As part of the numerous ceremonies of this elaborate wedding "Aroop weds Pamela", this one was a bit "hatke" (different); Cocktails on a Boat on the River Hooghly.
When my wife and I got the invitation which read like a 10 day festival of sorts, we really had to decide which one of the ceremonies we would attend. After all it was wedding season and I had a huge 3 day event coming up on the work front at around the same time. So the Cocktails on the river was my first choice and so what if it was a Monday night. Firstly I didn’t have any prior engagements and secondly I just had to know what it felt like being on a Boat all lit up with blaring music and booze flowing. My wife and I had been witness to these boats going up and down the river on numerous occasions when we had visited the strand and always wondered if we’d ever go on one of these jaunts.
The day didn’t start too well as we heard news of the violence that had hit various pockets of Kolkata and I decided to take my bike to work. My wife decided not to go to office as we saw images on the morning news of a bus being burnt right in front of her office. The original plan was for me to come back home, but just in case I couldn’t make it back, I had kept my cocktail attire out. Sure enough, I got stuck in office and she had to come get me.
We left the office about 6.30pm, and we recalled how Aroop had said that the boat would leave at 7.00pm on the dot and those who didn’t make it on time, would be left behind. Heck, we didn’t want to miss this opportunity. So I didn’t bother going back up nine floors to my office to change. I just told my wife to drive to the jetty and while she was driving, I changed my clothes in the car. She was in complete shock and was laughing her guts out as she witnessed me transform from jeans, t-shirt, sneakers mode into the trousers, silky red shirt and black shoes party guy. And all this happened through the length of Theatre Road. Kind of reminded me of Clark Kent going into a phone booth and coming out as Superman.
Anyway we reached the venue well in time and got on the boat and went straight up to the upper deck where arrangements had been made for the evening ahead; the bar and food at the rear and the Entertainment at the front. We found ourselves a seat strategically located behind one of the speakers and waited till the place filled up. Once all were aboard, the boat departed from the Jetty at about 7.30pm. After a bit of socialising with some known faces, we decided to head to where the action was about to begin. Yeah the bar opened shortly after we got into position right in front of it. The evening was kicked off with a brief announcement about the occasion and straight to some old rock ‘n roll Kishore Kumar songs.
As the boat went down river under the Vidyasagr Setu and turned back around, people were already getting into high spirits. But to our surprise we headed back to the Jetty after a short 45 minute ride and learnt the reason was because some of the guests would be hopping off as they had to attend another wedding too. Well that was good, because while we were getting the Jetty frantic calls had bee made to shore. We had run out of cold drinks and the stock was more than replenished once we set off again at 8.30pm. This time the destination was Dakshineswar which was about a two hour cruise from here. This was truly going to be fun!
The high point of the evening was and incident which had me nearly in splits. While we were making merry on the front deck, an elderly British gentleman joined us and my wife, to my surprise, introduced herself and struck up a conversation with him.
Well the conversation went thus:
My Wife: “Hi, I’m Divya.”
British Gentleman: “Hi I’m Roger. I’m Aroop’s dad!”
My Wife immediately shot back: “No you’re not!” while I looked over her shoulder in shock and very confused. As far as I knew Aroop’s dad was Dr. Sen, so how come some Brit guy was introducing himself as Aroop’s dad.
Well that’s when he clarified and told us how Aroop spent a lot of time at his house in UK and that he was part of the family et al.
The best part is that he had probably told everyone he had spoken with at the party that he was Aroop’s dad, and my wife was the only one who had shot back point blank that he wasn’t.
Anyway as the night progressed we passed Belur on our left and went under the Bally Bridge (Vivekananda Setu) and turned around beside Dakshineswar and headed back down river to Kolkata making merry and making new friends.
We finally got back close to midnight after a fun evening on the river.
The Entrance of Outram Jetty (also called the Police Jetty). It's actually the jetty where the River Police have their boats.
This Boat all lit up for the Cocktail Party.
The Party Kicks off.
