I have last met my parents on December 27th 2005. I met many of my close friends for the last time on December 27th 2005 and some even before that when they left for MS. Today its June 7th 2007. It has been more than 1 and a half years since I met anyone who was close to my heart. I met some of my friends in May 2007, Pradeep, Revanth, Vishal and Priyanka which made me very happy, but the very feeling that I am going to meet 10 of my friends at once in Chicago made me the happiest person. Everytime I look at the calander I count days for June 1st. That was the day when we planned to meet. All of us booked tickets, made arrangements to go to the Airport but the day has not yet arrived. All of us are eagerly waiting for the day. Finally, the day has begun. It was June 1st and emotions started to overtake us. I dont know about all others but for me, the feeling that I will be meeting my friends did not allow me to do any other work that day. I could not sleep the night before that, I did not work anything in the office that day, just waiting and I might have looked at the clock atleast 100 times that day.
Anil Ramachandran, a friend of mine drove me down to the airport. I reached there around 5’o clock though my flight was scheduled at 7 PM. I did not know how to spend 2 hours waiting for the flight, and to add ghee to the fire the flight was delayed. It was delayed by 3 hours and finally it took off at 10:30PM. I reached Chicago, which was our meeting point at 11:20PM. Pavan was also expect to arrive at the same time. So Praneeth was waiting at the airport for us and finally when I reached the airport I called Praneeth and informed him that I have just landed.
With a lot of confusion (Chicago Airport is known for this) I met my friends. Excitement, true excitement to see them, I was spell bound, I shout at once maaaaaaaamaaaaaaaa, I went as fast as I could to them and I hugged Pavan, the most happiest moment in the last 2 years, then I hugged Praneeth and then Sri Karan, everyone of these three were like my close friends. Those moments when we saw each other after 2 years left a mark in my mind. I was so excited. Divya also came to the airport along with them, she is another person with whom I was very close throughout my engineering life till date. I said hi to her and then we started to go to the parking lot. Both Pavan and I were hungry as it was a long wait in the airport for the flight. We walked to the parking lot.
Our friends who are so concerned about us brought Biryani to the airport. Pavan and I could not stop ourselves from jumping onto it. We sat there in the parking lot and started eating the Biryani (True home like feeling).
Pic: Pavan and I having Biryani in the Parking lot of the Airport as Karan and Divya are watching. Camera Man: Praneeth.
We were waiting for another hero Sidharth who was expected to arrive at 12:15 AM that night. He called Praneeth and informed that he got down from the flight. Praneeth, Karan and Pavan went to get him to the parking area. Finally he came and I went to him running to hug him, when I hugged him that fellow comes up with a statement saying,
“Aaagu bey evaraina chusthe malli vere arthaalu vasthaayi”.
It really pissed me off but knowing the kind of item that fellow is I never reacted for that. Vamsee also came to the airport so we drove back to the motel in two cars. There I met Saritha and Revanth who came to help us with luggage. Saritha all of a sudden started hitting me, and when I asked why are you hitting me she came up with a brilliant answer saying I feel like hitting you after 2 years, I dint get a chance in these 2 years to hit you so I am hitting you. We went into the rooms and thought of talking with each other the whole night but many of them were already tired so some of them slept at around 3 AM. Karan, Siddu, Revanth and I were still talking and we slept at 6 AM.
Saturday Morning
Pic: In motel Room. Clockwise: Karan, Praneeth, Pavan, Siddu and I.
The plan for saturday morning was to go to Aurora Temple. Funny thing about this was, our engineering college was Aurora and the caption was Temple of Learning. And now our first visiting place in the reunion was Aurora Temple. Thank god the pujari was not Ramesh Babu (Founder of our college). Divya, Saritha, Triveni (Saritha’s Friend) , Praneeth and I came in one car and all others came in the other car. Vamsee was driving that car and as usual he got lost on the way and we had almost 30 mins before they came. So it was a nice chance for some good photos.
Pics: Some of the Pics taken before Vamsee and gang came to the temple
Pic: Vamsee Car Gang. Vamsee, Siddu, Karan, Pavan.
Vamsee and gang finally reached the temple. Then we went into the temple for the Darshanam. Had a very good darshan of lord Venkateshwara. Apart from the temple bells, there were bells ringing in our stomach. Most of us did not have breakfast. By the time we came out, there was a generous family offering food to the vistors in the temple. We had that first and then ordered different variety of food from the temple canteen and started to relish it.
Pic: Just before going into the temple.
Pic: Having a Wonderful Lunch at the Temple.
From there our next place was Navy Pier. We went to the Parking lot of Shedd Aquarium and enjoyed a fantastic view of the downtown from that place. The view was beautiful. We took some pics there and then went to Navy Pier in a water taxi.
Pic: All of us together in Aurora Temple
The boat ride was very nice with water spilling on to the face. We were accompanied by a beautiful couple (They were just sitting beside us, not that they came along with us). I bet most of our friends in the boat might not observed them but……………. hmmmm forget it.
Pics: Taken beside Shedd Aquarium with a beautiful Lake View
Anyways we went to Navy Pier and immediately we got call from Pradeep (Our Local Hero). Pradeep, Priyanka, Revanth had there convocation that day in the morning so they joined in late. So as soon as we went in the plan was changed (You can expect this in a meet with 11 people). So we had to leave Navy Pier in 30 mins to the Lake Shore Drive.
