Happy meet at Lata akka’s house on 20.07.2008

Kalyana Samayal saadham Kai karigalum Pramaadham
Ladoo, Bela, Panneer gravy, Masal vadai and chocolate Fudge !!!

Doesn’t seem to be rhyming, but all these were the Food for our senses at Lata akka’s place on a relaxed Sunday afternoon. Yes, we Chennai ites again proved to be active with our get together during the weekend. All cheers goes to Veda anna, who had come from Muscat and was spending his time with us as if we were meeting for the nth time. There was not even an iota of a strange feeling for me as to looking Veda anna for the first time. Absolutely no room for an attitude of mingling with a person I had not seen earlier. It was all the same and he became the prey for all us as we were pulling his legs right from the second we entered Lata akka’s place. There is a woman behind every man’s success. Yes absolutely an apt declaration here that flashes through my nerves. Of course it’s none other than the ever-youthful and active Shanthi manni (she becomes my manni from Sunday as Veda is my anna).

An official photographer whom we had amidst us was so dear and enjoyable. It was Lata akka’s husband who was bubbling with energy when we all got into action. He was so very active that he recorded a whole video of ours and revealed our impishness through an immaculate HD screen (Oh, I just loved its touch and finish) and we all sat together, quite for the first ever time possible to watch our track of enjoyment. Lata akka is always accommodative and lively, as Meena had told me several times, but I experienced it personally only this Sunday! Krish kutty was very active and beaming with full attitude. The whole place was reverberating with his energy. The hospitality the people in the house expressed is par beyond the communicative words. I fell in love with the beautiful flat and it was maintained really well. The pictures of Lata akka with her relatives and friends on the fridge door were so lively and she was adorably beautiful in that blue sari of hers. Lata akka, after completing her tasty Samayal (cooking) along with Shanthi manni’s assistance, was clad in a beautiful dark red tops and a grey pant.

To join us in the get together were the beautiful and calm kids of Shanthi manni; Chaaru and Srivats, Honey filled Anitha (Honeytha) ma’am and her kutty son Rishi, ever bright and adorable Varloo ma’am, happy Sharadha ma’am with her co-sister Laxmi (Srilux), quite Padma ma’am with her husband, sweet Rajmi ma’am with her lovely kids Surabi and Shravan, our roaring Lioness Meena and hey of course this sweet little Ramya Varadharajan !!! I would not be doing justice if I do not mention Lata akka’s mother who was a super woman and extended her grace and wishes to us by her amazing and ever fragrant Masala vadai as soon as we entered their home. (those who were late for the meet would now repent I know) and it was Lata akka’s sister who was kind enough to click our group photo.

We profusely thank Sharadha ma’am who ordered and stunned us by the sweet and greeny (symbolic of IL background online) cake that was sumptuous enough and made us forget about our calorie meter and other conscious bound sensing attitude. The main clicks or the snaps will stimulate everyone’s saliva and the respective salivary glands as the whole meet was made delicious with the Super Chennai Queen’s nalabaagam (cooking ability).

I sat with my father to discuss about our get together and to mention certain highlights with a strong punch and here it is on screen. Not the Puligogarai, but the Kingly Puliodarai crowned by the “Happy meet cake” indeed was a memorable Kadhambam (mixture of vegetables that makes a khozhambu or Sambar, but here more on a literary note about the different people coming together), of course the arch-rival Avial was enjoyed by the Maasila Manangal (minds) with ever-memorable Manangal (fragrance) in the midst of Asaththal Kuruvies (the young chirruping kids) with the presence of Bhagawan Sathya Sai’s divine Bhajan (Imp Note: Veda anna is an excellent and rhythmic singer) and sweetly “Honeyed” words, I for one felt the integration of the body and mind (kutties Chaaru and Krishna performed yogic aasanas), old and young (no streaming of words: just the numericals I meant), sweets and savories, moms and dads: ILites- illuminating head Lights; each one vying with others, definitely no substitutes but only complements and everybody’s compliments cannot be competed away! (Thank you my appa for assisting me with those romantic Tamil words of rhyme and reason)

I perceived Purity, Perfection and Patience, pervading the Selaiyur home, the hospitality of Lata akka and her husband cannot be written in words of my “very young English” but then even I perceived. Things and actions of beauties which are ever joyful memories for me.

