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| Friends & family meet at Vohuman Cafe. |
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| Songs for Rajan. |
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| Breakfast at Vohuman Cafe |
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| Vohuman Cafe, Pune |
Rajan had often spoken of Vohuman Cafe in Pune. I made a mental note of going to the cafe with him when the opportunity presented itself.
As it happened, it did today. Friends and family met for his beloved chai at the cafe at 5 p.m. It was about the same time yesterday that Rajan, in his irresistible style, had signed off from this cafe.
Since the last rites are to be tomorrow, I felt having a meeting of friends of Rajan at the cafe would be appropriate - if only to process the shock of his passing. Whether it would happen, I was not sure.
In the morning we did a recce of the place. It looks so much more friendly than on the website. Upheld by trees, it seemed like a tree trunk. In the bustling space with traffic buzzing by, it holds its own as a retreat of peace. Its wooden chairs and marble tables beckon you to tarry a while.
As we were leaving after breakfast of bun maska, omelette and chai I spied an old man sitting under the tree. He was singing in Marathi. I asked the cafe who he was. They said he usually sits there. We paid for a bun maska chai for him. As we pulled out in the car we saw him tip the tea glass all the way to his lips, as if drinking life to the lees. Just like Rajan
Rajan and myself used to have umpteen sessions on the guitar. Both of us loved singing and playing. So I chose four songs he used to sing followed by another one which was the finale.
Thankfully two tables had been reserved for us. We started with 'Que Sera Sera' followed by 'Blue Spanish Eyes' and 'Nobody's Child'. As we warmed to the singing, we tried 'It's Now or Never'. For the finale it could only be Frank Sinatra's 'My Way.' Steeped in the 60's, the songs reminded us that most of us were 1960 editions. We sang as if there was no tomorrow. We sang for Rajan. People looked at us curiosly but it didn't matter.
The fingers flew over the fretboard as I knew I was singing for Rajan for the last time. I was even - so they said- sitting on the same chair he sat for the last time. I felt imbued with his spirit, his vivacity.
Friends and family came from a long way. One from Bombay, another from Baroda, us from
Goa, and his family from Pune. We even brought a mava cake - his favourite - from Kayani bakery this morning and distributed the wedges.
This was so precious. As we left, the elderly owner of Vohuman Cafe clasped my fingers in his wizened hands and thanked us for coming. He would not accept the payment for the chais. 'Rajan was a loyal customer,' he said. All must live in peace, he said as he waved us off.
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Pix taken by Brian Mendonca on 29 August 2025. Updated 30/8/25.
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