It was the 31st of Dec 2005 – last day of the year. After celebrating five dawn-of-new-years (four during courtship and one after marriage) inside homes…we finally ventured out yesterday. I agree, it was fun.
Dawn-of-the-new-year are occasions for people to do something special. Or a few like Rekha and I, it is an occasion to be seen doing something special. At 9 pm, both were at Hotel Savera – a not so up-market hotel…but just right for a cost conscious couple wanting to try their hand at the dance floor. Ok…feet, at the dance floor.
The event was called ‘Non-Stop Naach Nite’ and the ticket set us back by Rs 1699/-. We were to get four half-beers and two dinners as part of the package…and of course the dance floor for five hours.
As expected there was quite a crowd. For all we know…Robert Browning, the guy who authored Pied Piper of Hamelin, could have been inspired by such a gathering. At this event there were all kinds of people, like how Robert Browning explains in his poem…
Out of the houses the rats came tumbling.
Great rats, small rats, lean rats, brawny rats,
Brown rats, black rats, grey rats, tawny rats,
Grave old plodders, gay young friskers,
Fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins,
Cocking tails and pricking whiskers,
Families by tens and dozens,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives —
Followed the Piper for their lives.
*For easy comprehension, please replace ‘rats` with ‘humans`
There were eight of us but we won`t talk of them here as they might take offence. I can call them up and check if I can write about them, but they are likely to ignore me after how Rekha and I danced last night.
It was a wild party…until Rekha and I stepped on the dance floor and tamed it.
At nine, we entered the hall. The first stop, needless to say, was the beer joint. Since, Rekha doesn`t drink she wasted my beer coupon for a Pepsi. I am yet to get the equation right…. how can a bottle of beer equal a bottle of Pepsi?
Once inhibitions were drowned in spirits…we were ready to step onto the dance floor. Well, I have to be honest here, I had stepped on the dance floor earlier – when I went to buy cigarettes.
The Kajrare Kajrare song from Bubli and Bunty was playing…and we couldn`t have chosen a better time to start dancing. Rekha and I have never danced together…am glad. Both of us swayed our hands like windmills caught in a storm…we even managed to step on each other`s shoes. With each song we gathered speed and when Dus Bahane Karke from the Abhishek Bachchan movie Dus hit the walls…we were uncontrollable. We were generating so much breeze that the Savera Hotel management decided to switch off the AC. One gentleman dancing next to us did comment that our dance was cool. Wonder if he was referring to the breeze …
Dinner was good too. Since there was a huge queue at the starting point…we decided to start from the ending point – the desserts. Try it next time. Just don`t tell your wife that it was not a great idea…
On our way back, we did encounter some Formula One racers and World Rally Championship riders. The road looked like a racetrack…except for the track marshals…and at 2 a.m. on 1st Jan, 2006, we managed to race back home.
“Happy New Year,” I softly whispered into Rekha`s ears as we entered the house.
“You didn`t switch off the drawing room tube-light when you locked!” She was angry. New year or no new year….some things just don`t change.