Thursday, 16 November 2023

A Thevara Fellowship in Doha - My Last Day in Doha

I thought I would get those who were very close to me in the past 20-odd months of my stay in Doha - juts to have a meal at Nehdi Mandi at Wakra Souq, one of my favourite eating joints in Doha. 

Almost all of the expected friends were there - all in some way connected to Thevara. 

Naturally, it began with Alan, who was my student, who had been there from day one of my arrival to receive me and take me around, and kind of a companion for me, and seeking out opportunities to satiate my thirst for seeing new places and things. He belongs to my parish, and had been a Thevara student from XI grade to PG, and in fact, was instrumental in initiating the alumni chapters of UAE and Qatar, almost like an emissary of the former principal (that is me!).  I had the good fortune of blessing his marriage. Then there was Bijoy, who also was a PDC student of Thevara, but the son of the late Valsa Chechi of Puthullil (Mukkungal), a family with which I was very closely linked. He was also one of the first people in Qatar to get in touch with me, to take me around Qatar, and even give me a ride through the desert sand dunes.   I felt I should have Abin, the son of my cousin Molly Chechi, also from Koramangalath family of Kadavanthra, with which I had a very deep personal attachment from my childhood, and also our parishioner.  And with Abin came, almost as a package, his roommate and Kochiite, Dibin, the entire gang (Alan, Abin, Dibin) having had their schooling in our Perumanoor CCPLM school. Dibin, with a naval band background now serving Qatar police together with Abin,  had been a constant companion on our weekend explorations throughout the coast of the peninunsula. There was Santhosh Mattathil, an active Jesus Youth member, who was a student of Rajagiri when I was a young priest, and whose mom was our parishioner d/o Manickath Pappu chettan. Johny, whose ebullient self was a great asset  for the alumni unit of Qatar for the past one year was very much there - a student of both the school and college, and almost local from Kochi. Then there was Byju, the son of a very loyal heartian Varghese chettan Chackalackal, the taxidermist of Sacred Heart College.  Byju's wife Deepa was the Heartian Alumni Association president, but the gathering was meant for exclusively my friendship circle, rather than the alumni association. Charles, my school friend from Rajagiri through KCSL, and our association having been maintained all through these years, in spite of the very different directions we had taken. (His wife Tessy had been our alumna and an associate of ours as a faculty colleague from St Teresa's.). Then there was another Thevarite - both of the school and college, Thomas, nowadays reverently abbreviated as TKG, who had also been associating with me closely on various issues related to sustainability and has been in the higher circles of industrial executives among Qatar Malayalees. Interestingly, Bijoy, Thomas and Charles had also been the alumni of CET. The principal, and my confrere Fr Joshy was there - an alumnus of SH college and now the patron of the alumni association was there. The only one who didn't turn up was another Thevarite, Mr Biju, who had been associating with me on various issues of development and was into areas of common interest like Yoga. 

I felt a little politically wrong having no women in the company, bordering on being an MCP - but then that is a company, and this had less to do with anything formal, and the freedom men have in men's company is altogether different, having been socialised thus! 


I chose the venue, and without much consultation even the menu - It was Nahdi Mandi at Wakra Souq.  I placed orders for beef mandi and 3 servings of fish.  We were provided one table by assembling three typical tables.  The food was delicious, and I think sufficient, though I would not have minded having had one more serving of the sea bass.  Sulaimani and rice came along with the order, which for me held greater attraction to Nahdi Mandi in comparison to the more popular Daanat al Bahr. We had several pictures clicked. As we wound up, the invitees started insisting that they pay the bill, which was kind of them, but as the host and initiator, I gladly and with some effort successfully resisted it. 

Charles suggested a walk along the beach - which I think was fitting. My first day in Qatar began with such a meal and walk with alumni Alan, Anas and Binoy - 3 themmadis (in an endearing sense) of my times in the college, but who were very good to me here in Qatar on my arrival.  Now the gang was big.  Anas and Binoy were missing. We had a walk along the beach in the cool breeze, and some pictures as well and ended up at the Gharissa ice cream joint said to be owned by the young Qatari Ghanim al Mufta, a victim of caudal regression syndrome, who shot to fame with his beautiful Quranic recitation at the opening of the world cup, and with his rejoinder to the Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman 'with tolerance and respect we can live together under one big home' at the kick off the world cup football at Al Bait (the house) stadium.  (He is now seen as a great motivational speaker - I feel we should have him at the school to address the children.) We were all treated to the expresso coffee mix of Affogatto ice cream - serving the twin purpose of the coffee and ice cream, tinted with regaling tales of Kochi (pazhaya Kochi) by Johny.  I felt they were worth another post. 

Suddenly, we realise it was almost midnight - almost 3 hours spent in good company and simple but delicious food.  Perhaps, to be my last night as a regular resident of Qatar.  As we conclude the daily Qurbana: I do not know whether I will come back again! 

4 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the nice evening spent together. The vibe was so warm… Of course, Qatar will miss you and your contributions in the development of children…
    Wish you all success and Godspeed in the new assignment
    Wish safe travels and good health all through… πŸ™πŸΌπŸ™πŸΌπŸ™πŸΌ

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  2. Heartwarming narrative father! Memorable last day with diverse friend circle.🌿🌿

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  3. Very well captured Fr, the warmth and joyfulness we all felt are brought out nicely in this sweet writing. Wonder when did you find time to write so much since we were there till almost midnight and you had to get prepared for the journey next day! Incredible, I should say! Thanks for our discussions on different topics and the support you provided for some of my intiatives. You have been an inspiration for many and I am sure you will continue to be! Hoping to meet you when you come down in December. Wishing you all the Very Best in your future assignments!

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  4. Yesterday was a day well spent, We hope you have blessed journey to your new assignment, Qatar will truly miss your presence, due to it being a sudden plan we were not able to give you the farewell as expected but thank you father Prashanth for the wonderful dinner
    God bless πŸ™πŸ’—
    Johny

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