Johny Bravo from Dombivli

The much awaited Go Goa endeavour has been put on hold but the bashing continues for another of the specie of the Animal Kingdom on the auspicious occasion of his Belated Birthday. This time it is Pritam Shanbhag, the guy from Telecomm who celebrated his Birthday on 23rd March, the famous day when India lost the World Cup Final to Australia in 2003. Pritam has always been famous in our group for using some really innovative words, dialogues and nick names in his vocabulary. Likes to call himself Johnny Bravo, Playboy… has also been involved in one of the famous controversies in college by using the Yahoo messenger. Can’t give away more details.

There is so much to talk about this guy that I don’t have an idea as to where to start from. Okay… let me put down whatever comes to my mind.

There was a small restaurant near the Dombivli station named Jaishree. Party, treat, hunger, whatever the reason, this place was always infested by the Animal Kingdom to grab a quick bite of some mouth-watering Paneer Biryani or simple Vada Sambhar. It is here that Pritam had this unusual way of summoning the waiter. He just used to clap his hands a couple of times, the way the Nawabs or the Maharajas must have done in the olden times to summon their kaneez or slaves. It was a sight to watch. Two claps from Nawab Pritam and the waiter was at our table to take our order.

Pritam stays in Dombivli and has taken so much liking to this place that he has must have been out of this place hardly a couple of times with us. He never ventured out of his territory. For him, the world ceased to exist outside the boundaries of Dombivli. School, Junior College, Engineering College, Classes, Khana, Peena… everything in Dombivli. I think he should be made the brand ambassador of Dombivli. Always seen singing praises of his home city Dombivli, he even claims to have seen a shower of hailstones in Dombivli.

During our exams, when I, Tarun and Kamzhor Kali used to stay in a rented apartment in Dombivli, Pritam often came to our room for late night studies. He never ever stayed in the room alone. He accompanied us each time we went down to have our dinner even if that meant he had to carry his books along and study in the restaurant. He was scared of staying all alone in the room claiming that one of the flats in our building was haunted. Saala Fattoo Pritam.

Pritam was not used to a cold climate. It has also happened that one late winter night, Pritam came dressed in muffler, monkey cap and so much winter dressing that I asked him..."Is it snowing outside??” He looked like a perfect Cleaner who plays Chamcha to the Truck Driver.

He also hold the distinction of puking on an innocent dog after he was high one New Year Night with his friends. Eeks!!! I can’t just imagine the plight of the poor dog. He must have waited till the monsoon to get rid of the powerful stench and find a mate for himself. One more thing I can recollect about Pritam is that he used to study hard for the exams but then late in the night started making chits just because he wasn’t confident enough. And the best part was he never carried the chits in the examination hall… not because he did not want to cheat… but because he couldn'y muster enough courage. He has also appeared at many VIVAs (oral exams) with formulas and answers tattooed all over his palms and forearms…

Most of the times Pritam could be spotted wearing Tantra T-Shirts with Skeletons on the front.

(There is Pritam... with 2 muskeeters... spotted with a Skull T-shirt)

His witty one liners made such an impact on everyone that after a few days… that dialogue was on the lips of everyone. This post would be incomplete if I don’t put down his one-liners and nick names… So, I present to you some of the one-liners he used quite frequently.

“Haan Kya???” – Said this when anyone made tall claims or said something which was hard to digest
“Chitto Chat” – A term he used for the Chits he made
“Padatsheel” – Neatly
“Maandi” – Lap
“Gachhi” – Terrace of a building
“Tapri” – A Pan shop
“Saala Ghulam Log” – a term dedicated to all the students from Computer and Production branch
“Prod ET Bhai Bhai” – Used this line many times only one day when he was high. This line is yet to be repeated.

And how can one forget the nick name that Pritam conferred on Amit (Bawa) - Kamzhor Kali. This name is gonna haunt Bawa forever.

So Pritam... Here is Animal Kingdom wishing you a Belated Happy Birthday.

P.S. When and Where is the rocking Party??? Plz. Not Dombivli this time.