Each second was a postcard, a frozen frame, some sepia
tinted, some a flash of colour, a bit of neon, a bit of lightning, bursting
forth and mingling with a cacophony of familiar voices. The feet, young, old
and somewhere in between, tapping to the rhythm of knowing they were at home
and listening to the music whose words didn’t matter, cause they all tumbled
out like happy memories in no particular order. Seldom has homecoming been so
effortless and so natural.
Circa 2015, Dec 23: At Cavala it was just as Dec 23 always
has been and always will be. Officially the day when Marios throws the bar open
(his heart does this once too often anyway), throws in some great food, brings
in the music and friends from past and present-
who have made Cavala, not just an institution but a home – arrive. Many from
Goa and others from outside come here on Dec 23, just to be here.
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This is a celebration of ‘uncomplicating’, a word only Cavala-ites
will understand. It’s a world where introductions have happened over so many evenings
and on the traditional day party of December 23, you have a motley mix of those
who have been “introduced” -and how- to the Cavala way of life, which for many
is the way life is indeed lived. Folks who have sung, danced, eaten and raised
toasts, to those who have slept on the bar stools, locked the bar after staff
have left, made their own sandwiches and played their own playlists.
Friendships have begun, progressed and blossomed within these walls without
doors and at Banana Republic, across the road which is a part of the Cavala
dream factory.
Each face was a chip off the ole block on December 23.
Abhijeet and Leela, Professor Gomes with his lovely wife and daughters, one of
whom arrived from London, Silu Gomes who looks the same at 3 pm as he does at 3
am when at Cavala – in an intoxicated dream, Satyajit Veluskar or Satya, who
began his innings by arriving from Bombay or wherever he lived only for this
and go back the next day till he realised that the effort was too much and he
moved here. And there was Carlton, another buddy who yours truly met in his
first season at Cavala back in 2004 and then the friendship grew at Opus,
another institution Carlton ran in Bangalore. He spends three days in Goa these
days and does a Tuesday gig at Cavala. From Opus owner to full time singer,
that’s what Cavala does to you. Yes there will be so many names left out, but
the spirit won’t. As the lanky Benny who has seen it all standing behind the
bar, to serve, for years – and who has the unenviable job of sending out emails
to those who run a tab and miss settling it, supervised yet another December
23, where he knew exactly who would drink what and moreover in what quantity.
For years Benny has never had to ask “what are you drinking” to many of us
Cavala-ites.
And then, there were those who have left us heart-broken and
teary and were really missed. Norman who went away suddenly, and whose loss
Marios has never quite come to terms with. And so did Regi who supplemented the
Cavala menu with his, and sang his heart out, (I had a bit part to play in his
band Bellbottoms & Boots pretending to be a percussion player), till he
walked into the sunset with worries he never shared. Added to this painful list
is Salazar from Benaulim who too is with the Lord and his angels above and Chef
Sanjay Matta, the maverick who called Cavala home till his last day.
Meanwhile regulars like Jayant, who made the bar his study
and feni his spiritual drink and Yashesh and Cherry who ran Banana Republic’s kitchen
for a bit, were marked absent and need some explaining to do.
But as Carlton sang and we danced, the walls of Banana
Republic also cried out for a band of boys who were the soul of Friday nights
in the monsoons – Alex Braganza and his Music Company. For years, many of whom
who were there on December 23, left all their baggage home and came on nimble
feet and with light hearts to listen to the classics played by the Music
Company. No tribute to Cavala can be complete without the Music Company made
sure, along with all of us, that the music never dies at Cavala.
And on this day this year, this writer silently thanked one
person he has lost touch with, who brought Cavala to his world – writer Sucheta
Potnis who called sometime between June 12 and 19, 2004 and said “If you want
to know what Goa is, come to Cavala.” A million thank yous, Sucheta. Those
words ring true eleven years later and always will. The column you now read,
was conceived in this hallowed space and goes on.
And finally, we raise our glasses to one of our dearest
friends, who we have been going home to for years, Marios, the best and the
warmest brick on the Cavala wall and its soul and substance. What do you say
about him? Brother, buddy, soul mate who has given Cavala to us expecting
nothing but love in return. Hopefully our dancing feet told him, that his
spirit and ours will ensure that this love will never die.
A happy new year to
all readers of Business with Pleasure, many of whom are die hard Cavala-ites.
