ORB-UAE Meet 1

From: "Sabiha"
Date: Sat Jun 26, 2004 4:04 pm
Subject: Orb Meet sabiha_orb

Orb Meet

Well the orb meet finally happened! Here's a report on the happenings:

Shahbaaz and I reached sharp at 3:00 at Al Khaleej Center and unlike
what I had anticipated the food court had buffet organized yesterday
so there was a crowd already! All hopes of the orbits making halla
gulla and attracting attention were lost! :-)

As I sat there I realized I had not given my contact number in the
reminders and it struck me that many of the people who will be
joining do not know me or anyone else in the group by face and would
perhaps have a hard time finding us in the crowd! So Shahbaaz went
around Khaleej Center tying to find material to make a placard with.

As I was sitting there alone I saw this guy who looked a bit lost, as
if he was searching for someone. I thought "Waseem?" or "one of the
orbits?" but did not dare to go and ask. The poor chap kept looking
around and went upstairs near McDonald. I could still see him thanks
to the open space of the food court (basement area) I was sitting in
which gives the view of the ground floor close to McDonalds. The guy
searched around a bit, came down and then I saw him purposefully
walking towards my table. "Excuse me, are you Sabiha?" and I go "yes
and you are Waseem!" and finally Waseem managed to find the right
table! (NOTE: Next time Sabiha, do give your number for people to
contact!)



Shahbaaz came back with a paper placard, which had orb meet mentioned
on it by pen, which was hardly visible. So much help that would be
for people trying to figure out which bunch was the "crazy orbits"!

Around 3:15 Azeem called saying he would reach in the next 10
minutes, which did not happen for many hours to follow.

Then we were joined by Vishal and Vinita around 3:30. And Folks that
was the only attendance of the first Orb Meet. Us five!



Umesh had called in the morning stating he would come late (around
5:30) as he had to see his mom who was in the hospital. Nisha
informed me she had chain prayers going at her house for two days so
she cannot make it. Farukh and Charmaine did not turn up either!
Ranjith called at 4 to say he had to go to office for work (on a
Friday for Gods sake!! He must sue his company!) and would not be
able to make it.

So the five of us did a lot of talking. The topic went on from
personal interests, to families, work, creativity, weather and what
not. The three guys being cricket fanatics there was a lot of cricket
talk and I wondered towards the end if the meet should have been
named "Orb Cricket Meet".

We did come to know that Vinita just got engaged to be married in
October. Congratulations to Vinita. Vishal has been transferred to
Abu Dhabi on a better position and my company is moving his boss's
residence! Waseem complained about being lonely in the UAE and was
missing home (but now you have found us Waseem so you shouldn't have
that feeling for long). We all missed our popular member Shazz who
unfortunately is in US.

We also discussed how we could come up with ways of getting work of
the members published. A tentative idea – one on which we will
definitely deliberate for some time and I am sure we will find means
and ways to have that goal accomplished. We also planned a picnic
sometime in Winter, to Hatta or Al Ain or Khor Fakkan. (I just hope
we will have more than 5 members attending though)

Conversation flowed really well as if we all have known each other
for ages and have met many times before. There was not one awkward or
dull moment. I must say all those who attended are good
conversationalists (ahem…. that includes me!).

We were at Al khaleej upto 6:30. Vinita had to leave around 5:30 to
catch her fiancé online :-) (He is in India) Umesh never turned up.
But today he called to say sorry and to inform he got stuck up at the
hospital (Mom's first Mesh…we all forgive you!) And finally at 8:00
when I was driving home I got a call from Azeem. Poor chap met with
an accident on the way to the meet and was stuck up the whole time
with the Police :-(. At least he intended attending the meet. Better
luck next time :-)

All in all it was a wonderful day out and we have set the ball
rolling! We also clicked some pictures, which will be posted soon for
all to see.

Until the next meet….

Cheers!

Sabiha