11.1.06

It's been a long long time...

I have missed blogging terribly. That includes reading up my daily dosage of blogs. But it's just that so much has been happening in my life of late.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the night S came home with her beau and announced very coyly: 'I am getting married". "What?????" was the only word that I could manage. I was quite dramatic about it I guess. But what the hell it is S getting married after all.

A few minutes later though I was seated with the two of them on her bed and chattering excitedly about her wedding plans. I called up E who had a similar reaction. She wanted the wedding to be held in Goa as well. Anyway, now it is happening in Calcutta and Delhi in April. Also the immediate thing that struck me was that I would be flatmateless. Of course I freaked out (This announcement came sometime early in December). Since then I have been in a terrible dilemma. Should I stay back inDelhi or go back home to Calcutta? That was the only question that I could obsess about. Somehow I could not convince myself to return because everything has been fine till now. Plus it is winter and I love this time of the year in this city. So I think I am kind of staying back here even though I get those occasional guilt pangs.

In the meantime my mother has been worrying herself sick over my single status. Especially in light of the fact that "S is doing the right thing at the right time". So she has been trying to fix me up with her usual selection of eligible bachelors. The latest was a guy from California who was visiting his folks in Calcutta. He wanted to visit me here. My mother was only too happy and even told him "If you don't happen to like my daughter, don't worry. Just tell me and I will find another girl for you." Seriously the things my mother comes up with!

The guy called me up that very evening and said he would land in Delhi the next day. Next evening he called and said his flight had been cancelled thanks to the fog. And he asked me something which I will never forget. His question was: "So are you ready to relocate to California from Delhi?" This despite the fact that we had never met. In a rush I said everything I had to. And that did it. Because he never called back. My mom did. She had quite a few things to say none of which was particularly endearing.

Then came the New Year Eve's party that was absolutely the weirdest thing I have ever been to. It seemed like one of those American teen parties where nobody knows anybody. My friend Essar took me to the party. It was at her friend's cousin's place and turned out to be a terrace affair. Initially I had settled down to watching a movie at home, so at 10.30 pm when Essar called me and made her friends call me up, I had no option but to be a sport. I got ready in record time - 10mins. The one thing I remember from the party is the sight of this guy bent double over the terrace wall for the longest possible time. All that occured to me in my drunken state was that he would topple over. Finally someone pulled him back. The poor fellow was busy puking. The party ended on a sudden note with a drunken brawl. So at 3 in the morning we trudged back to our respective homes.

There's always a first time in life they say. It was mine. I have never, in my wildest imagination, thought of being at such a party but there Iwas.

Last but not the least I couldn't possibly leave out the recent degustation meal I had at a Mediterranean restaurant just a day back. For all those who do not know what a degustation menu is, it is something which you should try out next time you go out for a dinner. It is a 10-course to 20-course meal that a chef prepares. You get bite sized proportions of different dishes in each course and pay a fixed amount. I was doing a story on the same so I ended up at an invitation from the restaurant and it was a night to remember. I have never had so much fune ating out. I was asked repeatedly to take along a friend. So I asked VK to come along.

The dinner started at 8 in the evening. It was freezing outside yet we opted for an alfresco dinner (I must confess to a decided weakness forthe word 'alfresco'). There were huge coal fires near each table so it was very nice and toasty. The restaurant itself is very pretty and has a lovely Mediterranean ambience. The chef came and told us all that was to come to our table. Now unadventurous as I am when it comes to seafood, I was amazed at the fact that the chef's starters which had sole, prawns (yes I even hate prawns something which everybody finds weird considering the fact that I am a Bengali), salmon with caviar managed to impress me. With the starters came a straw coloured Chardonnay. In between the soups and the main courses were palate cleansers, tiny shots of sorbets --yummy Blue Curacao & Lime and Green Apple & Mint. The wine glasses kept changing with each course so that by the end of it, VK declared she was drunk.

The dessert was what dreams, actually my dreams, are made of. Exotic melon laced with apricot brandy and mascarpone mousse, pineapple and coconut tart with wildberry gelato, Baileys Irish cream cheese gateaux and chocolate cake topped with double chocolate mousse. I was completely floored.

I have also decided that's there nothing better than being the owner of such a restaurant. I came across the owner who was sprawled on a sofa two tables away from us chatting with his sister. It seemed so like what I would love to do. Free from the cares of life, drop in once in a week and do nothing.

