LSD - The Acidic Trip

Hallucination of the real Indian world, replete with colorful renditions of a grim and harsh realities of the Indian way of life. Albeit this is only true for the Urban population, but i am sure it can be stretched to cover some of the more popular and infamous towns of India.

Love Sex aur Dhoka is straight of the bat comedy. Nothing about this movie should be taken seriously, the narrative is hilarious and even parts where people will be stunned in silence is extremely funny.

The acting was the star of the movie, each and every character was well portrayed, apart from the main cast do watch out for Lalaji's frank behavior and Meter Down's fantastic one - liners.

The stories didn't go anywhere, there was no cinematic closure to any of them, thats the point - that there is no point and that got most of the audience baffled and confused. A terrible tragedy, but if they chew on it a bit more, they will come around...i am sure of it.

An audience member was so confused, he started asking his friend if 'he' understood what was going on. I couldn't help but feel bad.

The movie has its obvious humor and its subtle hilarious magic - trouble is there is more of the latter and that will hold this movie from commercial success.

Many people told me that there was a bit missing in the movie, just a bit, somewhere - i completely disagree its just right anything more or less would have ruined it.

The acidic trip was short - sweet and got me singing the title track all the way home - 4 / 5 and a must watch.

Magic - JoTeCk

"Shee ya...the weekend is getting over and we have to go back to work tomorrow", said Joanna in a very dejected tone.

"It's not over yet..Jo....Mumbai is still about 3 hrs away", Tejal being her usual chirpy self

"All i care is that i had a fantastic time", chimed in Chennakeshav from his comfortable seat in the blue Shivneri

Joanna sank back into her's and closed her eyes. Her calm porcelain visage cracked into a subtle smile, as she was transported back to her school. St. Joseph's Convent, Panchgini.

Joanna a native of Shivaji Park (Mumbai), had been admitted to this school as an eight year old. Where most children find it difficult to stray too far away from their mother's apron strings Joanna had to live far away in Panchagani's famed girls school and away from the safe haven of her daddy's arms.

As she had gotten off the bus at Panchgani, with her two friends in tow, she was feeling the familiar feeling of anxiousness and joy that she felt oh so many years ago. Her happiness was visible as she peered at the deserted main market of Panchgani at 7 in the morning.

After much inquiry and asking around, a room was found - at Geetanjali Hotel, half a click (km) away from the main market. The bags were duly 'dumped', and the morning ablutions were taken care of.

Joanna skipped and hopped the trail from the Hotel to Lucky Cafe. Lucky Cafe is an old establishment run by a family of Bahai Iranis. The fare of Cheese Omelete bread, Bun Maska, Sausages and Chai was quaint, yet delicious. The trio had licked the plates clean before settling back to breath a sigh of relief. They felt that this was a time of careful reflection and gratitude.

"It feels so good to be out of the city and just be doing something out of the ordinary"

"The food here is bloody awesome man, i mean i have had this stuff before, but the food is magical."

"Next we see your school right?"

"Yes, lets settle the bill."

A small hike up the road from Lucky's lay the gates of Joanna's school - well it was the back gate as Joanna later informed them, but it did feel like a fortress of sorts. The company entered the school passing the kitchen and then up the stairs passing the refectory (dining room) to the party corridor and bumping into Sister Admin. Sister Admin was the short dimunitive lady in her early seventies, but with eyes that would put a wild cat to shame. Joanna quickly introduced herself and Sister humored her as a polite and cordial sister would.

She proceeded to tell them about the on goings of the place, this was Joanna's turn to humor her as this was not vital information for them to know. After the St. Joseph's Fortnightly as told by Sister Admin got over, they took her leave and walked to the principal's office.

For Tejal and Chennakeshav this was a novel experience, walking through the ancient halls and corridors of an institution that had lasted over two hundred and fifty years and was going strong. The silent edifice could tell a thousand tales, of a thousand girls who became women right in these halls. The rooms where they learnt the facts of life, to be self sufficient, to be honorable, to be boisterous, to support another, to breathe in nature and absorb life through its pores.

Joanna caught up with her once physical education professor who was now the principal of the school. Gentle lady who commanded respect, but oozed warmth and charm.

The alma mater of the school then guided her friends up the slope to what was once her old basketball court. Chennakeshav wondered how nice it was to have a basketball court overlooking the valley. The court also overlooked the massive sports ground of St. Josephs...the perimeter of which was a respectable 800 meters.

Chennakeshav sat on the steps of the sports ground, taking in the view. In a flash he could see it all, the sports, the championships, the camaraderie, honorable battle, good cheer and intense passion. The roar of the supporters, the sweat of the valiant and the brave. Hundred years of competition.

"Do you think we can go back to Panchgani right now?" asked Joanna to the two

"Yah right....maybe we can go back and slap the manager of Geetanjali for kicking us out like that", exclaimed Chennakeshav

"May be we should...but another time...Pune was a lot of fun too ya"

The group nodded in agreement and fell back into silence. Tejal looked outside on the western express highway as the Shivneri hurtled towards Mumbai and he thought of the ride to Pune.

The guys were approaching Pune on the Indica hired from Panchgani. Joanna and Tejal were busy playing scramble on Jo's Iphone when she screamed - "Sydney Point"

"We should look out at the scenary that lies around us"

Chennakeshav and Tejal looked out the window with Jo and felt a bit sad, they had not seen Sydney Point as they had meant to the night before. But they were going to make the most of what lay before them - Pune.

