Toronto: Rendezvous with IMCB Friends

Toronto: Rendezvous with IMCB Friends

                                                                                   May 2023

                                                                                       By Talal Khan

Toronto has been calling for a while and what better way to go than a reunion with some childhood friends. The trip architects were Yasir Khan and Hamad. As far as I can remember my first friends I ever made at the ripe age of 5 were Zia ul Haq and Yasir Khan. Hamad came later in the picture. We went to school together in Islamabad College for Boys, F-8/4 forever immortalized as Shamsi’s school named after the principal. The school in my mind reflects a different Pakistan. Islamabad at this time was a dreamy city, well demarcated into organized sectors and model schools were excellent educational centers priding themselves on education in Urdu and uniform of orange Shalwar Kamiz. There were plenty of extracurricular activities with sports, drama, debates and annual day. I still have fond memories of childhood races, our teachers, playing rugby with a stick and competing in debates and activities. The bonds of friendship formed at time are truly lifelong.

Hamad who lives near Detroit in Michigan planned the whole trip. He got us Hampton Inn suites at Toronto Airport. Yasir flew in from Dallas and Asher came from New Jersey. Asher, who has the vibe of the modern rapper, was part of the original boys. In all my early memories, he is in the picture, somewhere in the background, always with a suta in his hand and a girl who must not be named in his heart. She was kind of in everyone’s heart.

Mansoori came from Virginia. He had joined the school in the fifth grade right before I left. Husky and handsome from since I remember, he drove from Virginia. He has numerous talents but is the master of fitness. Another player was Mudassar who joined the school after I had left. He flew from Portland and appeared to be a man of taste and class in all and everything including fast cars. Lastly we were joined by my RMC buddy Irfan also knows as Iffi. He flew in from Florida and brought his unique brand of sarcastic humor.

I drove from Massachusetts in my new BMW X5 and met up with Asher, Mudassir, Hamad and Yasir at downtown Toronto. Embracing Yasir after years and Hammad after what appeared to be a millinea at the base of CN tower.

I parked close to the waterfront, and we decided to go up the tower to get the view of the city which is amazing.  We walked around the fashion district and then found a nice coffee bar to spend some quality time.

Mudassar had the taste of local small cafes and the place we found was perfect.

This was followed by the trip to a museum where we took some pictures before heading back to the hotel to meet up with Mansoor and Irfan who had flown to the airport.

We decided to go to the Karahi boys for dinner. Passing through the dense traffic, we made our way to one of the best-looking Pakistani restaurant which had a western vibe of a chic restaurant with delicious Karahi and rest of the food and killing presentation of Naan.

Chai was not up to the par and that drew the wrath of Hamad who showed the waitress who was the don of Toronto. Finishing our dinner well past midnight, we went to a local Hookah bar with blazing bhangra music but full of young college going kids. It took us a few seconds to realize that we are no longer at that age, and we made our way to a much calmer hookah place which was owned by an African family but served tea and decent hookah.

Finishing up, we went to the hotel and hung out in Yasir’s room having mindless banter like the good old days before retiring to our rooms.

Next morning, I was up bright and early and was joined by Ifi for some morning grub followed by a gym session and a run with Mansoor who coached me on the mechanics of lifting. Soon we were joined by others who wanted to go for proper Halwa puri breakfast and we went to another great Pakistani restaurant next to Shirin Mahal sweets with great ambiance and food. I was a little scarred for the waitress and was praying for Hamad to go easy. Rest assured; the service was excellent.

The agenda for the day was to go to Niagara Falls. It was a 90-minute drive, and we took two cars. I decided to rest and let Irfan drive the BMW. It brought back memories as Irfan started driving late in our group and used to take it very seriously and is one of the safest drivers. Relaxing back and chatting with Mansoor, we reached a rest stop. A biker pulled up in his Harley with a biker gal. To my surprise, both were from Islamabad, and the guy was a few years our senior and knew Mansoor well. We grabbed some coffee and drove onwards reaching our destination and joining the rest of the gang.

I would like to add here that some of the guys here got together after three decades, but the connection of our shared past was palpable. I shared with these guys a combined past, early childhood and an era. We had similar views on faith, Pakistan and a collective love for our homeland. It was an instant connection with Mudassar whom I met for the first time in my life. None of this was forced like my relationship with some of the husbands of my wife’s friends who I meet in the community and have very little in common with. These are all great people, but the connection seems missing, and I remain lost in most of these functions. Being with these old friends, I felt alive after some time.

Niagara Falls are beautiful. I remember visiting them with my parents as a ten-year-old. As I gazed at the power of these magnificent falls, I could help wonder at the flow of time. My parents became young in my eyes, and I transported back to a child in the maid of the mist with my brothers at my side and my father towering over us. Here I was now with my friends, zoning out the others as we made our way to the falls in the boat, dressed up in funny-looking ponchos. Regardless of how they looked, we were glad we had them as we got drenched as we drifted towards the falls.

We walked the pathway next to the falls to dry up.

Niagara is lined with shops and restaurants and paints the picture of Murree from the eighties.

Most of the tourists were also from Southeast Asia. Finishing up, we dove back to Toronto and decided to have dinner at an Afghan restaurant which turned out to have been a fusion of Afghani food with spicy southern food. It was still delicious, and we enjoyed every bit of it. This was followed by another trip to Hookah lounge before retiring for the night knowing that each of us have to leave in the morning.

Next morning started with breakfast at hotel and the gym. I shared the room with Irfan and Mansoor. It was extra special to see Irfan as he was part of my gang in Rawalpindi Medical College and one of my closest friends. It was awesome to see him though I was offended by Rabia making an observation that we looked like twins. After all, I am much more handsome. I guess the pictures tell the whole story.

As I left in my car after a last-minute Suta with recollections of childhood memories and the same longing in Asher’s eyes for the girl who must not be named. I made a stop at Shirin Mahal to get some snacks for Nidah. After, I started my long and comfortable drive in the car back home looking forward to the beautiful scenery of upstate New York and the Finger lake region. As all of us left, I am sure we were already planning our next get together.