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.
