Back from Kerala

Yusuf Rassiwala examines a video clip on Kajal's mobile

Members of the 'Kerala Gang' are back, having landed in Mumbai airport (from Kochi) around 4:30 p.m. yesterday. Just about five of them -- Kiran Prakash, Kajal and Dilip Babani, Bhaswati Bose and Nahid Khan – made it to the Garden this morning.
As expected, their return was greeted with much rejoicing and merriment. A fourth laugh went up for them soon after the exercises. Later, Mallika Kagzi hosted a formal reception in their honor over surati nankhatai and special tea from home.
Given the vulnerabilities of age and health, for seniors to return from an outstation trip safe and sound is no small accomplishment.

Nahid hasn't stopped laughing

They have braved inhospitable terrain, the vagaries of weather, a strange language, new faces, unfamiliar food... At a younger age such things do not matter. But now, for them to have survived all of this without a single mishap or untoward incident is remarkable.
Significantly, nobody saw the trip this way. What mattered to them most was the “amount of fun” they had with Nahid Khan best articulating the general sentiment: “I have never laughed so much in my entire life as I did in the last six days.” And she was still laughing her guts out as one by one,

Mallika hosts tea party for the Kerala group

everybody recounted the most hilarious tales from the trip, often supported by video clips recorded on their mobile phones.
Through all their road travel, hotel stay and sight-seeing, what seemed to have left lasting memories were the moments of togetherness – bonding over food and drinks, going shopping, playing Housie and above all, dancing on the houseboat. Some incidents narrated were personal in nature, leading to wanton leg pulling with Kiran Prakash emerging an unlikely target.
Nahid herself was the butt of many jokes after she had attempted walking through a glass door in some hotel lobby and ended up with a grotesque black eye. Her friend, Lakshmi Hadimani sprung a major surprise by taking to the floor one evening and proving to be an accomplished belly dancer! And so the tales unfolded, on and on.
Clearly, more than the locale, it was this shared sense of companionship that had made all the difference to the small, compact group of 16 like-minded people.
Kiran Prakash:
It was a wonderful trip, very well organised. I had stepped out of my house with lots of apprehension about the level of hotels and quality of food, etc. but returned loaded with excitement, joy and happiness. Tons of thanks to Bhaswati Bose for organising this memorable trip and to all fellow travellers for making it so exciting. Honestly, this was beyond my expectations.
Post Script: I would specially like to mention the name of Rukhsana Khan who, though, physically challenged, took this trip, enjoying every moment of it and setting an example for many of us. Dilip Babani was always there to help people in whatever way he could. Dilip-bhai also clicked not less than a thousand pictures and today, everybody's mobile is loaded with moments captured by him.
Lt Col Angad Singh (from Mohali):
A trip to Kerala is always enjoyable. It is a beautiful state. One feels quite happy about the trip. It is good that a large number of friends have been to Kerala and they enjoyed every moment out there.