The Lord’s own munificence

Sheetal had the rare pleasure of cutting her cake and almost garnishing it with her Manolo Blahnik shoe, dancing as she did on the table with some loving support from fiancee Atulya Mafatlal.

Salim Merchant kept up the spirits at the other end of the table by doing a `jig’ – the food at the `Zodiac Grill’ my all-time favourite restaurant was exquisite, bite size hors d’oeuvre’s served on upside down wine chalices.

The service was grand English butler style, impeccable. They were unobtrusive yet efficient and acted like they saw no evil, heard no evil and spoke none, even if givenhalf a chance by any of us.

The last time I counted, which was at about 3 in the morning, there were definitely eleven empty green bottles (Dom!) leaning on the wall.

As if we needed any more proof of the fun had by the girls, Tayun, Radhika Mehta, Vinita, Aarti and I danced like Pixies around a magic post. Kailash in a spiffing new hair cut looked `to die for’.

When we finished, the restaurant and its terrific staff were glad to see the backs of us I am sure, but were still smiling. At this point I must admit to nostalgia.

In ’91 Raj and I had taken over the whole of the Zodiac and everyone from the then Chief Minister Sharad Pawar to the hoi polloi and high society, we had one helluva evening which finally progressed to the 1900’s – Sharad and Pratibha had a slight `now how did we get here look.’

I still remember Shweta Shetty belting out Happy Birthday – so by current and past experience the Zodiac is one helluva place to have a meal and a blast. Anyway, back to the party, or rather theend of it.

When we emerged we bumped into Akshay Chudasama who introduced us to his charming `fiancee’, wife-to-be next week, Aparna – she looked celestial and I said so. Nana and Munira who are dear dear friends are lucky to be getting such a nice bahu. Also saw Sanjay Patel, now wish he’d tie the knot and give Bakul a bahu. As I sped into the night in my car, I couldn’t help but say a prayer for these young friends. They have so much going and so much to look forward to.

The next night I had a lovely meal at `Sheetal Samudra’ with friends Preeti, Mona, Reena and Kunal. The owner Mr Buntu Singh took personal care of us. It’s tough to beat Punjabi hospitality.

It was reiterated the following night, Sunday where Krish and I were guests of Mr & Mrs Jiggs Kalra. The food was tantalisingly, salubriously wicked.

But other than being spurred on to another dinner didn’t do much for me on the `heightened senses’ front.

Malvika and her divine mother Mrs Rajbans, Chitra, Anil, Imtiaz and Ayeshawere the others on the table.

Since my long lost friend Vijay Mallya was in town I dashed across to the Piano Bar to catch up with him. He was his charming generous self but seeing my elder son Krish all grown up got us all nostalgic about Raj. Vijay and Rajan were as close as brothers even before I met Raj twenty odd years ago.

It was on his coaxing that in April ’95, Krish, my other son Shiv and I had gone to Tirupati to pray to Balaji. My `Darshan’ was divine and I truly believed that it was the Lord’s way of telling me that everything would be alright. It’s another matter that for once I got my signals crossed.

Everything went haywire from the next day on- the 10th of April. I think the Lord wanted me to gain as much power and strength from him for the ordeal vis-a-vis Rajan that I was going to be put through hence the `perfect’ darshan.

Of course Vijay’s open munificence and generosity I will never forget till the day I die. From the 7th of July when Raj died my life was never to be thesame again. I was put into the mixer and spun in a tumble dryer wrung till not a last tear drop could be squeezed out. That winter Vijay Mallaya let Krish, Shiv, me and my parents have the use of his Dubai beach home for a quiet, healing New Year’s Eve. His generosity and spiritualism are truly touching but so rare to find in the world today. Krish my fifteen year old was smitten by Vijay on the Sunday we met him at the Piano bar. He told me later: “Mom if I am ever in trouble, I will go to Uncle Vijay,” a wisdom I myself lacked in those days of mayhem I admit.

Today if I talk of anyone as being a friend in need – it’s Vijay Mallaya who fits the bill. I think we’d have been a better nation if the Lord had cloned him generously. But then again it’s because you are you, that you stand head and shoulders above most. As I said before I will never forget your spontaneous benevolence. May God Bless you and your family always.

Om Namoh Venkateshwara.