I had met esteeemed MS member - Khaled Khan (@bkaks) twice in my life prior to today, i.e., 06.04.2013 - first on 24.06.2010 when he visited my home at BHEL township and secondly on 25.12.2010 when I visited him at Hotel Balaji on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the Hyderabad city. Since then we kept on talking about meeting but couldn't meet. Once he complained that I had visited Delhi but not met him (in January 2012) and once I complained that he had visited Hyderabad but not met me (in September 2012). The desire to meet was from both the sides but the meeting was not able to materialize and getting overdue with the passage of time.
Last week, I happened to talk to esteeemed MS member - Mazhar Nawaz (@maaz_nawaz) over phone that Khaled Bhai was coming to Bengaluru and I could visit to meet him and some others too. However I could not make it. But by talking to Khaled Bhai over phone, I came to know that he would go back to Delhi after making a halt of one day at Hyderabad also. And therefore, when he arrived at Hyderabad on 05.04.2013 in the morning and gave me a call, telling me that he would inform about the place of his stay shortly, I got ready to meet him this time, come what may. His call did not come by the evening and when it came with the information of his having checked in Hotel Maya at Raniganj, I was just too exhausted to visit the city and meet him. So I regretted for not being able to visit him in that evening and committed to do it the next day, i.e., today.
Since it had rained for two consecutive days in the city (our area at least) just a couple of days back, the soil was (still is) quite muddy at many places in our colony. My residential block is just opposite the forest area (Urban Forestry). After having my dinner in my home, as per my habit, I went for a walk in the semi-darkness in the forest area, enjoying the weather. Accidentally I stepped on a muddy patch, having one foot of mine going deep into the mud with the chappal (footwear) and some part of the concerned leg of the trouser too. Naturally, coming back to my quarter (very near), I put off my trousers and put them in a bucketful of water for the clearance of the mud and proper washing of the same the next day. Unfortunately, my mobile phone remained inside the pocket of the trousers as I just goofed about it.
In the morning when I just tried to recall where my mobile phone was, the lightning flashed in my mind that I forgot to draw it from the pocket before putting my trousers in water. Now, quite naturally, it's dead. The sim card also did not work for a couple of hours when inserted in some other mobile phone. In between Khaled Bhai was trying my phone but getting no answer. Finally, he checked out of the hotel at 10.30 a.m. when, on the other hand, I was coming to him by the local train (bunking my office, something I never did in my studenthood). Upon reaching the reception of the hotel, I came to know that Khaled Bhai had already checked out. However after telephonic contact, he came to the hotel on foot in the hot son (as he was in the Raniganj market nearby) and then we proceeded to Universal Bakery, walking and talking together.
At Universal Bakery, we consumed burgers and lassi and talked for around two hours. Khaled Bhai told me that I was remembered very much in his Bengaluru visit by both Mazhar Bhai and Azam Bhai (@azamkhan_vastav). We talked a lot about personal life, MS, old MSians (who have left MS) etc. etc. JAMS (@javeedahmedm) could not be contacted because his mobile phone (the number that's available with both of us) was not responding. Different topics were covered in our talks as they were taking place after a very long hiatus. There could not be any end to them. They could have gone for another couple of hours. But I had to return to my office and he had to move to the airport to catch his flight for Delhi.
Then, at my insistence, we proceeded (again on foot in the hot sun) to the famous Irani's restaurant and had tea together. Snaps were also taken by the different equipments available with us. Thereafter Khaled Bhai saw me off outside the James Street railway station where I caught the local train for my return journey. Thus the memorable meeting that took its time in taking place, finally got materialized.
I end my blog with a SHER -
Badi Mushkil Se Aise Log Milte Hain Zamaane Mein
Jo Ghaafil Kahkahon Mein Chashm-e-Nam Ki Baat Karte Hain
Waheen Hai Marqaz-e-Kaaba, Waheen Hai Raah-e-Butkhaana
Jahaan Deewane Do Milkar Sanam Ki Baat Karte Hain
