It was quite unexpected but heartening to see Santosh Permual's invitation in Facebook. I could not keep regular touch (due to a vareity of reasons) with him since 2002, the year I left Press Trust of India and New Delhi once and forever.
Peru was my office-mate and flat-mate along with Harish, and the years I spent with them will always be counted as one of the most joyous in my life. Peru, hoping to hit it big in economics department, was the most experienced scribe among us while I dreamt of making a name in sports journalism and Harish in the field of court and law.
It is quite unfortunate to say that none of us could exactly realise our dreams in PTI owing to multiple reasons. But the company of each other was enough for us to forget the professional frustrations, and every weekly off day used to begin invariably with Harish's question: Innengane (What to do today?).
The undertone of the question was when to start our drinking session usually accompanied with all the gossips of the week, little mud-slinging etc etc. Unfortunately, digtial cameras and mobile phones with camera were still out of our grasps as we could not capture any of those moments. But they still shine like crystal in my memory.
Here's one gem: Peru was on evening duty in office and suddenly he was seen frantically searching for Mr Panaji after attending the phone near him. Sunday crowd were perplexed by his query and finally Harish attended the phone only to see him rolling in laughter. Actually, it was a call from PTI's Panaji office, and our poor Peru thought 'Mr Panaji' was on the line. Later he told us over a drink that the lady at the other end said in Hindi, "Panaji hei idhar, reporting mein kaun hei?" Our Hindi-Bhooshan understood it as a call for Panaji since in Delhi office 'JI' was suffixed to seniors' name like Dharji, Pathakji etc.
Cut to present. It is a good feeling to be back in touch with a man of golden heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment