Dear All,This was the mail I had sent to my batch mates on August 4,2009. The lack of response to my previous mails had coerced me into using the tried and tested methodology, "Senti". The response was far better this time around. Numerous phone calls, group sms 's etc were made to reach out to the 65 odd students of GECB, EC 04-08. The turn out on the d- day was a paltry 16, 15 guys and one girl.
This is my third mail in a span of one month regarding the reunion. It has been disheartening that some of you didn't even show the courtesy to reply.
'Senti' apart, I wish to remind you that the farewell in all likelihood can take place either on 4th September or 5th September. Will Sent an invitation mail stating the venue and further details by the end of this month.
Hope you are all doing good.
Hope to meet you all soon.
To quote a friend, "Reunions are a forum to show off how much you have attained since graduating". The comment, though debateable, was one of the reason for a lower turnout; other being the busy work schedule. My frustration over the minimal attendance, has resulted in me starting on a negative note.
September,4,2009.
I spoke to couple of my friends enquiring whether they would turn up. I ended every call on the same note, "even if nobody turns up, we can meet, after all it has been an year".
September,5,2009
Kanakakkunnu Palace, Trivandrum was the proposed venue. The scheduled time was 12.30pm. I reached the place at 12.40pm, late as always. I parked my bike and walked to the palace, and on the way, I met four of them. We got together, the chatting and the pleasentaries ensued. We were waiting for the rest of the lot (though we were not sure who all would be coming). One by one they started trickling in, and the attendance crossed my anticipation of 10. There were more coming and finally we were 16. A sense of achievement dawned on me. This number was far beyond my expectation.We spent some time at the palace grounds talking about our work, hair loss and weight loss (I seriously believe hair loss is an issue intriguing the younger generation now).
Time was flying by and we were hungry. We had to decide on a place. Sindhoor palace, came up, but was rejected. Taj, Park Rajadhani too came up, but was rejected too. We wanted to be in a place where all of us could sit together and eat. Going for a buffet would mean just the opposite. After lot of discussion we decided to move to Hotel Indrapuri, at Vazhuthacaud.At Indrapuri we demanded that we could all sit together. They agreed to make the necessary arrangements. Little did we expect them to arrange a table in the 'BAR'. We were confused on whether to take the place or not. There were objections to the idea, but we could convince them quite easily. Ramya, the lone girl, and many others perhaps had their first experience of having lunch from a Bar.(Reminds me of the words from Malyatoor's Verukal, "Pattar pattapakal patta adichu!!!"). Ordering the food was next on the agenda and Jikku took the onus. He would shout the name of the dish and we would raise our hands like school children. It was more than half an hour before the food was served. We had lots to talk about, and finally the food arrived. It was already 2.30pm and we ate like pigs. We had finished our meal, and ordered juices. Then came, Vivek, who had took the effort of driving all the way from Kollam to Trivandrum just to attend this reunion. Kudos to his commitment.
We settled the bill and moved out. At the exit we posed for more photos, bid farewell and left the hotel.
This was a reunion which may serve as a launching pad for more such reunions in the coming years. We had delibrated on the feasibilty of a yearly reunion, but nothing came of it. One keynote about reunions is, it can be an ice breaker. It can act a forum wherein our old grudges can be laughed off. Over the years we may get more busy with our work and stuff, but the fact remains that the memories can't fade off. I am looking forward to arranging more such reunions in the upcoming years.
8 comments:
Was a good read man! I agree with whoever said that reunion's are way to show off how much you've moved ahead in your career, life and whatever there is to COMPARE.
This has been the reason why many who've been the so called under achievers in LIFE never turn up for such meets!
It surely must've been a sight to see Ramya walk out of a Bar with 15 other guys :D
Nice to know of such a getto. Keep uniting and keep posting.
i see u used my quote :P
@Rakesh
Of course dude, it was meaningful quote
aaha !!
This was why the background of the lunch photo looked familiar .. Indrapuriyile executive baralle ?? Ennitt aarum veeshelle ?
It is nice to see someone with a strikingly similar mindset :)
We have a fixed reunion on the Christmas week of every year for our batch cet'95. The difference is that our annual get together is for the entire batch, not a branch alone. The attendance had been as low as 10 once. There wasn't any shortage for the skeptics and doubting Thomases. But it was never stopped, and was carried on. Each year the faces in the crowd varied and for the last few years or so, the children had taken the centrestage in our gatherings :)
Last year I had traveled the longest distance among all people who turned up to attend the same, this year too, I have no plans to miss it.
Keep meeting once in a year, at least. It is worth the effort to have a hearty laugh with your college pals :)
Yes sir, We will make it a point to meet once in a year...
@abhilash sir
sir i dont know whether u mentioned abt the travel i hav done on the day to attend the function.taking that as a missassumption, me too want to say u sir,wen i read ur blogs earlier ,i have commented to my class friend neenu th same thing,like i hav the simmilar thoughts as u in various things. :)
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