Strangers Becoming Friends - Memories

This was when I was travelling for the first time by air on an official trip to New Delhi from Ahmedabad all to myself. (1984) I boarded the flight, got a seat sandwiched between two foreigners. On my right a German (who was on deputation to India with a project handled by Tata consultancy in collaboration with Germany) and another from Glasgow with a project at Chattral Ahmedabad. I was a mute and apprehensive passenger that day, because everything was for the first time. After sometime the Glasgow guy broke the ice and introduced himself as Richard and we got engrossed into a conversation as if we knew each other for donkeys years. The German guy was aloof and silent. Least interested and looked very disappointed with the journey. Once the Glasgow guy was away at the restroom he introduced himself as Stevens from Stuttgart complementing me that I spoke extremely polished English. He was an extremely dashing, suave guy, impeccably well postured and a charming orator. I was nervous and was shivering; Richard's return brought some relief to my nervousness. Now it so happened that Stevens took over the conversation with me and we talked and talked till the journey to Delhi took a halt. I did not realize I totally neglected Richard who appeared to be a gentleman and parted from us very cordially. Stevens exchanged his address and his telephone number.

I reached my hotel and got freshened up. Was about to go to the restaurant for dinner when I received a call from Stevens asking me to join him for dinner at his hotel. I wanted to refuse as I had to prepare for my meeting which was early morning next day. But must confess succumbed to his charm and insistence couldn't resist. He had the taxi pick me from my hotel. This was the first time I was dating a guy and that too from another country my nervousness and anxiety had no end. He was waiting at the reception lounge with flowers in his hand staring at me. I couldn’t handle this stare and somehow managed to take the flowers and exchange evening pleasantries. He guided me to the famous Indian restaurant- Manchan as he said he enjoyed Indian food and now Indian ladies. I was rescued from the stiff etiquettes of fork and knife because Indian food doesn't require them; especially when you order Indian bread and curry which was Steven's favorite. He loved eating butter chicken naan and kebabs (assorted) along with Riesling white wine which he had accompanied from his room a brand not available at that time in India. Being lean and health conscious he was a poor eater and kept a watch on his diet as a precautionary measure being in another continent. We got along like house on fire and were not in a mood to depart. However, after a long stroll in the garden lawn and it was 1.30am midnight we were compelled to call the day off. He was tempted to kiss me and asked for my permission. I was hesitant but the attraction was so fatal I had to succumb. I was in Delhi for three days we did meet the day before I left a date more memorable than the previous. We became very good friends and kept in touch with each other. He also came to visit me at Ahmedabad before he left for Germany. We kept in touch for two years later he was deputed on a project to Russia and became silent he did not keep in touch. I was baffled and puzzled by his silence but later on I became busy with my work and forgot about him. It was painful but as they say time heals every wound.

The second incident happened while I shifted base to Bangalore. Every weekend I used to frequent this hotel which was in the heart of the city and a very renowned one. Actually it was a meeting point for me and my customers. I was involved in real estate and was marketing niche residential and commercial projects of prime builders and Investors of the city. Being single and most of the weekends were off working days, this was a very convenient and comfy joint for me laze as my friends were busy with their family spending quality time. I used to sit in the Library Bar of this hotel. Met many clients and wonderful friends at this joint. It was more like a second home for me. It so happened that it was a public holiday on one Sunday and I was not aware. The hotel looked absolutely deserted and empty. It surprised me and hence enquired at the reception and was told that since it was Ugaadi (New Year for south of India and Karnataka) there was very less inflow of customers in the hotel. Nevertheless, I picked up my corner table at the library bar with a book picked from the shelf by Osho Rajneesh "Intimacy" along with my gin and tonic. Barely after fifteen minutes, I saw a very dashing young man enter the bar observing the bar as someone for the first time. He enquired with the bar tender something and settled on a table just opposite me. I pretended I was totally engrossed in my book; but, actually I was conscious and nervous about his presence in front of me. I was not much bothered as I was sure a dashing person like him would be having a beautiful date join him sooner and why would he be interested in a woman like me. However, after about 15 mins. I heard him say "excuse me do you mind if I join you as we both are alone in the bar and we are both non communicative?" I said he was welcome and we introduced ourselves. He had just returned from Chicago, a Punjabi who originally belonged to Amritsar but his family settled in Bangalore in the 80s. He left the city for further studies to Chicago got married and settled. He was deputed to Bangalore on behalf of his company to start a project on wind energy. We got along with each other as if we were childhood buddies. We shifted to a nearby pub which was a more happening place and fortunately was not empty like the hotel we met. The pub was crowded with young people and was exuding more energy and enthusiasm. We were centre of attraction. Anshu (his name) was an extremely good looking stylish young man, a man of the world. He was attracting lot of attention from the young girls in the bar. I was watching him whether he reciprocated those glances. But surprisingly, he didn't. He was full time with me. I always carried this doubt with me behind my mind that I was never any man's choice despite the fact that I got to date one of the best men in my life. I sheerly felt I was just lucky and not much of a love material. I was showered with lot of compliments, was wondering whether the tequila was having the influence but it didn't. Obviously we were tipsy, with three shots in the gulping acting naughty. We were allowed with a grace of half an hour before the closing time only because he was a regular customer. He insisted I came home with him since we would be meeting more often. It was a very elegant cozy penthouse in one of the prime locations of Bangalore. The interiors reflecting his taste and style. After two shots of Teachers he left me at the hotel where I had parked my car. Parted with goodnight pleasantries and memories. Next day I got a call from the hotel reception that Anshu had left something for me which I need to pick up as he had to urgently leave for Bombay to meet the Power Minister. I went to the hotel very apprehensively to see what was waiting for me and found that I had left my clutch which must have dropped from my handbag with a thank you card for making the evening very memorable. He came back after a week and we did meet often till his wife joined him from Chicago which was after 20 days. He did not cut off completely; we were in touch with each other on phone and sneaked at coffee here and there. Since his wife was a very possessive lady he avoided introducing me to her. Later on since the frequency of meeting got subdued and we both getting busy with our work we almost didn't see each other for a very long time. For the first time I did not feel bad or feel let down perhaps because we made it very clear as to what we expected from each other. Anshu was matured person who didn't believe in imposing but believing in flow of things to happen. He said he was highly spiritual and meditated a lot which made him calm and composed both mentally and physically enabling him to control his reactions to situations and people.

I left Bangalore after two years as recession was at its peak and business was totally dull. Since I was not a local and without family was finding it difficult to sustain. Hence returned to Ahmedabad which is my home town. I still do miss the night life and friends in that city.

I feel I was very lucky in meeting some of the best looking and well placed men in my life as surprises and they left very pleasurable memories with me. It was good they did not last as very long as liaisons otherwise, they would not have been cherished and recollected as some of the most beautiful moments of my life.