A fear psychosis has gripped the city or so it would seem from the screaming headlines. Bucking the trend was an invitation to an eleventh wedding anniversary dinner dance. The setting was idyllic - The Royal Palms Golf and Country Club. We arrived only in time to join the group at the second venue - the swimming pool. A live band was playing a medley from the '70s and a crisp cool breeze ensured that everyone huddled close, thus breaking the ice.The host and hostess Meeta and Rajesh Mulchandani had gone to extraordinary lengths to make it an unusual evening, it was absolutely brilliant. The chosen setting, the theme of moving the party along every three hours, all gave it an element of surprise, thus fun. We left in golf carts for the last venue, which was on the golf course. As we raced downhill all the caddie drivers drove like Schumacher and it lent an edge. We finally arrived at the eighth hole to be greeted by waiters with champagne glasses and a brilliant fire work display lighting the chillJanuary evening. Tables and chairs were laid out, as was a sumptuous buffet. A glass dance floor with an ace deejay completed the thrill of waiting for the unexpected or so we thought till a beautiful Middle Eastern belly dancer took over the floor to demonstrate her sensuous talent. Mystical, magical, nine veil schezerade visions floating in my mind's eye, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The young attractive, upwardly mobile guests all put in that extra bit of energy to ensure a great success. Rajesh and Meeta showed a jaded party crowd that if you put your mind to it you can create an extraordinary evening. It snapped us out of our passe just another party reverie and got us all enthused.The beautiful people there that night Gita Bali, Shahbaaz Khan, Sanjeev Chowdhury, Shefali and Arjun Khanna, Kishen Mulchandani with sisters Anita and Indra, Simi and Arvinder Chandoke, Tanya, Meena and Vishnu Hingorani, Tarun Raghavan, Sangeeta Chopra, Imam, Samir Patel, Kishore Sippy, Achla Sachdev, Anouk, Monty,Bobby Randhawa, Ajay Hinduja with wife Namrata, Dheeraj Hinduja with wife Shalini, Harsh, Dash and Prakriti Saxena with Sunita and Pradip their attractive parents. I think Dash is a handsome talented young man so I was trying to network him with some of the top names in the good looks industry, as he wants to model and act. Sumeet Chopra was sport enough to admit he had got Dash's message but now that he'd met him he'd help. Charming! Sumeet's party late last month at Copa Cabbana co-hosted with Marc Robinson, a perennial favourite, was the talk of the town for weeks. As much for the quality of the calendar he released as for the drop 'em dead in the aisles, good looks on parade. Rewind to Rajesh's party, the half moon was particularly appreciated as the firework display, the metallic helium balloons released at intervals, all drew attention to her splendorous, mystique. It was dawn when we got into our carts for a go-cart race back up to the top of the hill. It's rareto start an evening with a thrill and endon the same funny feeling in the gut excitement. This party is going to go down in the record books as a one of a kind.The following night was neighbour Ricky Lamba's birthday. I usually like to space myself and rarely accept two big invites on the trot but being so close to Ricky and Laila, I got the gladrags out of the wardrobe, put on my dancing shoes and went over to their home. Chilled strawberry margarita's and Tequila shots ensured a festive air. Being amongst close friends also did the trick. We ate from a whole table laden with just dessert and munched on snacks. I got to chat with Akshay Chudasama and his bride Aparna glowing in a mother-to-be bloom, Arjun Mehra, Yash and Avanti Birla, Queenie and Raja Dhody, Divya Mohta, Chirag Doshi, Sanjeev Chowdhury, Samir Patel, Shravanya Rao, Rajalakshmi Rao, Akshaye Khanna, Farah Mehta were some of the city slickers I chinwagged with. As I was leaving, the party was in full swing. I heard the last guests left near five in the morning. A sure sign of asuccessful evening.I think the city is getting back to normal and social occasions like the above prove that Mumbaikars are hospitable, warm, sociable people so why fear? Be vigilant, be aware but don't let anyone else be the master of your destiny. A quote from the Bhagavad Gita: "In this endeavour there is no loss or diminution and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear."
