A DATE WITH DEV- EVER GREEN HERO

In Kathmandu 10th May, The greatest day in Professor's life. The Professor has a date with Dev Anand –the ever Green hero of Indian cinema at Hotel Everest at 4.30 pm. The Professor that is me – Dr. A.C.Jauhari who from his almost childhood or a young adult is entangled with the cine image of the greatest actor of his time , the every green Dev Anand.
Today my mind is full of images , right from his first film 'Afsar' to ' Jal' from 'C.I.D.' to 'Paying Gust', ' From 'Munimji' to 'Jab Pyar ksi sai hota hai', from 'Solava Sal' to 'Hary Rama Har Krishna', from 'Nau Do Graya' to 'Jewel Thief" , from Prem Pujari to 'Hera Panna' to ' Ishk Ishk Ishk'. From 'Guide' to 'Joney mara nam' Pictures are many but the hero is the same. Heroines may be different but the hero is the same.
It was my burning desire to see my hero in real life, and I tried it several times in the past . When ever I went to Bombay I searched the Telephone Directory to find his Telephone number, or hopped in a car and went around Juhu Irish Park area where he lived, but every time I was disappointed, I only saw high walls of his bungalow, could not find his Phone number in the directory. One day I was roming with my family on Juhu some one told me that Dev comes to a Photograph's shop and I hang round that shop for some time and even tried to give some money to the shopkeeper to show me Dev, but he could not manage, even my camera also failed that day.
Two days back I read in Himalayan Times that Dev is coming to Kathmandu, where I have been teaching in a Medical college for last 8 years. It was my almost last golden opportunity to see my hero in person. There were three places from where I could get free passes, One was Indian Embassy, Kathmandu, other was India Nepal cultural center and last but not the least was Fine Book club , whose Phone number was also published in the paper I tried the phone number and convinced them that I am in urgent need of meeting the hero of my life. On the other end was one Mr. Anoop, first he refused to help me, but later he took my phone number and told me to tell me next day weather he would be able to oblige me, to my good luck the desired phone came and he was so kind to arrange two passes for me which I collected with great pain from Anam Nagar, a place far away from my residence.
Today is that great day and I am going to meet my hero along with my wife at 4.30 pm. The rest after the meeting. At this time my heart is overwhelmed with the generosity of that young Journalist Mr. Anoop who was instrumental in getting me this great opportunity. I will be getting ready with my best cloths and my digital camera ready for this memorable meeting with Dev.
I was so anxious that I should not miss this meeting that I went to Hotel Everest almost two and half hour before the scheduled time of 4.30 pm, along with my wife I reached the venue at 2.00pm. I was expecting that there shall be police and lot of crowd to be faced, which was not so, we were welcomed by the gorkha guard of hotel, and we went to the lobby. I enquired about the meeting place and was told that it was in the café and on pool side. I had been to Everest hotel before and I knew the place. We waited in the lounge for about one hour than at 3.00pm went to the café, where I saw that arrangement of meeting were going on . There I met Sri Gopal Baylay Counseller Press, Information & culture, Director Indian Cultural center, Kathmandu (an officer in Indian Embassy). He told us not to occupy the first two rows( reserve for VIP's). We got our passes checked and sat in the third row.
Incidentally I picked up some conversation with Sri Baylay, who happened to belong to Lucknow , which is close to our Allahabad. I asked for his card and he gave me one which I have preserved for future reference.
As the clock tickled the hall was getting gradually filled with Indian and mainly Naplies people, mostly unrecognized face of elderly white haired persons, very adult women, but some young faces as well. And finally the hour came, my heart was racing against time, I was so excited and thrilled, to see my life long ambition about to be fulfilled. We even phoned Sweety from there , Madhu told her that we are about to meet Dev, and we have come to the meeting.
Finally it was 4.30 pm , our new ambassador to India Sri Sood also arrived , and finally he came from the back of the hall all smiling, waving the crowd , we all stood up to see him. He was very different from the hero image much more from the cine images which I had in mind. He was so graceful, simple and so sweet and humble. When he finally came to the front row and sat near our ambassador. Some people started going in front of him with their camera's to take photos. I also went, after asking Madhu, who somehow allowed me. I went in front of him, took two snaps, and said' Hallo Dev, I am Dr. A.C.Jauhari, and cot hold of his bony thin hand in my right hand and further said' For this moment I have waited for 50 years of my life'. He said (To my mind the greatest compliment of my life)' you have not waited it was I who had waited'. The short and sweet conversation ended, I came back to my seat. and did not disturb him further. Then the meeting started . A small film on his life, which was full of film shots and songs were shown which we all saw with great interest. Then he was escorted to the raised diace in front of us. He was introduced by Sri Baylay and our ambassador was asked to say a few words and to present him a buckey . He was accompanied by his son Sunil Anand who was also honored by a buckey. The Mr. Bhushan Dahal was asked to come to the diace; he came along with a copy of Dev's recently written autobiography. Then the conversation session started, which lasted for almost two hours. During this period I went on taking more and more Photographs of Dev. My wife was trying to stop me list I may not be stopped by anyone else and make a fool of myself. But somehow I could not be stopped and I took as many photographs as I desired, before any one stopped me I took the photographs to my satisfaction. The great advantage of digital cameras these days is that one can take large number of photographs, almost for free.
The conversations was very interesting and enjoyable for almost two hours Dev went on with his memoirs and incidences of his life which is long, about his autobiography and every thing around and about him. Then finall y the public also asked many questions, but I had had the best answer in the start. The meeting ended which was followed by high tea, which we enjoyed at the pool side. I also meet ambassador, and finally when we were coming out of the venue Dev was being escorted to the pool side we crossed each other and smiled at each other departed like old good friends. But in my heart there was " Abhi na jao chood kar, ki dil abhi bharra nahi' was the only massage for Dev.