in the Arctic - Right?
Wrong!
I was sitting quietly at my computer clearing my email when the phone rang. It was my foster daughter from South Finland, daughter of 54er Sadhana Madhusadan (née Shah). Gopa had not called me for some time, so we chit-chatted for a while and caught up on the news.
Then she said there was a fellow Jhath-walla - a Cathedralite, who had come to visit her. Would I like to speak to him?
"Sure", I said, as who would not like to chat with another Cathedralite.
His name - Ravi Khote (79er) and he was with his wife,Rita (non-Cathedralite). That did not ring much of a bell, although I do vaguely remember a Khote who was a few years senior to me, but nothing I could recall.
We exchanged pleasanatries and found that we had common friends. Rags, as Ravi is known, is in theatre, composing, music and acting. When I asked whether he was in multimedia - he said it was "multiple media"!
As we talked he said he had two fathers, which puzzled me a bit.
And then he asked me whether I knew a Farookh Metha?
Now, did I know a Farookh Metha?
You bet I did.
Not as a Cathedralite, as Farookh would have been in school before I joined as he is about 8 years senior to me (possibly a 52er) but because of another event in my life.
When I ended my education and my career in England, Annikki and I decided we would sail back to India. Since the Suez was closed, the route was around the Cape. We boarded the ss Victoria of the Lloyd Tristino line at Venice.
I think it was at Barcelona - another Indian family joined the boat.
As both the men liked to play table tennis, we got friendly.
His name was Farookh Metha. I learnt a lot about Farookh on the trip. Although he whipped me in the finals of the on-board table tennis competition, we were good friends.
I do not remember his wife, Bhakul, but I knew he was travelling with her and their children. One of those was a 9 year old boy - none other than Rags Ravi Khote, as he had kept the name of his late father. Bhakul had been married to Harim Khote who had passed away.
Yes, we had travelled together around the Cape, crossed twice across the Equator and into India, 36 years ago!!
I had met Farookh a few times after our journey on the boat as we had a few common friends. It was certainly a great thrill to hear first hand of a wonderful personality who is still hyperactive that I had got know on our journey to India.
Who says nothing happens to hibernating Polar Bear Cathedralites stuck up in isolation near the North Pole!
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