Charity Auction

I had to attend a meeting in Bombay. Wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it back in time. But I did, just before they started the first lot.

They had flown in this auctioneer from Chirstie's in New York. It was extremely disappointing that he actually forgot to bring his gavel and had to use a paperweight, which cracked the glass on the podium.

There were quite a few people who had dressed formally for the occasion. Mois was an exception, given that I had just dashed from the airport. Not your usual page 3 crowd although some where present.

It wasn' exactly what I had expected it to be. There was a lot of conversation going on throughout and there wasn't that air of seriousness I had expected. But it was a charity event and the amounts the art pieces eventually sold for only ranged from INR 30,000 to 750,000.

There only serious bidder in our midst was Armaity Patel. She had her eye on this piece by a Korean artist but someone else was equally determined to get it. The other lady eventually got it for INR 95k. Viraf had stopped her from going any higher. They staff from Concern attending by the aisle were giggling away when Armaity started slapping Viraf's arm.

There was another moment of excitement when a cricket bat that was signed by the entire Indian team from the India-Pakistan face off in 2000, apparently the first time India had won a match on Pakistani soil. Armaity was determined that Viraf should have it for his birthday. She managed to bid up to INR 90k but it eventually went under the 'paperweight' for INR 160k.

The organisers were actually quite happy with the results, which were better than they had expected. They are moving to Delhi after this, where things promise to be more exciting. Just by chance, Armaity will be there for work at the time; and without Viraf. Of course she has already got herself invited...

We then ended up at Blue Ginger where Ani and Dhruva were supposed to meet Ranjan and Shruthi and a few of their friends. Some heated debates about politics arose in the course of their dinner. In India, that means a good time was had by all.