Shiv, Shilpy, Madhu, Ajit outside the Mylapore restaurant in San Ramon Ca.
We had been looking forward to a pleasant dinner while waiting for Shiv’s friend, Ajit Ketkar. He arrived with his wife, Madhu, whose warmth and friendly nature immediately put everyone at ease. Meeting Ajit after nearly a decade and a half felt truly special.
Chicago Booth School of Business
The first time I saw Ajit was at the graduation ceremony at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, when Shiv was completing his MBA after two rigorous years of study. I remember noticing a smart, cheerful young man sitting across the aisle, chatting animatedly with friends. Curious, I asked Shiv, “Who is he? Do you know him?” Shiv smiled and said, “Yes, he’s my good friend.” When I asked if he was Shiv’s classmate, he explained that Ajit was actually his senior and had come especially to meet his close friends who were graduating that year, in 2002.
The people walking near The Magnificent Mile, Chicago.
That occasion, too, concluded with a celebratory dinner at one of Chicago’s finest restaurants near ‘The Magnificent Mile’, joined by Anubhav, his wife Jalpa, Mannu Seth, Ali, Suresh, Mukul Sharma his wife Abha and other colleagues, an evening full of warmth and camaraderie.
Having dinner together, Punjabi food missed though! Incidentally, the chef was a Sikh gentleman from a village near my own. He went out of his way to prepare a few special dishes, not even listed in the Menu card, which were brought straight from the oven and served piping hot by Punjabi waiters, adding a delightful personal and cultural touch to the entire evening.The Chef and his team rightly deserved a nice tip showing our gesture of Thanks.
Yesterday felt like a natural continuation of that bond. After lively discussions and plenty of good-humored banter, we decided to go out for dinner at Mylapore, a South Indian restaurant in the East Bay renowned for its excellent food. The dinner was truly sumptuous - Vadas, Idlis, and three or four varieties of dosas, all shared among us. Madhu, ever so friendly and cheerful, enjoyed the spread wholeheartedly, adding to the joy of the evening.
In spite of the many ups and downs and the inevitable turmoil of life, Ajit, handsome with his light-colored eyes, remains in his usual jolly spirit. Over the years, he has grown into a fine, middle-aged man with a charismatic personality that reflects both maturity and charm.
A Flower Friendship Bouquet!
We, the Kapoors, wholeheartedly wish them a long and glorious life, marked by continued success in business. Above all, we also wish them a deep & enduring sense of contentment and fulfillment towards life and each other.
Spending time with a friend like Ajit, who takes precious time out of his busy life to reconnect and revive old friendships, was deeply heartwarming. It was an evening to be remembered.
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