The Hyderbad Meet

This is the story of Hyderabad meet. It was just another meet for Anantha and IBL, the veteran of thousand meets (Ok I exaggerate a little) but it was a very special meet for me. It was my first time and as Ano told me on the erstwhile DB “The first time is always special". The meet surpassed all my expectations and laid all my apprehensions to rest.

But of course you want to know how it all began. And now that depends on the how long sighted or short sighted you are. It all began with Fizo planning a trip to Hyderabad one dreary day in the Chicago cold. Maybe it had something to do with the sudden intense craving for Tangdi kebab (a dish the Queen is rather fond of) and the good ole biryani. Though she maintains it had more to do with her love for Hyderabad and her now-neglected subjects there. Anyways the Queen is above any questions about her motives. Those of us who are more philosophically inclined like to think it all began with the start of DSS or Sulekha or World Wide Web or Universe or Time depending on their philosophical quotient. But since I am the writer of this piece let me tell you how it all began for me. It was one of those fine days on the DB (could that day have been otherwise?) when Anantha first told Fizo that he will pay a visit to the Queen in the city of nawabs. Of course he meant it as a joke but he did not know that those very words will come and haunt him someday. He said the same thing to me and soon the three of us were exchanging mails and planning dates and all. It was a pity that Monica and Chandler could not join us because of personal reasons. The D-Day was fixed to be 19th of March.

19th March, 2005

Anantha, IBL and I were supposed to meet at Barista (Coffee) at 10:30. We said our hellos and settled down with coffee and sandwiches. I never felt as if I was meeting these guys for the first time. We had so much to talk about. And guys you know what is the first thing that Anantha told me? He said that I look like his aunty. Not only do I look like his aunty but I also walk like her and talk like her. Uff and then he told me in his straight nonchalant way as only Anantha can that all married women are aunties. Uff will guys ever learn? Soon Fizo, her handsome hubby and her sweet little dotter joined us and another session of coffee/smoothies and buckwaas kick started. And yes there was a photo session also. Fizz’s hubby took a lot of photos. (Fizo might put them up some time hopefully). We must have talked about each and every blogger and their blogs. We astounded each other with our memories regarding all the blogs and comments ever posted on the Sulekha and DSS. We moved to Hyderabad Central, a new mall nearby and continued carried our buckwaas with us. And then the most amazing thing happened. The Queen of hearts made IBL (the guy who makes statements like "I do not like love/mush/sad stories") buy the most famous love story i.e. "Love Story" by Erich Segal. Well she isn’t called Queen of hearts for nothing. We had lunch (made sure that they guys ordered biryani but it was not the Hyderabadi Biryani; we were in a place specializing in the North-west frontier cuisine; sigh) and then continued towards the Charminar and the Chowmahallah palace. The buckwaas continued. Chowmahallah palace was a revelation. I never expected to find such a beautiful palace in that place. Only a part of the palace (which once spread over 64 acres) has been restored namely the durbar hall and a few other buildings. We saw the Nawabi throne and I was trying to imagine the splendor in the erstwhile times. How imposing it must have been! We also saw an exhibition of the Nawab's family photographs. Ooh those beautiful ladies in their regal dresses and the haughty kings and princes. The chowkidaar there regaled us with stories behind all the photos/paintings. Most of the nawabs had dozens of wives and one even had 300+ wives according to the chowkidaar. Imagine that!! Anantha took some photos of the photos. We then broke up for some rest and then had dinner together in this place called "Our Place" which is one of my favorite eating places in Hyderabad. At last these guys had a proper Hyderabadi Veg biryani (Well some people maintain that there is nothing called a “Veg Biryani").


20th March, 2005

Well Anantha and IBL had made BIG plans the previous evening to go to Golconda Fort/ Salarjung Museum but well it was too hot. They went to the Birla temple and then IMAX (the local Multiplex) and I joined them there (late as usual). Anantha and IBL did not mind at all the time they spent in the multiplex. They were happily eyeing all the pretty gals there. (Anantha was even “looking out" for a guy once but then thatz another story). Anantha seemed very happy about the fact that some of the girls were on their own. We then watched this movie "Finding Neverland" which we all enjoyed. Then it was back to food and buckwaas (what else!). We talked and talked about this and that. Soon it was time to say goodbye.

It was one of the best weekends I had in a very very long time. A year back when I was just a regular lurker on sulekha and I used to read umpteen stories by Fizo and one-of-a-kind of blogs by Anantha and IBL I never imagined that I will ever befriend these people and even meet them in real life. But this was a great experience. I was a little apprehensive about how it will turn out to be. I thought maybe we will not be able to "click" in real life as we do in the virtual world. And maybe the virtual world will not be the same anymore after the meet. But all my apprehensions vanished within five minutes of saying "Hi" to these two guys. And the virtual world is better off for a real meet. Thanks Fizo for visiting Hyderabad and thanks Anantha and IBL for coming all the way here.

I have missed out on a few things. Hope Fizo, Anantha and IBL will fill you up on those. Like I forgot to mention how the three of them ganged up against me and said all wicked things about me like “You look so pampered, Silo”.