my thoughts: CHRISTMAS GET-TOGETHER AT Dr ROSHAN PINTO'S HOME, KINNIGOLI

Dear Friends, it was nice to have a day away from all the hazzles of work, and it was provided by Dr Roshan, my friend. He invited us – that is Dr Girish Navada, Dr Guruprasad, Dr Ramakrishna, Dr Ranjan and me, to come along with our families. Dr Ranjan missed this outing as it was the day of Christmas, and he had to be at home.

I reached the place Kinnigoli, and was picked-up by Dr Roshan from bus-stand, and I along with my wife and daughter were the first to reach his place. I couldn't take my son as he had come down with acute pharyngitis and fever and he was allowed to rest at home with his Granny.

As we reached the place – long distance away from all the noice of the city and human settlements, it was cool and green all around. You could feel the abundance of oxygen around. A little later remaining members of the group joined us. In addition we were also joined by Dr Sudha, Dr Venmani, Dr John Pradeep - our Interns posted at Concetta Hospital at Kinnigoli.

By that time cookong was already in full swing, with Roshan's mother and Gigi – Roshan's wife preparing the dishes for the afternoon lunch. The offer of help was rejected nicely saying not enough space in the kitchen. But the smells emanating from the dishes were great – so with a vision of great food I moved out of the kitchen.

After the tea and snacks all of us decided to go for swimming. All the children were enthusiastic about this venture and were more eager to go. When we reached the destination – it was COOL water that was waiting for us. It is a running stream water that is collected by blocking the flow. All of us were in water for almost 2 hours enjoying, some of us were learning to swim - and that was very relaxing.

Then all of us joined back in the house for a sumptous food – of salad from pomegranate, dates and vegetables, dal fry, idlis, rice, gobi chilli and curds, in addition to Kori rotti, chicken curry and pork chilly for all the non vegetarians. The food was really good, and I should thank both Gigi and Roshan's mother for their efforts in preparing all this. Along with food some of us had the opportunity to taste the wine and after food a good amount of Sprite.

After a little rest, the kids went for fishing!! - and we went to see the water falls!! which was not falling when we reached there – it was just flowing. May be it will be falling during the rainy season. That place was the best, with lots of rocks in and water fowing around them. We could imagine the splendor of it during the rains. We let our legs rest in water for a while before returning home.

It was 5o'clock by then and we had to return. So with a promise to return during the month of October, when there will be more water in the stream, we bid farewell to Dr Roshan's family.