{mosimage}12th July’ 09
This was going to be our first meet to attend in Mumbai for me & Shilpa so we were preparing for it, deciding whether to book a train, Volvo bus services or to drive down altogether. It was on a Sunday 12th July’ 09 the only day that both of us prefer to laze on the bed and wake up late to make it up for the whole week but for this Sunday we were all excited to meet all our FOM who stay connected to this busy and amazing city – “Mumbai”….
{mosimage}12th July’ 09
This was going to be our first meet to attend in Mumbai for me & Shilpa so we were preparing for it, deciding whether to book a train, Volvo bus services or to drive down altogether. It was on a Sunday 12th July’ 09 the only day that both of us prefer to laze on the bed and wake up late to make it up for the whole week but for this Sunday we were all excited to meet all our FOM who stay connected to this busy and amazing city – “Mumbai”. It was our turn to oblige them this time to go and meet them in their home town. I told my wife that I feel like driving it down for two reasons first as it was monsoon and second for better mobility in Mumbai. I called up Nikhil if he was planning to come for this meet and if he would be interested in joining us in sharing the drive and we got his nod and confirmation that both he & Vandana were joining us.
I got the vehicle ready with every detail for the next morning as I came home from work on Saturday which I usually do every time we plan to drive out of town, wound up early to bed that night to be fresh the next day as we had planned to leave by 6.30am and to meet up with Nikhil at 7.00am so that we could reach for the meeting on time in Mumbai. It was a beautiful day the Sunday morning I did manage to wake up before the alarm bell rang for a change and we made it sharp 7.05 at Nikhil’s place, the whether was good though it was cloudy it was not raining. We had a very pleasant journey and by the time we could reach Lonavla it started to rain and every thing around us turned beautiful it was as if heaven was coming down and it made us all thrilled as this is what we wanted to see while we decided on driving down. Nature at it’s best!
It was not difficult to find out the location of Bombay hospital though we missed on a couple of streets but we managed well to reach out there with out much hassle and at about 10.30 plus. I though my fear was about to come true of not finding a parking as it usually is with finding a parking lot in Mumbai, its like getting a lottery and as my luck would have it we managed to get one right in front of the hospital on the opposite side.
We got into the lift to get to the function hall and as we entered my eyes were searching for our Mumbai gang, there were a lot of new faces that I saw before I stood right in front of Amma and she did not wait to greet us with her warm hugs!!! And one by one we met up with all our special ones – Sharon and Ayeshah at the counter, Gita & Mr. Gita (Nirmesh), Ashok at the b/fast hall with Pramod along with some new friends from Kolkata. It is so very genuine every time that Amma hugs; the feeling of warmth is electrifying and you are charged for the day. She was so very happy to see the team coming from Pune and made us all feel very special as she announced welcoming us at the function with a big round of applause.
Of course the beginning of the function was with the Jana gana mana…as it is every time and that fills every soul present there with sense of great bonding and of togetherness to this family. Who better than Amma herself …to raise the curtain and she did this with her beautiful power point presentation with perfect sense of timing covering every minute detail though she did had to hurry to cope with the time in hand but not before highlighting the important messages that needed to be conveyed to the family. That of good compliance ; the importance of taking the medicine regularly as per our docotrs' advice .Also as usual Pramod & Nirmesh (Ganpat & Bhidu) did an excellent job at the podium with the program schedule for the day.
The crowd was good, we were with registration about 180 & we had people from every walk of life & community it was a great feeling of – unity in diversity. They were all very active and enthusiastic crowd as each one of them knew the purpose of being there and made their presence felt by participating in their own ways. This time our panel doctor was Dr. Kumar Prabash from Tata hospital helping us with the understanding of the wonder drug Glivec and its importance in the lives of each one of us that are a part of this program and Manek Ji – an 80 years plus of our FOM from the panel was one great witness to all present there. It got more alive and interesting when our guest of honor – Father Mathew from Navjeevan – Navjyoti School- Kalyan was introduced. He took us all with his workshop type program & lecture involving every individual into the activities that was meant to be cordial with a very clear message of self belonging, unity & team work. The most interesting were the puzzles – kind of brain teasers that were thrown at the audience which to his surprise were all addressed by our intelligent brothers.
It was very different and a unique kind of an experience with Father Mathew that was held this time in such meetings and it made quite an impact into our lives co-relating the examples that he was trying to tell us in the form of small stories that he narrated during his presentation, they were a little harsh but ground realities. We were all very touched by the kind of good work he and his mission is doing for our – so needy society even though in a very small way ‘that he says! We “Salute the spirit” of this organization/ school and we wish them success. As for me I was totally moved and so as the rest of our audiences by the great testimony of Mrs. Vasamvada Shukla – for sharing high’s & low of her life before and after getting into the Glivec program which helped transform her life all over again and gave her the reason to smile back at life . This testimony confirmed with in me once again – that miracles do happen in the time of technology & science – like in the case of Mrs. Vasamvada & so in my own case a year back.
It did not end till Amma announced two names out of the audience i.e. of Tushar the young lad & myself to come in front and sing a couple if songs though I thought I would feel a little embarrassed but frankly speaking I did not because I was prepared based on our Pune meet probably it was expected of me to entertain our Mumbai friends when ever we met. I was impressed with young Tushar who sang a beautiful number from kishore da’s collection of songs. While I was preparing with what I wanted to sing, my wish was to sing a duet with Amma (my soul mate – my companion in singing) she was not prepared with her mood of singing but not before I managed to take the promise from her that she will sing the duet with me sometime later in the day and I had to obey with out any further debate. I was prepared mentally if not with proper toning of my vocal chords and presented “Tum pukar lo” – of Hemant da from the famous movie – Khamoshi and before I could leave the stage I was asked to sing another number and this time I chose to sing “Ye nayan dare dare” also of Hemant Kumar from one of his finest selections. I sincerely hope I did not let Amma’s expectations down though my joy was when I finally got to sing the duet “Chupalo yun dil mein pyar mera” with Amma after the good lunch. She has a marvelous voice texture and range.
We could not have thanked less for all the nice arrangements right from arranging breakfast, lunch & high tea to arranging the hall – venue to the entire enthusiastic team of Mumbai.
Cheers!!!
Reported by Shilpa & Piyush Roy, Pune