Monsoon Waiting

Enna Nadandhudhunaaa..... Part 4: 858 Wet Ramp
adhukku munnadi enna nadandhunnaaa.... Part 3: A Monumental Experience, Part 2: Night Riders, Part 1: 1000 Days and Still Tripping

We had a prolonged tea break and made a huge feast out of the Jalapeno chips, Tenkuzhal, Rava Laddu, etc. before we got ready and set off for dinner. The original plan was to go to a Thai place, but then we decided to check out one of the most hep Desi places in downtown San Diego on 7th ave. It was one of the best car following experiences for me, as I successfully followed Sowmiya onto the parking garage on the 7th Ave Mall. Their car entered a lane, which refused to issue a parking ticket and since there were a lot of cars backed up behind me, I decided to choose the other lane and we got through to our spot faster than they did. But we had a problem, we could not locate them anywhere in the garage.

(suspense.... ad break!)

We managed to get through to Sowmiya on her cell phone and she said we needed to get our parking tickets validated to avoid exhorbitant parking prices. So, we met her at Longs Drugs and got the validation, but realized very soon that we had another problem, both aunty and Sai were MISSING!!! We looked all over the mall, but in vain!

(suspense... time for another break!)


We decided to launch a search party. I asked Sowmiya and Rathish to stay together at the parking lot, while Subha and I went looking for these two. Just as I was descending the stairs, I caught sight of auntie and called to her. The shock was that Sai was not with her!

No... not another break!

Now we had another piece in the puzzle to solve, but atleast the person who did not know directions was safe. But since Sai did not carry his cell phone, we had no way to reaching him, so Subha and I decided to get to the restaurant to see if he was there. Just as we were making our way out there, Subha caught sight of him on the opposite side of 4th ave. So I asked Subha to wait with Sai, while I got the others to the point of reunion. When I reached the parking garage, Rathish was missing and he went out looking for Sai too! I got frustrated but he got back soon and the reunion "brought tears to our eyes" ;-)

Sai had wisely put in our name in the waiting list so that we could get to the table quickly. It turned out that the wait was going to be approximately an hour long! The hour seemed to go on forever but we were having fun talking outside, our legs were paining off the water park experience, and hunger had subsided long ago!

We were getting really frustrated with the people inside, since some of them had long finished their dinner, but refused to leave! They were taking their own sweet time talking about the weather or the Phoenix Suns. Finally we got our chance and marched in. The decor of the restaurant was praiseworthy. We just hoped that the food would live up to the hype.

The appetizer came and went, not even the leaves were spared! The food followed suit and met with the same result, all cleaned up, nothing was spared, not even a chilli, perhaps a piece of paneer wearing the hood of an unhealthy food escaped our menacing hands! The food was top class and the ordering was perfect! We really enjoyed it! What was supposed to be my treat, changed to mine and Sowmiya-Sai's eventually turned out to be a dutch affair, except for Rathish, who was really the only one who paid for besides himself!

We got back home pretty late and went off to sleep. The next day was pretty relaxed and we hang out watching Sun TV, KTV, eating at regular intervals, playing cards (Ace & Rammi). Rathish and I finally had success with the FM transmitter and he even started singing: "We are the champions" and we were ready to leave, but not before Subha got aunty's and Sowmiya's Gujju receipes jeraxed at Intel Jerax!

The drive back home was smooth and really quick, with Rathish topping a 100 miles an hour only for the 2nd time in his life. There were two stops, one for food at Burbank and the other for fuel and switching drivers, around Bakersfield. It was different getting back to work this time after memorial day, I was all pumped up instead of reluctant, the reason was this blog.

Hope you have enjoyed this 5 part series as much as I have in bringing it to you. I would be grateful for any of your comments.