The journey to Pune was quick, three hours and a short rickshaw ride inside the city to the quaint Hotel Laxman on Prabhat Path off Deccan Gymkhana in what can be called the Heart of Pune. Extremely famished, the gang dumped their luggage and walked outside. Tejal was in the mood for some Maharashtrian fare, and the gang agreed that that was the way to go. Tejal took the initiative to find out where the delicacy could be savoured in all its glory. A helpful shopkeeper pointed them towards Mathura - a misnomer for a Maharashtrian joint for a city/kingdom deep in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, but bad politics aside the place was known for its Maharashtrian fare.

Alas the place was closed at five and the trio had to make do with a multi cuisine restaurant and satiate their hunger. Not losing hope they had decided to return to Mathura in the evening for some dinner before going to Sheesha (KP) after, for Hookah and drinks.

Evening saw Chennakeshav and Joanna put on their best clothes and charm ready for a night of Music and entertainment at Sheesha with Tejal in tow. Tejal on her part was very chic in her black top with pyjamas and dupatta with glasses to complete the intellectual vagabond bohemian look - hey if she had to dress down, she would do it in style.

Off they trotted back to Mathura (restaurant, lest you confuse it with the city) determined to succeed in getting a bite. They soon found out that this was the mission of many , the line was dense and long. Nearly losing all hope the gang made some phone calls to their trusted confidants for some alternative arrangements.

Anirudh Shiva, a young aspiring Public Relations consultant based in Mumbai but a long time Punekar came to the groups rescue. He told them of a place called Janseva, up the steps from Chitale Bandhu on Laxmi Road. The hungry three went to eat.

Double Bee, Tondli, Dahi Wada, Cauliflower, Thali peeth, Gulab Jamun, Dal , Bhaath (rice), Khichdi(spiced dal rice) and some more of it, lots more with Papad, Koshimbir(Salad, raita) Poli (Chapati) in tow.

At ten o' clock the gang ambled out of Janseva and walked back to Laxman. Happy and content at the wonderful food that had been consumed. It was too late for Sheesha but not too late to party in the room. They huddled into bed, switched on the telly and proceeded to watch. Ten minutes later the eyes were heavy, the remote was forgotten...silence.

Shivneri came to a halt on the Western Express Highway at Drive - Inn, Lonavala. The trio walked out for a bit of a stretch and drinks. Joanna and Tejal got client calls and were now intensely fixed on their work. Chennakeshav stood there looking at his friends, colleagues, mentors.....

"Ck lets go to Panchgani", said Jo

"Sure lets go, but who all?", he asked

"See, if you are in then we can ask Tejal and perhaps Niharika and Anuya"

"Makes sense, you ask we can go some time"

"We should go tomorrow!"

"Uhmm...ok...how are you going to convince everyone?"

"I am going to tell them, whoever comes we go with them"

"Allright!"

The day had come, Friday....only Tejal had confirmed. Joanna and Tejal had been Chennakeshav's mentors at their Public Relations Consultancy in Mumbai. They had taught him, reasoned with him, answered his million questions, moulded his views, fired him, grilled him and directed him to the light. He had learnt to fear them, respect them, understand them....love them.

To go away on a vacation with just the two of them was going to be a unique experience for Chennakeshav. He knew that he was going to be a boy with these women, not a man. Though he was at ease with them, he still was worried about what they would say. He would joke around with them but still be within his bounds. He would not act funny with them because they were like family to him.

Tejal looked at Ck and thought of how he had changed, from a college boy to a man in a short span of three years. Her thoughts drifted to the argument with the manager of Geetanjali.

On the second morning , the manager had asked the trio to vacate their room. This was a surprise for them as they were under the impression that they had made their plans of staying two nights at the establishment clear to its keeper. They tried to reason with him, they tried to pressurise him, they tried to appeal to his humanity and then they threatened him. In a brief glimpse of leadership, CK told the manager that he would leave the room right now and not pay a paisa to the hotel. The girls followed CK and took off with their luggage.

"Where to now?" asked Joanna

"To Lucky for breakfast and then to Pune"

The plan was set in stone and the adventurers moved....

"Guys get into the bus, its about to leave", hailed Ck to the two and got into the bus

They sat next to their boxes of fresh fruit bought off the market at Panchgani. A Gujarati and a Chinese woman had haggled carefully with the sellers to get the best deal for all three of them. Perhaps the best mementos from a completely organic town.

"I want to go back to Panchgani right now", squealed Joanna clearly in withdrawal of a high that was the hill top hamlet

She looked at the hills of Lonavala and she saw the three of them hiking the road to Table Land.

The winding road took them up to the lava formulated tables of five, which gives the area its name. They reached just in time for the yellow circle to hide slowly behind the magnificent mountain range of the Sahyadaris. Within moments everything was draped in a brilliant orange hue.

Joanna walked them across the breadth of the table took them to Gods Valley, the beauty and the majesty of nature lay before them. Then around to the crater filled with water which reflected the tall trees that overlooked the water body as it has for centuries.

The three stood still, the light breeze came from the east and caressed them. Perfect Harmony for the three right there on Paach Gani.

Magic