Panned Sh!t

"Full class is coming as well as Extc and IT guys"
- Bhavi Jones

After nearly half a year since graduation our motley gang decided to meet up. Only this time it wasn't just our gang of drunks but so many of the IT industry workforce. Pooh and I hopped onto the luxury 'Vahikal' at BKC and we set off for Panshet (or Bhandhardara according to Ricky). On most occasions this trip would have taken about 7 hours. However we were in for a treat from the bus driver. After picking up the full class, we headed towards Pune. The driver travelled at a blistering 40kmph on the expressway. After travelling over 35kms in the wrong direction, we picked up Shaazia and finally were on our way to the intended destination. The Master of U-turns then decided that he was hungry and we stopped for dinner at 4am at some dhaba where we were served butter chicken with chicken substituted by pineapples by a drunken Sardar who took quite a liking to Rohan. Satiating our palates with some terrible pigeon meat and fruit, we finally got to Panshet in the wee hours of the day. 13 freakin hours (through which Marina slept). According to Lemuel, that's the amount of time he takes to reach Bombay from Hyderabad.

Panshet, however was something to be appreciated in all its rustic splendour. The rural setting was the change we all needed from the urban chaos. (yeah even Nerul and Khopar Khairane would be considered urban compared to Panshet). The Abhiruchi farm house was a cool place for a weekend and that's what we really needed. Two whole days would have made the trip killer since we were dead tired from the bus ride. The only good things about the bus were the Stags and some innovative use of Appy Fizz by Baba Bagade.

We all settled down in our rooms. Some piping hot tea made us feel better.



Some goofballs broke holiday conventions and had a bath. Breakfast was served and people just went about exploring. Following that there were some photo sessions (courtesy Floyd and Shaz) and some gossip sessions (courtesy Shaz).





Some more gossip and card games later (Amy = eternal vice-asshole), lunch was served. I opted for veg (I had my reasons) but I was devastated when I found that cabbage and cauliflower were served. Had to make do with moong and some other dal (which bhavi and nimkar christened with some goofy colloquial name). Vineet and Bhavi downed some alcoholic chaas. Went for a killer hike after that down to the lake. Didn't go prepared and thus came back with a throat parched with dust. Walked around the banks of the lake in hope of finding the jetty for boating which we found later was about more than 10kms away. Of all the people, Mr.Bear decided to break trekking conventions and took a big group (which included girls in their high heels) off the beaten path. Total tp watching them scramble through barbed wire.





Went boating in the evening although we were a bit late due to people nursing their injuries so had to settle for motor boats. By this time I and many others were hit by the lunch, weariness from the bus journey and the trek. Had a light dinner and started my business with Eno, Pudinara, Lomotil etc. (IEM helps. Just ask Pooh, Nivya and Shaz). It was then that Milan and Avinash brought in a supply of refreshments.

We got back to the farm house. Those were the last few moments of the night I do remember. 1/2 bottle of a Russian spirit down neat and I was done for the night. Got up in between to greet Floyd

, tell Shaz to quit talking and to lock myself and be saved from the wrath of the mad Baba, Kirk and Mr. Image Transformation. Had the best sleep ever.



Well that's as much as I could write. There was a little more but I went home early so didn't experience the other trek. Other writers please send in your entries. Ms. Anu, Pooh Pooh, Marina (if you were awake any part of the trip), Shaz (if you could write as much as you could narrate, this blog would be pwning the world), Bhavi.

Cheers
(hic)