True Story
Classmates and Blessings!
As usual, being Thursday, My Father-in-law wanted to visit Raghvendra Swami Matha.
Dad and I go to the temple (Matha). Do the usual pradakshina, take the prasad (important hai bhai) … And then we decided to sit around for a few minutes.
As I’m sitting there, listening to Bhajans, soaking in the ambiance, I lock eyes with a lady across the way.
Suddenly, we both leap up like we just spotted a dancing peacock and nearly shout in unison, “Arey Tu… Idhar!” — and before I know it, we’re in a full-on bear hug!
She is my classmate Vaishali Joshi from Anushaktinagar. She lives in New Jersey. And we are meeting after 30 long years. We chat for a few minutes, catching up on life’s little adventures.
Then she introduces me to her father and I introduce Dad.. they get talking.
Out of nowhere, I casually drop, “He’s from Athani.”
She gasps like I just revealed that Rohit Sharma has been dropped in the 5th Test match. What!? My Dad is also from Athani.
Then i intervene both dad’s. So, I play matchmaker and say, “Dad, he’s from Athani!”
They look at each other like they just solved a Rubik’s Cube. Huh!? Hauda!.. surname exchanged, location in Athani exchanged, Teacher name exchanged…
Few other names exchanged .. then Vaishali’s Dad asks ” Bodhi, henge idddana!?” (How is Bodhraya?)
“Arey Nane Bodhi” (Arey I am Bodhraya)
The way they hugged was like they were reunited after a long war, complete with tears and laughter. Turns out, they were classmates who shared the same bench back in the day!
What followed was a glorious 20-minute trip down memory lane filled with tales of Athani days and friends — because, of course, nothing bonds people like reminiscing about childhood mischief.
Beautiful evening at the Matha.
I say “what a beautiful coincidence. I meet my classmate after 30 years. Dad meets his classmate after 70 years!
Dad quips “Id yalla… Devre madastan… ” (This is all planned by God)