Let us always be pristinely reorienting our IL meets more and more for gaining mental peace, spreading peace, expanding peace in manifold direction. IL standing for IndusLadies, now IL for Internationality must become Multi national in character. Yeah. The whole world is shrinking but of course the Universe is Expanding. So we have to expand our Nature, not contract and constrict.

My apologies for having delayed this article as there were total power failure and low voltages at my place. No excuses though. Thank you Shanthi manni, Veda manni and Lata akka for having constantly encouraging me for the write up through phone calls. I request Lata akka to write in detain about who bought what, as I may have missed a few varieties and am sure it needs to shine in the lime light.

Sarve jana sukino bavanthu !! we thank profusely our key elements who have been very indulgent and stimulating factors for us to be bonded so tight. Of course the big M and the big J. Thank you Malathy ma’am and Jey sir !! I feel proud and this pride is ever positive to be assimilated.

Regards with Love and affection
RamyaVaradharajan

Dear Ramya
Thanks for this visual treat.. my first reaction on reading was i was left out of the list.. for which I will take it with Lata personally (just kidding)
I really wish I was there with you all.. Oh you too Ramya have taken Shanthi as manni.. Good Good!
I am so glad to read about Krish kutty...
Oh and so many many guests... Wonderful.
Thank you for sharing Ramya
The pleasure is indeed mine to read and savor all the wonderful news!! You guys rock!!!

Dearmost Ramya

........excellent narration ......i have no words to say about anything since you have poured out in your own way......

And, really my sincere thanks to Veda anna, since we arranged for this meeting to give Hearty Welcome to him and we all enjoyed to the core and it was like " Kalyana veeedu " on that day.with Big Feast not only to stomach but also for ears and eyes.....Yes the kids danced, played keyboard and did yoga too.and iam stunned hearing veda singing like professional singer.he got very sweet voice........

And, the menu was:

Laddu ( shanthi brought from Adyar anandha bhavan)
Cholclate Fudge ( Wow.its yummy - by Ramya)
Choclate cake ( by Varloo mam....)

For Starters:

Masala Vadai ( prepared by me me me and fried by my mom.hahahah.)

Hot coffee

Main Course:

Bisibela bath ( me and shan)
Puliyodarai ( my mom)
curd rice ( shan)
Panner masala ( shanthi)
Onion raitha
Fried appalam
Mexican rice ( Varloo mam)
Avial ( Varloo mam)
Veg rice ( padmavathi m)
Aloo pal curry ( padmavathi m)
Potato chips and Pista cake ( sharadha)
and
Mango pickle ( hahahha.....my mom cut that and i mixed all other ingreditents and shanthi seasonsed it ...hahahhaahhah.tell me now credit goes to whom????????? )

WE had nice time pulling each other , like i prepared this, i seasoned this, i did the cutting job etc....for each and every item........

Meena, as usual came early to help me and then shanthi came with her family and also with ramya around 9.30......like we used to say "Poorvanaga velai" ellam pani vecherunden....like i kept ready Plain rice for mixing with all variety gravies.....grated, cut and peeled vegatables ready for cooking etc........

And, hey ramya , i soaked dhal for MASAL VADAI, and i also mixed all required items and my mom jus did FRYING job....mmmmmmmm.....so hahahhaha........pls give me 50% credit atleast........pls

And, myself and shanthi , finsihed the remaining cooking job......

By that time Varloo mam came........so after that, the real gala time starts......

And , we waited for padma and family, sharadha and fly, Rajmi and family, our sincere thanks to all of them, since they had guest and help up with some other programmes also.but, somehow they joined us ...

