“Musafir” – Urdu word meaning a traveller.
Had an early morning coffee at Reston with a very old friend of mine – Pramod Chowbey. We go back to elementary school days.
He is a bigger road warrior than I with all his travel to Asia. One road warrior to another, we both agreed that the best perk of all those travel travails is the opportunity to meet up with people who crossed our lives many moons back… (Speaking of travel travails, my flight out is now delayed by two hours 🙁 ) Last time we met, it was after thirty years. We had promised not to wait for another thirty years to meet the next time. Promise kept!!!
It was great to catch up on our old school mates, teachers and our families. And he also reminded me the nickname we had given him in school 🙂
Hope to see him down the road again….
To quote the ending of an old shayar

“Musafir hain hum bhi musafir ho tum bhi,
Kisi mod pe phir mulaqaat hogi….. ”

I am not the biggest fan of going to hospitals. In fact, I have never been a fan of going anywhere where I bring the average age down in the waiting room. I have never quite figured out whether that is a good thing or a bad thing:-)
But here I am going through my annual physicals and already am in my seventh hour as they have taken me thru a battery of tests from the brain (yes, found it 🙂 ) all the way to the toes. But of course, to me it is another opportunity to make friends with doctors, nurses, staff and learn new things. Kept pestering the three of my most favorite doctors (okay the only three I get to see once a year) to teach me about endothelial membrane, beta thalassamia and such inconsequential stuff. Managed to even make recommendations for some resort properties to one of them. Had a detailed discussion with the CT Scanner guy on why Texas can never get out US – regardless of what the popular belief is. (he does not like Texas).. and such other non-medical stuff crowded the day. But there were some funny moments too.
In fact, there was this really cute doctor who was giving me a hearing test. I tried to convince her that she should fail me in the test – I needed an excuse at home why I never do what my wife tells me to. She politely told me that she can fix my hearing problems but not my listening problems 🙂 (I correctly guessed that she is married 🙂 )
But the cutest thing happened as I was waiting for her to call out my name for the test. A really old couple were struggling to fill up those stupid forms that you have to fill up seventeen times. If one more person had asked me what my birthday was, I would have yelled “How the hell should I know? I was too small. You are the doctors. You guys should have noted it down” 🙂 Anyways, this old couple was desperately trying to help each other with the questions but there were three things that was making it painful for them and hilarious for us.
First, he wanted to make a quick hash of it by claiming “No” to everything. So, he would loudly yell – “Skin Problem? No!”, “Allergies? No!”.
Second, every time he would say “No” – she would re read the question and come up with a different answer!!
Third, both were hard of hearing (this was the ENT after all)..

Some excerpts:
He: “Family History of heart disease”? NO
She: “Write Yes”.
He: “Why? Who had heart problems?”
She (indignantly): “Your dad. He died of heart stroke”
He started desperately scratching on the paper 🙂
…..
He: “Any skin problem”? NO
She: “Write Yes. Previously but not now”
He (irritated): “What was wrong with my skin?”
She (calmly): ” You had skin cancer”
He (grudgingly): “I did? Oh! I did!”
….
He: “Have you ever had a street drug”? “What is a street drug”?
She (lowering voice): “That is marijuana, honey”.
He: “Oh! I am not telling them that”
She: “Just write No then”
….
He: “Do you smoke cigarettes”? NO
She: “Write Previously Used”
He: “But why?”
She: “Because you gave up smoking in 1969”.
He (muttering under his breath): “They do not need to know that far back”.

and it went on and on. Unfortunately, I was called in at that time. But before I stepped in thru the doctors’ door, I did walk up to them and told them that when I grow up to be as young as them, I want my wife and I to fill up a form like them together. And wished them good luck. He told me he was a Vietnam veteran and he was a gunner then. Again I wished him the best. I finally understood how he lost most of his hearing…

So, I stepped onto my flight from Boston to Atlanta and settled down in my seat. Presently, another Indian young (the “another” defined “Indian” not “young” 🙂 ) came and sat next to me. He was on a call for the whole time and finally when we were ready to pull out, he finished his call. Trying to break some ice, he asked me how my wine tasted (I was sipping half a glass of red wine). This is how the conversation went:

He: “How is the wine”?
Me: “It is airlines wine. ’nuff said”! 🙂
He: “I am sure the plastic cup brings the taste out”
Me: “You got it!! So, is Atlanta home?”
He: “Yes”
Me: “Where do you work?”
He: “Bain Consulting”
Me: “Aha! I know a guy in your office who makes coffee nervous!!”
He: “Are you talking about my boss John? Are you Rajib Roy from Equifax?”

I am like “WHATTTT???? How did you make that connection?”

Lunch with elementary school friend Keya Banerjee in Boston between meetings…

The benefits of business travel!! Met good old friend from MBA days Vikram Sampat after over 20 years!!! It was priceless catching up after so many years!! Like the gold old days, had an ice cream with him after dinner. Instead of our usual haunt -ICP (Ice Cream Parlour) it was CCI (Cricket Club of India) this evening!!

Most consider my travel schedule to be crazy. I admit it can be onerous. But the upsides are huge. If I am not learning about local politics and history, I get to meet people who have touched my life in the past. Today, in the middle of all sorts of meetings (talk about something being onerous 🙂 ), Rishi Bandopadhay arranged to come and have a quick lunch with me. I met him first in 1994 when he was barely a year old. Was a role model for a lot of kids in Dallas including my daughters. Today he is in NYU. Thank you Gampu for hunting me down and then taking time off from your year end test preparations to have lunch with me. That was special!!! Sorry I could not spend more time what with all the client meetings…

Today was the day to meet old friends! After the running incident this morning, in the evening ran into dear oldJonathan Colehower and his family. Had not seen his daughters since Boston and Debbie and him in the last 4 years. It was simply awesome to run into such a honest to earth and beautiful family as the Colehowers!! I was amazed that Jonathan recognized me in the dim lights in the Bowling Alley especially since I have changed a lot in the four years…