I woke up at 10 am. It was a Saturday (and She was away). I was just wondering what to do when MS member TiC called me up. I told him to meet me. But TiC said that he is busy. Some MS members had planned to meet for dinner, namely himself, GaneshB(Gb), Santoz and samsat.When I told him that I could make it, he realized that I could make it....and before the gravity of the proposition dawned on him, I sealed the appointment. The venue was the restaurant under scrutiny-Golden Chariot.
Please note that this is not the one in Andheri, but the one near Santacruz Airport. Inspite of request through Mouthpad, the Santacruz branch has still not been included. Hence I am forced to write this review here.
REACHING THE PLACE
TiC arrived at my studio by 5.30 pm. Gb was trying his best to make his office as the meeting point. Fortunately for his boss, my work delayed us, and TiC agreed to join me in giving a taang to GB's plan. I mean...well, people who stay in Mumbai can very well understand why I was not so keen on meeting at Gb's place. I stay at Andheri west, whereas Gb works at Andheri east. And I admit, I do not have the guts to undergo the traffic torture of Andheri east in the infamous Bambai ki barsaat. You say Maddy is a coward. Yes, I am!
So, after telling Gb to meet us directly at the venue, I and TiC took a rickshaw for Santacruz Airport. For hopeful Mumbaites...No, TiC was not leaving Mumbai. The restaurant was situated at the airport. So you can drop the idea of celebrating.
Anyway, as soon as we were in the rickshaw, TiC called up someone from his cell. I have seen that whenever I and TiC are in a rickshaw, he does that. Most of the time he is just giggling. Anyway, with nothing much to do, I started taking some nain-sukh on some passing beauties. So, last month, if anyone saw an ogling idiot and a giggling idiot in a rickshaw jumping through the Bambai potholes, I can assure you that you saw the great Maddy and the even greater TiC.
It was almost seven when we reached the venue. When you take the left turn from the main road towards the Airport, you can see this hotel on your right hand side.
A board proudly declared- Golden Chariot, almost immediately followed by a public toilet. Avoid it and go ahead. Golden Chariot is a restaurant.
THE FIRST IMPRESSION
The hotel had two sections. One was outside, one was inside. (Smart, eh, Maddy?)
There were many tables and many chairs. (Very smart, eh, Maddy?)
There was a small platform, meant for live gazals. Naturally I was looking forward to the session.
Soon, the others arrived. After the initial gaali-galoch (that's the way we greet each other normally), TiC declared that he had shifted his loyalties from whisky to vodka. He actually was proud of this achievement.
We ridiculed TiC on his unfaithfulness to whisky. TiC just had a stupid grin on his face. Finally the waiter could decipher what we wanted from our gibber and vanished.
TiC ordered whisky.
I looked around. The hotel had windows all around. Over the din of the crowd, I could faintly hear sounds like- Tann...tak...dhumdhupp. Generally I hear such sounds after drinking. Then I realized that the music party had arrived and the tabalchi was tuning his tabla. He had finished it by the time our drinks arrived, and we said cheers amid the first notes of the harmonium.
THE EXPERIENCE
GB, being the old timer amongst us, took the responsibility of ordering the snacks. I was too busy gulping, so I don't know what exactly he ordered. However, whatever I was munching seemed nice in the company of my teeth and tongue. One snack I remember was Rumali Papad which GB was adamant we should try. GB is always adamant about everything. I guess he doesn't get to do this when he is with his wife. And every married soul has his own way of fulfilling his desires when wifey is absent.
Santoz and Samsat were quiet. Not their fault, though, as TiC was blabbering without giving a chance to anyone.
THUS SPAKE HiC
By the time the music reached it's second stage, TiC had reached his third. The Whisky seemed to be doing its job. We were requesting songs to the singer, and he was actually singing some of them. The poor singer had no idea that TiC was coming in his real spirits.
TiC, in all his colours, used to write his requests and wobble towards the singer. If the singer did not know a song, TiC actually sung it to him, acting like a music puzzle for the singer- Spot the tune! Fortunately for the customers, the singer grasped the tune from TiC's mumbles, or else TiC would have enacted it then and there. I guess whisky does these things to vodka drinkers!
By the time the singer finished the song, he would again find TiC and his wobble, slowly proceeding towards him like an approaching danger. Finally, the singer dreaded the sight of the wobbling TiC like I dread my wife.
As for us, we were having a jolly time laughing.
Suddenly TiC had this urge...! When he returned he was giggling. On enquiry, we found out that he was amused at the condition of the toilet. GB, an ardent Golden Charioteer, got emotional and said that there is nothing wrong with the toilet. So, GB and TiC spent the next 15 minutes debating about the condition of the GC toilet. This discussion seemed like heaven for the singer who got to sing peacefully for once. However, I was in a soup, as TiC wanted me to go and try the toilet.
I mean, just imagine...you are enjoying a party and a friend wants you to go and inspect the toilet, just for the heck of it. TiC was adamant that I should certify the toilet condition. And the whisky in his system was not helping my argument. As I thought frantically what to do, I got a brilliant idea. I suggested a song.
And there was TiC, again wobbling through the hotel, towards the horrified singer...
THE FOOD
We ordered some chicken gravy and rotis. I ordered kheema. Gb ordered some vegetarian dish, thereby reminding me of my wife, who had called up on my cell that she had returned and was waiting for me at home.(Good things seldom last)
Honestly, the food was really good. TiC agreed with me. Given his condition, he would have even liked half-baked rice with water.
But the food indeed was tasty and filling. We also had the never ending papad for a side dish. I recommend it to anyone who wishes to try it. You can enquire about TiC's availability for added entertainment.
The bill came to a whopping 3000 rupees. GB seemed shocked. I guess he never imagined that someone could make such a big total in that hotel. But then, he had underestimated the group...especially with TiC in full flow.
IN CONCLUSION
It was almost midnight when we left the hotel. I took a chocolate for my kid...his daily payment for a goodnight kiss. GB thrust another Tobbler in my hands for him- a gift from GB chacha. I guess the little fellow was in for a feast. I, Santoz and TiC took the same rickshaw, and they dropped me on the way. It seems like Santoz will have some more kissas about TiC's journey from the time they dropped me to the time he dropped him.
Over to you...Santy!
