Thriving on Surprises

When did you last spring a surprise on someone in a distant city?

Most people would say 'I'd rather send a surprise gift or make an unannounced video call'!

But don't you agree that no AI or technology can match a warm hug or the joy of giving (or receiving) a surprise in person! Of course it requires time and effort, which in my opinion is worth it!

Ghumakkad thrives on surprises! Surprises give joy.

Ghumakkad recently made a surprise visit to not just one but three people in Bengaluru. I travelled 680 kms either way from Hyderabad. Thanks to Vande Bharat trains, I did not require any elaborate planning to spring the surprises!

'Harsh Beta Sada Sukhi Raho'

An aunt nears 90. An affable person, sonorous voice, calligraphic handwriting, a dancer of repute, charming as ever and Ghumakkad's regular reader. Ghumakkad wanted to give her a surprise. My cousin Nidhi who also lives in Bengaluru, made a ploy to visit her. Literally after alighting from Vande Bharat train ride from Hyderabad, we drove to Savita Mami's house. Though her husband Jolly Mama was also part of the surprise drama, but with Mami Ghumakkad has a special bond. She was thrilled seeing me. See the pictures and the video below courtesy Nidhi and Mukul.

See the surprise on the faces of both the nonagenarians in the video below.

We had earlier published an exclusive story titled 'Dancing At Eighty' few years ago. See the graceful performance even though Savita Mami had to be seated because of her aching knees! You may click the link to browse the pictures and videos.

When Another Nonagenarian Blesses You

As a young Sub-Lieutenant I was posted in Jamnagar in 1973. That is when we met Dr and Mrs Achar. Dr Achar was the Medical Superintendent of Irwin Hospital. Their elder son had joined the NDA at Khadakwasla and daughter Harsha was studying at BITS Pilani. That is how the connection got established. It has been 53 years since then. Dr Achar is no more. His unmatched humour still brings a smile on our faces. Mrs Achar, a sprightly 92-year old lady, lives by herself in Bengaluru. She runs a school for the under-privileged since many years. I had last met her few years ago and made it a point to meet her again, this time unannounced.

A plan was hatched with Harsha to get her to RSI on the pretext of an Army social evening. Her joy of seeing me there and my own happiness, surpasses any other material gift. Let the pictures do the talking. PC courtesy Kedar, her grandson and Harsha.

A Pirate Party

When a Naval buddy turns 75, you can't miss being there. Moreso when the invite is so creatively designed by his daughter. See the clip below.

Ghumakkad gave another surprise in Bengaluru to Capt NR Ravi on his 75th birthday. Tanvee helped keep the surprise. Feel the thrill on the faces and hugs of  Ravi (partially hidden) and Lakshmi in the pictures below. Have also included the pictures of the elaborate decor and a video of the cake cutting. Thanks Tanvee and Vikas for all the effort. Thanks Saibal Roy Chou, who travelled all the way from Kolkata, for the shots in which Ghumakkad is not behind the lens!

 

Another fleeting video of Pirates jesting around.

It was such a pleasure to give the surprise to Ravi and Lakshmi.

Here is the video of cake cutting and the fireworks.

You are never too late for return gifts! See the imaginatively designed packaging of the return gifts!

Recalling Earlier Surprises

USA to India Surprise: We had the biggest of surprises few years ago when Ankur, our son-in-law landed from USA  unannounced at our home in Secunderabad. Instead of giving us a surprise, Ankur got the 'reverse' surprise on seeing the house locked. Some quick calls and smart guessing, he figured out that both Neeta and I were at RSI (our fauji club in Secunderabad). And lo and behold-- he gave us that biggest of surprises by locating and joining us at RSI that evening. Totally unannounced all the way from USA Unfortunately, no pictures or video of the memorable moment exist! But it is permanently etched in our memory.

India to USA Surprise: Sharing one more surprise across the continents. This time our son Ankush from Chennai, gave a pleasant surprise to our daughter Akanksha in California completely out of the blue. Of course such a secret operation can not be carried out without local support. Our son-in-law Ankur in USA teamed up with Ankush to pull it off. Back in 2012, the excitement was sadly not filmed.

Giving Surprises in Mumbai and Vapi

Another two surprises which Ghumakkad pulled off in November last year gave us a thrill. Two buddies one each from the Navy (who turned 75 that day) and from BITS my college (who had been unwell for a while), were thrilled beyond words when I entered their homes unannounced! Some of those precious moments are captured in the story below:

Thrill of a Surprise - Story of a secret operation from Hyderabad to Mumbai and Vapi with pictures and videos.

