The Great Sabha & Canteen Hopping Saga
12 school mates, 15 seats, 14 stops, and infinite laughter on Dec 21, 2025
By Vish Viswanathan
The Mini‑Van Diaries
“Getting in and out of a 15‑seater mini‑van 14 times in one day should qualify as cardio.”
Our day began like a rock band on tour - except instead of guitars and groupies, we had paunches and nostalgia. The mini‑van became our moving headquarters, echoing with bad jokes, exaggerated sighs, and the occasional knee complaint. By the fifth stop, the act of clambering in and out had turned into a synchronized comedy routine.
Back to School, Back to Mischief
“The classrooms shrank, but our memories grew larger than life.”
PS High School (North) was our first stop. Walking through those corridors felt like stepping into a time capsule. We posed for pictures like celebrities returning to their alma mater, each selfie an attempt to prove we hadn’t aged a day. The benches disagreed.
Breakfast of Champions
At Mylapore Fine Arts Club canteen, idlis, vadai, and pongal disappeared faster than our diet resolutions. We ate like teenagers, then groaned like marathoners. The staff looked mildly alarmed, as if a food festival had been declared without their consent.
Rose Milk, Twice Over
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Kalahathi Kadai’s rose milk was the elixir of youth. Sweet, pink, unapologetically nostalgic. We loved it so much we came back for seconds. The shopkeeper probably wondered if we were filming “Middle‑Aged Men and Their Pink Drink.”
Music, Maestro!
Narada Gana Sabha and Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha gave us Carnatic brilliance. At Music Academy, Bhaskaran’s flute transported us to another dimension — followed by a super grand lunch with sooooo… many items that transported us straight into food comas.
“We nodded appreciatively at ragas, though some nods looked suspiciously like naps.”
Coffee, Tea, Repeat
The Chai Kings fuelled us with rocket‑grade caffeine. Later, tea at Chitrakulam corner shop reminded us that simplicity can be divine. By then, our conversations were louder than the temple bells.
Temple Trails
Kesava Perumal Temple and Kapaleeswarar Temple offered serenity, chants, and architecture that humbled us. Temple steps tested our knees, but the peace was worth every creak.
“Temple visits: where devotion meets knee pain management.”
Street Food Shenanigans
Bhajji and bonda near Kapaleeswarar Temple were crispy, oily, and utterly irresistible. Dinner at Rathna Cafe sealed the deal - their sambar deserves its own sabha. We waddled out, clutching our stomachs, promising to diet tomorrow. Tomorrow never came.
Selfie Frenzy
Every stop was a photo shoot. Group shots, solo shots, food shots, temple shots. By the end, our phones had more photos than a wedding album. Future generations will wonder why rose milk was documented with such reverence.
The Pact
Between bites, music, and laughter, we made a promise: this would be an annual ritual. Next time, maybe an exotic location. Or maybe just the same sabha-because honestly, who can beat rose milk and Rathna Cafe?
Curtain Call
It was a day of amazing company, lovely music, great food, heavenly temple visits, exceptional tea and rose milk breaks. We rediscovered friendship, relived memories, and reminded ourselves that while our knees may complain, our hearts still dance to the rhythm of sabha hopping.
“12 friends, 15 seats, 14 stops, infinite laughter. A blockbuster tour-no sequel needed, but we’re making one anyway.”
