I might offer food (Food which I don’t like) to others to miss Prudhvi, I might cook food and drive alone to miss Vikas, I might carry empty dabba to miss Mota and yes last but not least I wake up in night and early mornings to miss Bhootni (Chhota).

Love you all, wishing you all a very happy and prosperous life. Remember we are just a call away.