The Dakshin, Leg 1 - Day 2

Bal, Shred and Slade are fellow bikers who are also part of M#3, a group that involves itself in outdoor activities. They had come to Kodaikanal as well.

Bal dropped in the next morning and we exchanged our travel stories. All kind of plans were made to meet at a place called the Berijam lake. We then met the RTMC folks (who started an hour after me and were the guys I took a video shoot of) over breakfast and proceeded to their place of stay to ogle at Dutt's BMW.

By the time we were done, it had gotten too late to go to Berijam lake. So we just rode to various places in the vicinity. I rode pillion with Brij and Nish, while shooting photos and videos of bikes in motion.

The plan for the evening was to bring Bal, Shred and Slade to our place for a round of drinks. Once we got them over, tales began especially of Shred's trip to the Himalayas. In between, Bal let it slip that Shred has good reputation with the ladies of M#3. The trio also invited us to their party that was to happen later that night. With some reluctance we agreed to go to their party, not sure if we should gatecrash. I decided to watch Shred in action and see if I could learn anything.

So gatecrash we did. And it was fun. Shred and I were the first to arrive, and I used that time to observe "The Master" in action.

That was when I spotted her, sitting alone on the steps to the dance floor

I am not going to describe what I did. But I did learn something.

Hardly a minute or two passed when the rest of the gang arrived. The moment they spotted me, they waved at me to join them. I grinned at them, but made no move.

After getting their goats, I walked up to them to hear Bal say loudly to the rest 'Who is this new M#3? I did not see him in the hike today morning!'

And The Jehadi, with some awe on his face, asked 'How did you merge so smoothly?'

I could only reply 'The Master teaches well. He is my Yoda!'

We were still feeling guilty of gatecrashing. So all of us got our drinks and kept to one corner of the dance floor, enjoying the atmosphere. Over dinner, we apologised to one of the senior members of the M#3.

'That's quite alright. You guys have balls!'

Oh well.

All of us, barring The Jehadi, were sloshed to various levels. Brij and Nish were the first to leave while the rest of us and by the time we hit the sack it was past midnight.