“When was the last time you laughed so much that you cried?”

… asks a Reuters service & now one month old, “feel the news” channel.

Here’s my honest answer to those guys - It was tonight.

7 of us went to “Oh! Calcutta” for dinner. It is a medium sized restaurant tucked away in a very non-descript by-lane of Tardeo (shortly after Crossroads).

Once you reach there of course, it’s a different question. A lovely red & black Calcutta rickshaw greets you at the entrance (I realised later I matched it perfectly!). The inside decor is not overcrowded & resembles an old-world Calcuttian home (complete with slated wooden windows on the walls, mirror backed for the window effect).

It boasts “Authentic Bengali food” and even is said to specially fly the Hilsa fish in from Calcutta (of course this is reflected in the INR 450/- price).

The place used to be called “Only Fish” before it underwent renovation (am not sure if it also changed management) but the fish is as brilliant as one can hope for. The prawns we had (Chingri) was coconut based & excellent, very Goa-esq. The Hilsa came complete with mustard topping.

I did not order anything as I couldn’t understand anything on the menu - though everything is in English, it’s all a Bengali translation (i.e. “Ilish Maachir Paturi” or “Potoler Dolma”, huh?). I rumaged through the menu & then left the others to do the ordering.

DV seemed very proficient - I must find out if he’s Bengali (seem to remember a Devdas story ) & seemed to know exactly in what quantities we should eat everything (especially desserts).

Was happy with everything we ordered - except the Chocolate Mousse - trust me to be the only stupid one eating Mousse when the table was full of Rasgolas, Rasmalais, Dhai, Payish & Paan. Overall review: great ambience, good food but some of the prices are steep.

The conversation though was the highlight of the evening.

I got a sampling of things to come when during the day itself Ms. X (townie, but naturally) & I has this convo:

X: I was wearing this one outfit & I thought of our Goa trip…
Me: Hmm?
X: Yeah I bought a new wardrobe for Goa as all I had were these cheap (get this next part) Ritu Kumar kurtis…

The laughter started at that point and pretty much went on throughout the rest of the day, through dinner & until we left.

There is a ‘Catholic Swayamvir’ thingie happenning tommorow in St. Andrew’s Church & unfortunately for me, I’m the only single Catholic one in the gang. A “Swayamvir”, so I was enlightened is a term used in the Ramayana (or was it Mahabharata?). When a Princess had to get married, there would be a whole heap of hopeful suitors, who would perform several tasks (like point-archery) to impress & win over the Princess - who then had to make up her mind & indicate this by placing a garland on the lucky chosen one.

Everyone of course (including Ana’s mum who called mid-dinner to make sure Ana told me to go) was highly enthu that I should go.

The topic covered “Mr DSouza” and “Romeo”s and I just cannot even begin to write down the hilarious exchanges… I had to excuse myself & go to the loo finally, I was laughing so much I had a coughing fit. And yes, my eyes were really crying.

Merci Merci Merci all. For the concern (though I ASSURE you it’s not necessary). For the love (yes, I am so blessed to be surrounded by great friends). And for the fun night! I got home & immediately blogged (time-stamped by Wordpress, so it can go into the 18th, though it’s really 2 in the am now)

T’was so much fun… will not forget this one in a hurry