We reached Lake Shore Drive at 7PM. And we started walking towards the beach. Took some pics on the way to the beach. The best time in the entire trip was in the beach. In the 11 people that we met some of them were working in MNC’s, some other’s graduated, some others were looking for jobs, I am sure none of us were less than 23 years of age. But at that moment everyone of us were kids… some of them (Girls ofcoz) started building houses in sand. Some of them started fighting like kids in the sand, some of them were running to catch one another ohhh it was a fun filled atmosphere.
Pic: When we just entered the Beach
We were thinking of games which involved everyone of us. We came up with all kinds of Ideas. Current-Shock (Lock and Key as some of the call it), Helping Chain, Chain Cut what not what not… finally we decided to play Chain Cut, as it involves everyone. We had to decide who is going to be the chor.
We did that funny thing I dont know what they call it in English but in telugu they call it Pantalu. We did that and Karan was the bakra for that day. But you know what, Siddu does not allow anyone to be Bakra alone for long time, so he joined Karan to catch the others. Not very late even I joined (I was not out but they cheated me) and as all of you know about me I accepted and joined them. Then we could catch two others and no more. We were exhausted and couldnt run anymore.
Pic: Before starting the game Chain-Cut. Pantalu Vesukuntunnamoch.
Then we decided not to play any game which has physical movement. We sat down in a circle and were thinking of a game to play. I came up with an idea of playing dumb sherards. This was the funniest moment in the entire trip. Every movie title was dealt in a brilliant way. It started with Jamba Lakidi Pamba, Vamsee enacted that and he did a brilliant job. Then various other titles came up with the only one losing to be Pradeep. He was trying to enact Naaaku Pellam Kavali. So the losers were, Pradeep, Vamsee, Pavan, Karan and Siddu . And the winners were Divya, Priyanka, Triveni, Revanth, and me. Just kidding guys its not the matter of who won, its the fact that everyone of us won that moment and will remember those funny incidents throughout our life.
From there we went to Devon Street to have our dinner and then we drove back to the motel. Once we went back all the girls fell asleep and we guys gathered in the other room. We were talking, commenting on each other, thinking and recollecting our undergrad lives and suddenly once again, the same person was the center in that room. He came up with something FISHY and that made him the center again. I know dude, immediately after looking at this you are going to say FISH. Anyways that was fun again and it was 4 in the morning by that time. Slowly people started to sleep and everyone except, Pavan, Karan, Siddu and I were still awake. We talked about each other, we talked about the difficulties each one of us faced, we talked about happy moments in our lives in these two years, we talked about the toughest times in our lives in these two years, financially and emotionally. That was one of the best talks that I had in my last two years and none of us slept till 8 AM that day, but we enjoyed every moment of it. Every word that we spoke that night came from our hearts, every talk that we had made some sense to us, every decision that we took that night will definitely impact our lives in a great way. I dont know about others but for me that was the best time I can even dream of spending with my friends. Thanks to Pavan, Siddu and Karan. I will remember that talks for the remainder of my life.
Sleeping at 8AM none of us even thought in our wildest dreams that we will get up at 10 AM. As Imentioned before some of us slept just 3 hours even the day before. But you will be surprised to know everyone of us were ready by 11 AM. The point is very simple, we did not want to waste time sleeping. So we set off from the hotel again for lunch and we went to Udipi Hotel.
We had some good food there and then it was time for me and Pavan to depart. Thats the worst feeling friends, to meet the loved ones and to leave them so soon is the worst feeling anyone can have. I was not in a mood to talk to anyone, I dint want to leave that place and at the same time if I talk to anyone I was afraid that I might burst out, I did not want that to happen. I was so quite that day, everyone noticed that and everyone were feeling that same. The last 30 mins before I left I observed a calmness in the entire group, everyone knew that was the end of the trip, everyone knew that we will not see each other again for certain number of days. But there is one thing which none of us knew. How time just ran away. None of us realized that we spent two days together, it was so short. Once again hugs, smile, farewell, everyone had a smile on the face saying good bye, but everyone of us knew that it was artificial. Tears were just on the tip of the eyes, even if one of the whole lot had their tears dripping down I am sure it would have been an emotional out burst.
Thats it guys, 3rd June 2007 put an end to whats called the extra-ordinary Reunion. Thanks to one and all who made this meet possible. I would like to name each one of you who attended the meet, Priyanka, Pradeep, Revanth, Vamsee, Praneeth, Pavan, Divya, Saritha, Sidharth, Karan and Triveni. Triveni, a special thanks to you for the patience to take our photographs. Without you the meet would have been incomplete, you helped us remember this meet all throughout our lives. Thanks to all the people who wished they would be in Chicago but could not make it due to their own personal reasons. Dont worry guys trailblazers will be setting new trends always and many more meets in future. Thanks to all our friends back in India who really felt with their heart and soul that we should have a great time together.
Pic: Collage
Thats it guys, Good bye all of you, this is my official farewell to the meet. All the best to all of you in all your current and future endeavours. Miss you all. Love you all.
All the photographs can be check at: http://picasaweb.google.com/kittuis4u/AUROReunion?authkey=K0ZjsRBt-QA
Yours lovingly,
Krishna Chaitanya Emani (KC).
This is Chaitanya CRUISING your way. 