85th Birthday Surprise

Earlier this year, Ghumakkad gave a surprise to Col GB Sethi PhD, my golf partner, on his 85th birthday in Secunderabad. We share our birthdays and have many things in common. I wrote an exclusive poem, framed it with a picture of both of us and presented it in person. He was visibly moved. Sharing below a few pictures and a video clip courtesy Swati, his daughter.

Surprise Tests

The only surprise which is unwelcome is a surprise test by a teacher! Ask any college student and he/she will scoff at the very mention of a surprise test or surprise quiz in the class. Of course, teachers love giving surprise tests. But unlike surprise visits and gifts, the receiver (students) do not like such a surprise. Here is a symbolic picture of an MBA class.

  

What are you waiting for? Go and give someone a surprise visit. Remember surprises make memories which you cherish. If you are a teacher wanting to give a surprise test, think of the students too!

We close with a quote by Gilbert K Chesterton who said, "Surprise is the secret of joy." Now you know why Ghumakkad is so joyful!

Thanks for browsing and stay connected.

Do share your experience of a memorable surprise.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Bengaluru/ 31st May 2026

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The Thrill Of A Surprise

How do you celebrate the 75th Birthday of a buddy?

You travel 800 kms to be with the buddy. 

What else?

You go unannounced to give a surprise. 

How?

You team up with the buddy's family and plan a secret operation.  Like a military ops.

But there are other common friends in town. How to keep the visit a secret from all of them?

You do it by maintaining 'social media silence'. Like the radio silence in the Navy. 

That's a tough call. Isn't it?

Thanks to Gunjan, my buddy's daughter, we were able to pull it off! The surprise and the joy was worth the 20-hour train travel from Secunderabad to Mumbai. See the pictures and two short video clips below.

Gian Prakash, GP my buddy in the Navy for 52 years, was in the shower when I reached his home in Kharghar. When he came out, the joy and delight for both of us was priceless.

The short clip captured by Gunjan, GP's daughter says it all

It was a surprise even for Jaya, GP's wife. See her reaction in the video clip below.

On checking out Jaya's well being, I told her my favourite line for all Veteran couples, "One wicket at a time"!

Having reached two days before the 75th Birthday,  the celebrations included many events. One of them was watching a live performance of 'Meera- The Mystic' by Shama Bade of Nadroop Ensemble of Pune at NMCC the iconic Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in BKC, Mumbai. The tickets for such shows are sold out months in advance. NMCC is a world-class theatre complex having 22 gates for entry and exit. You can imagine it's size! Thanks again to Gunjan for her planning and affection. 

Photography inside the Grand Theatre is not permitted while the show is on. Sharing below a video, few pictures of the empty theatre and the plush lobby.

Notice the wheel chair in the picture below? Few of the original chairs in the last row are removable to accommodate a guest with a wheelchair. Talk of inclusivity!

The lobby at NMCC also  has a small temple with Radha Krishna as the deities.

The Birthday Boy with Jaya.

The buddies since 52 years!

The lobby

Mirrored corridors 

The entire Raghunath Vihar, the AWHO apartment complex in Kharghar seemed to be celebrating GP's landmark birthday. See a short video clip of an entertainment evening. 

ĢP's seven-year-old grandson Hariansh played a piece on his keyboard.

Hariansh with Gunjan his Mom. Love his eyes and the smile.

The celebrations ended with a puja and Havan on the D-day, 10th Nov. I was fortunate to attend it. Few pictures.

The 87-year-old pujariji from Dwarhat in Kumaon setting up the puja chowki.

Ghumakkad then proceeded to Vapi to give another surprise to his college buddy of 57 years. Shirish Chinoy had been unwell for a while. His younger son Nimesh ensured the secret operation. See the sheer joy on Shirish's face when I entered his house.

Felt blessed to be with Shirish and Madhuri.

Video below shows when Shirish got motivated to take a morning walk the next day.

When buddies of 57 years meet, the gup shup doesn't stop. Whether day, night or early morning! Pictured below after a morning walk.

The joy of giving a surprise is so thrilling. I guess receiving a surprise is equally joyful. Ghumakkad feels blessed that I could pull off both the surprises mentioned above.

Any visit to Vapi is incomplete without having the famous Ubadyu. Available only in the Vapi-Valsad stretch during Nov-Feb season, it is a delicacy cooked in a matka, an earthenware pot on slow fire. Papdi, a local flat bean, potato,  sweet potato and yam are all cooked with the peel.  The pot is lined with the leaves of a local shrub which grows only during the season. The Ubadyu is eaten with green chili chutney and butter milk. Few pictures below.

Where to eat Ubadyu? See the picture at the end of the story.

Do share your joy of giving or receiving the surprises in life.

Thanks for browsing.  Stay connected and do leave a comment. It encourages us.

   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Vapi/ 12th November 2025

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