Unplanned dinner with Jugal

Myself and Jugal have been trying to catch up with each other for quite some time now but we weren’t able to find time. Thanks to our busy schedule and my frequent travels. Weekends are hectic for us to spare time for anything else. Weekdays we can plan, provided we decide to take off from work. After pondering our thoughts on it a lot, we decided to catch up on a weekday. We will take off for that day.

All planned and set but just the day before we were supposed to meet, he called me late in the evening to inform that we have to cancel the plan. Jugal had an important client visit at work and his presence was mandatory. More than me Jugal was feeling bad but I said it happens. Things don’t go as planned usually. I told him, we will meet one day when both of us were expecting it the least. I didn’t know it will happen that way.

It was Friday afternoon when Jugal called me out of blue moon and inquired about my dinner plans. I said didn’t plan anything yet but its too early to commit. His immediate response was don’t plan anything, we are catching up for dinner today, I was like, WHAT? He told there’s a restaurant named “Hyderbadi Spice” close to his office, we can catch up there for dinner. He WhatsApped me the location, but there’s a twist here. Jugal is pure veg and I am non veg. How can I have veg food at an authentic non veg place was my dilemma? Jugal told if I want, I can have non veg, he has no issues. I said no, I will try veg food at non veg place for the first time.

We planned to catch up by 8.30 at the restaurant. When I was about to step out, it started raining heavily, I thought, today’s plan also went for a toss. I tried booking a cab but due to peak hour, cabs were not available and I have left my car at my friends place. Going to my friends place and getting the car was next to impossible, though its close by but I will get drenched in rain.  I have 2 options either to wait till the rain stops or cancel the plan. I chose the first option and decided to wait but informed Jugal about it. He was also bit upset but agreed to wait for some time. Luckily rain stopped in 15 mins and I heaved a sigh of relief.

Immediately took my bike and set off before it starts raining again. Google map was my charioteer in the journey but today even it got confused a bit. Reason there were 2 places with the same name and I landed at the wrong one. I called Jugal to inform that I reached and he said, am not where to be seen. Then when he inquired about the landmark, it was then I realized I am at the wrong place. I have no words to express my aggression at that moment of time.

Jugal told he shared the location with me, them how did this happen? It was my fault I searched the place in google map and followed it instead of his shared location. Sometimes smartness can land you in mess, today I was feeling it. But now I was determined, come whatever I will meet him for sure. Then I started following the location shared by Jugal, my destination was 3 km away.

After lot of twist and turn I reached my destination, I parked my bike. Called Jugal to tell I reached. He came out of the restaurant, his happiness was clearly evident on his face. First thing he said when we met was “Finally”. True, after whole lot of struggles we were catch up today, finally. We hugged each other as long lost buddies and went inside the restaurant. The aroma of chicken and mutton biriyani was so strong that I had to change my mind. I told Jugal l dude, sorry but I want chicken biriyani no veg for me. Jugal smiled and ordered accordingly. He knew I will change my mind after coming to the place, so he was not amused a bit, rather he wanted me to try biriyani but didn’t tell.

Biriyani was yummy, if I had ordered veg, would have regretted for it. Jugal asked me how’s the food? I said awesome, saw a sense of pride in his eyes then. He was happy to find a decent place where one could get yummy food. His choice of the place was not wrong. From the moment food was ordered till it was finished, we were engrossed in talking. Both of us had lot of things to be discussed in person. We used it to the fullest.

By the time we were done with our dinner it was almost an hour, Jugal had taken only an hours permission from his work for dinner. Bill was cleared and we left the place. Before leaving home I asked Jugal one question, how was the experience of unplanned meeting? Jugal instant response was awesome. Really it will be a memorable dinner for both if us, as we wouldn’t have struggled so much to catch up with our friends before. That day it was hectic but today when I think about it can’t stop laughing about the entire experience, it was crazy.