Approaching the towering New Hooghly Bridge (Vidyasagar Setu).
Approaching the iconic Howrah Bridge (Rabindra Setu).
Heading back from Dakshineswar approaching the Bally Bridge (Vivekananda Setu).
The Party People. People sure were having a good time.
Alighting from the boat after a four hour soiree of sorts on the River.
When my wife and I got the invitation which read like a 10 day festival of sorts, we really had to decide which one of the ceremonies we would attend. After all it was wedding season and I had a huge 3 day event coming up on the work front at around the same time. So the Cocktails on the river was my first choice and so what if it was a Monday night. Firstly I didn’t have any prior engagements and secondly I just had to know what it felt like being on a Boat all lit up with blaring music and booze flowing. My wife and I had been witness to these boats going up and down the river on numerous occasions when we had visited the strand and always wondered if we’d ever go on one of these jaunts.
The day didn’t start too well as we heard news of the violence that had hit various pockets of Kolkata and I decided to take my bike to work. My wife decided not to go to office as we saw images on the morning news of a bus being burnt right in front of her office. The original plan was for me to come back home, but just in case I couldn’t make it back, I had kept my cocktail attire out. Sure enough, I got stuck in office and she had to come get me.
We left the office about 6.30pm, and we recalled how Aroop had said that the boat would leave at 7.00pm on the dot and those who didn’t make it on time, would be left behind. Heck, we didn’t want to miss this opportunity. So I didn’t bother going back up nine floors to my office to change. I just told my wife to drive to the jetty and while she was driving, I changed my clothes in the car. She was in complete shock and was laughing her guts out as she witnessed me transform from jeans, t-shirt, sneakers mode into the trousers, silky red shirt and black shoes party guy. And all this happened through the length of Theatre Road. Kind of reminded me of Clark Kent going into a phone booth and coming out as Superman.
Anyway we reached the venue well in time and got on the boat and went straight up to the upper deck where arrangements had been made for the evening ahead; the bar and food at the rear and the Entertainment at the front. We found ourselves a seat strategically located behind one of the speakers and waited till the place filled up. Once all were aboard, the boat departed from the Jetty at about 7.30pm. After a bit of socialising with some known faces, we decided to head to where the action was about to begin. Yeah the bar opened shortly after we got into position right in front of it. The evening was kicked off with a brief announcement about the occasion and straight to some old rock ‘n roll Kishore Kumar songs.
As the boat went down river under the Vidyasagr Setu and turned back around, people were already getting into high spirits. But to our surprise we headed back to the Jetty after a short 45 minute ride and learnt the reason was because some of the guests would be hopping off as they had to attend another wedding too. Well that was good, because while we were getting the Jetty frantic calls had bee made to shore. We had run out of cold drinks and the stock was more than replenished once we set off again at 8.30pm. This time the destination was Dakshineswar which was about a two hour cruise from here. This was truly going to be fun!
The high point of the evening was and incident which had me nearly in splits. While we were making merry on the front deck, an elderly British gentleman joined us and my wife, to my surprise, introduced herself and struck up a conversation with him.
Well the conversation went thus:
My Wife: “Hi, I’m Divya.”
British Gentleman: “Hi I’m Roger. I’m Aroop’s dad!”
My Wife immediately shot back: “No you’re not!” while I looked over her shoulder in shock and very confused. As far as I knew Aroop’s dad was Dr. Sen, so how come some Brit guy was introducing himself as Aroop’s dad.
Well that’s when he clarified and told us how Aroop spent a lot of time at his house in UK and that he was part of the family et al.
The best part is that he had probably told everyone he had spoken with at the party that he was Aroop’s dad, and my wife was the only one who had shot back point blank that he wasn’t.
Anyway as the night progressed we passed Belur on our left and went under the Bally Bridge (Vivekananda Setu) and turned around beside Dakshineswar and headed back down river to Kolkata making merry and making new friends.
We finally got back close to midnight after a fun evening on the river.
view... absolutely exhilarating!! :)
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