WE really missed padma's kids,sharadha's DH and son..and our aishu22 and rs18 ( ramya) .......adhu mattum dha periya korai..........

And, Ramya will post the photos of meet......

Hey AC dearie

Dont say that........iam really waiting to see you....tell me when do u plan to come to India......or else send me tickets, i am ready to come immideately.....hahahha....waiting for the tickets.........

These were our Treats !!!!!

(1) Laddoo, Baadhusha and Chocolate Fuge

(2) Masala Vadai and Hot coffee

(3) Chocolate cake, Avial and special vegie rice

(4) Panneer Gravy Puliodharai and Manga

(5) Special rice and curd rice with Pomogranetes

Oopppssss,.... my salivary glans relishing sunday's treat now !! :):):)

Regards with Love
RamyaVaradharajan

To further stimulate your senses !!!!!

(1) Our yummy and ever-green IL cake

(2) Bisibela bath

Ah.. I hear lots of my friends voices for the want of such delicious food, not just for stomach but also for their thoughts !!! We all just have a simple mantra to be shared with you...

JUST COME DOWN TO CHENNAI AND WE SHALL HAVE A BLAST !!!!!!

Regards with Loads of Love and affection
Yours RamyaVaradharajan

Dear Ramya & Latha..

So nice to hear from you all that you ladies are rocking!

Hmmm.. yummy dishes Latha, now you have become good host after Chitra mam.. Don't know when i will get chance to meet you all

Ramya thanks for sharing and you have narrated well.

Shanti ji, you are cool going with your presence and mingling nature.

I can guess how you all had spent time and had fun!!

Ramya, Possible upload some snaps also.

Hai sunitha

Thankyou for peeping in....and btw, did u see our group photo in "Faces behind the Names" thread.if not, pls go and have a look at that photo...i hope due to frequent power cut and low voltage , ramya was not able to post the snaps

And, hey you can come anytime to see us.....since you are living very very close to us, so dont worry.or othwerwise suddenly one day i will come to your place........hope you will take me out for shopping.....ofcourse , dont worry, i willl pay my bills, but you hve to serve me Typcial Andhra very Hot and spciy food ( pure veg) and jus give me 5kgs of Andhra Avakai pickle.....thats enough.........i wont nag you to give more.....hahahahha...........its my long time dream to visit hydrabad atleast once and that shopping malls.........dont know wen i will get chance.....

Haaa haaa Latha that was so chweet of you !

Yeah sure, you are always welcome to Hyderabad. You can shop till you drop and will give you good company! And i won't stop you from paying my bills also while shopping Haah, 5 kgs of Avakai pickel aa, is that enough dear

Dear Ramya,
That was a beautiful sum up of the meet.Girl, you write so well!!You have tempted me tooo much by posting the photos of the sweets and cakes.I excuse my diet today and i'm going to pamper myself with a cake today - yesssss.

Dear Shanthi, Veda,Lata,Padma,Honeytha,Varloo,Sharadha,Laxmi ,kiddos and all dearies,

Really i had missed a lot.I took a glance at the fotos in the other thread and felt so bad for having missed out.But, duty comes first and i had to choose between my ill grandma and IL meet, so ..hope you guys will excuse me this time.The fotos are really too good and seems the meet was a blast!

Lata - Ever ready hostess?? Hats off to you for being a wonderful host, cooking soo well(samayal rani(?)).
Shanthi &Veda - How sweet of you.I was very happy after our phone conversation yesterday, for i could kinda console myself that i didnt feel missed out altogether.Without "R" at home, its already bad for me, you both filled the void and gave me good day yesterday.

Varloo - You are a real gem.You have made it to the meet without minding the distance.Ambatur is quite far.to you for your great spirits and enthusiasm.

Padma,Honeytha,sharadha&laxmi - Hope all of you had a great time.Sharadha - cake looks so delicious!! Missed the opportunity to interact with you people.BTW, all of you look pretty in the foto .

Meena& Ramya - Ever naughty and ever smiling!! Gals, you rock!!
Sweet hugs to all the kiddos.