22 comments:

n.g. said...

i went to one of those at this wonderful mediterranean restaurant called original sin in singapore. it was a first date and nothing went wrong. FANTASTIC PLACE.

oh and free advice cum warning - be wary of these eligible single bachelors settled in amayricaa, coming to india to marry. im sick of hearing of girls who marry these fuckwits only to land up there and realise that their superstar prized catch husbands are crotch scratching beer guzzling couch potatoes who dont do anything else, and these girls become pretty much slaves and strangers in a strange land. u may even think i'm exaggerating but i assure you, im not. YOU MAY ALSO even think that this sort of thing doesnt happen to people like me, but you never know. so be careful is all im saying. which you already seem to be, so um whatever then.

Anonymous said...

Yeah you are right. I know what you are saying is not so impossible. I think it is not much difficult to imagine what these guys might turn out to be like. Frankly I am sick of this whole arranged marriage thing. It sucks.

And I am sure if I got hitched with one of them I would make life hell for them;-)

Anonymous said...

That was me actually

Rat said...

It really has been aeons ! Welcome back :)

Ron said...

My reaction to S's marriage announcement was "Huh!!?? YOU!!?? Married!!??" Unbelievable isnt it? Will you be in Cal for the wedding? Would be nice to meet you :)

As for the food...yummm...ur making me jealous.

Arjun said...

Great to see you back, AB.

Yeah, there's nothing better indeed than being the owner of such a restaurant. Especially if you live on a daily diet of rubbersheet [hostel] chapathis! :(

Arjun said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
thalassa_mikra said...

Sounds like a fantastic meal. Do let me know what it's called, I'll try it the next time I'm in Delhi.

These fly-by-night arranged marriage aspirants are so weird. As if they are negotiating a deal. But if it is an arranged marriage that you want, there are many very nice California-based young men, not all of them crotch-scratching couch potatoes.

Anonymous said...

Parna: I have found a flatmate but my mother is insistent that I need to get back home now. It's time, she says. I know for what -- to get me hitched.

Rat: Thanks. It feels normal to be back:-)

Ron: Ya I will be there. Finally we would be able to put a face to each other's respective blogs:-) Exactly that's what seems unbelievable, that it is S...

Couchpotato: I will have you know that hostel food is still better than cooking yourself. I have to toil every alternate day over the kicthen counter;-(

Thalassa: It is called degustation (pronounced the French way).And though it sounds 'disgusting';-) the experience speaks for itself.

As for guys, I have given up on them. My idea of a nice guy seems to be an extinct one.

Anonymous said...

So, does that mean it's Ciao Delhi for now???

Anonymous said...

Toe knee: So you are back from Kerela is it? No don't freak me out. I haven't decided yet. I can't make up my mind...

8 by 52 said...

You know, yesterday I realised that it wasn't melon but strawberry. It took me three hwole day sto realise that. I think I really was drunk.

Anonymous said...

degustation seems like dimsum

thalassa_mikra said...

No, no hon, I know what a degustation is, it's basically a tasting menu. I wanted to know what the restaurant is called. Unless it is also called "degustation" :).

And don't give up on men. Yes many can be annoying and obnoxious, but there are always those who would be worth the quest.

Anonymous said...

8 by 52: Oh you are right it was strawberry:-)

Anonymous: Now what would you mean by that???!!!! Degustation and dimsum...

Thalassa: Hmmmm... chop ho gayi;0) The restaurant was Olive Bar and Restaurant in Mehrauli.

Anonymous said...

why can't anyone believe I'm getting married?????

thalassa_mikra said...

Arre, isme chop hone ki kya baat hai :). I sort of guessed it had to be Olive, but wanted to confirm.

Anonymous, degustation is very different from dimsum, because dimsum is basically about making a meal out of tidbits and snacks, not unlike the mezze of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. Degustation is a meal in many set courses, all in small amounts, designed to show off a chef's culinary range.

Ron said...

@s: because its YOU sweety...cant imagine you as a blushing bride..hehehehehehehehehehe

Anonymous said...

S: :-)))

Thalassa: You got it right babe...

AB said...

Ron: Right on target mate;-)

Jay said...

I don't have a restaurant myself, but I'm preeeetty sure it's not stress and care free!

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