Sundays with Fr. Robin

I didn't expect coffee with a friend to turn out into such an adventure but it did. I was to meet Fr. Robin at 5 PM this Sunday, to also meet with a remarkable woman named Bindu who recently joined our gang. Ryan and Neil reached before me as I got held up by another errand that had me running about in search of Blood Banks and so I rescheduled my visit to 6 PM, yet reaching Holy Family only around 6:30PM. As I sped past I noticed a lean sentinel standing outside the Church who looked like Ryan but missing his side kick so I gave him a miss and ran up to Fathers Room only to be shooed out as he had a couple of visitors. I then wandered off into the graveyard and found a spot to sit and rest dead center of the grave markers and green cover afording me a good view all around and the towering statue of Christ stationed outsuide his tomb on the third day while Neil yakked away on his cellphone at the farthest end of the the yard.

Less than 30 minutes passed and the skies changed colour as we were summoned to his room and we settled in awaiting the arrival of Bindu and Ryan. Tuborg Strong was proffered from a crate just gifted to Father by one of his senior helpers (Im sure to repay all the beers we stole from him at camp!) I declined and went on to brew some coffee for the 3 of us, I assumed Ryan would do justice to the neglected Beer but he too declined as he had to ride his bike home. Neil was very surprised at this contagious virus that had suddenly gripped both of us making him the only one sipping beer while I drank down 2 mugs of Coffee and Ryan yanked out a litre of Sprite from his bag. Fr. Robin told of his recent Khandala Trip with the gang, their visit to the Wax Museum at Lonavala and the highlight of their trip- Their Find: A weathered old hip flask full of clear spirit alcohol of dubious lineage buried under moss and water in the pool at DEAR Falls. Our friend Bindu was first to taste it and declare it fit to drink... An act of sheer bravery or even foolhardiness some may say but it earned my respect! To see this flask was one reason why I travelled across Borivali to Andheri on a Sunday. We went on to discuss the probability of future trips, both the boys and I were pretty occupied to head out overnight just yet. I informed them about my day trip to Chinchoti scheduled for next Sunday and the potential trip to Kune later on in October.

Bindu met Meena on their way to DEAR FALLS and I was keen to hear hear view and perspective of the lady. Obviously meeting me for the first time she was guarded about what she said but It gave me a fair idea about her instincts. Tech gadgets were the next point of discussion, smartphones and waterproof cameras, then digital footage, pictures were flashed around of nature in all its glory as is now the norm among tech savy trekkers. I was impressed by the overgrowth that marked the old familiar monkey trail to the DEAR... I must make a trip soon. The Petrichor air complemented our conversation as the rain and thunder came down heavily around us signalling the end of the monsoons. Lightning crackled eerily close as we made our exit. The 2 Km walk back to the Station as Andheri flooded up felt like a game of snake and ladders as I treaded cautiously, through calf deep water unsure of what lay beneath.