BALLIA BABUVAS: A Journey to Rekindle Old Bonds

My dear friends, 

Buckle up for a tale that’s equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and downright motivational! 

They say life begins at 60, and as someone who’s proudly crossed the 66-year milestone, I’m here to tell you—those WhatsApp forwards about staying social to stay healthy? They’re onto something! 

As a lifelong introvert with a friend circle smaller than a dosa, I decided it was time to flip the script. Why make new friends when I could dig up the golden oldies from my Ballia College days? 

Spoiler alert: it was the best decision I’ve made since I bought my trusty Maruti Baleno!

The Great Friendship Revival Tour

On 1.7.2025, I hit the road from Chennai to Rajahmundry, piloting my Baleno like a man on a mission. My younger brother, Mr. Quadir, Assistant Excise Superintendent, was my first stop. After a smooth drive, I rolled into Rajahmundry by evening, ready to kickstart my friendship revival tour.

First, I rang up my Ballia College senior, Sri Durga Prasad ji, who, like a human Rolodex, dished out the phone numbers of Vijaykumar ji and Ramachandra Rao ji. 

A quick call to Ramachandra Rao ji, and boom—he invited me to his “Ashramam,” a serene spot just 6.5 km from Rajahmundry East Railway Station (check it out: Google Maps).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PPm9VNT7KKwQ45Yq5

On 2.7.2025, my brother and I visited Ramachandra Rao ji’s stunning 3-bedroom haven, complete with a separate office room. This man looked like a straight-up Himalayan swami—flowing wisdom and all! He’s read a whopping 2500 books and is chasing a Ph.D. in Astrology. We chatted for over an hour, sipping on his hospitality (sadly, I forgot to snap a selfie—note to self: never skip the photo-op!).

The next morning, 3.7.2025, I called Vijaykumar ji, who welcomed me to his place. We dove headfirst into nostalgia, laughing over old Ballia memories. Selfie? Nailed it this time! 


He also hooked me up with Sridhar ji’s number, a dynamo in Vijayawada who’d soon become the MVP of this adventure.

The Vijayawada Reunion Extravaganza

Sridhar ji was like a friendship fairy godmother. After I shared my plan to reunite with our Ballia gang, he sent me a list of phone numbers for friends in Vijayawada. At his suggestion, I booked a room at the "KAY Hotel" and sent out invites for a grand meetup on 4.7.2025 evening. Sridhar ji worked his magic, rallying everyone to show up.

And show up they did! Seven Ballia babus graced the KAY Hotel with their presence:

  1. Ramachandra Rao ji 

  2. Prabhakar ji

  3. Ratnaprasad ji

  4. Abdul Naseer (yours truly)

  5. Koteswar Rao ji (the OG who made my Ballia days possible)

  6. Name TBD (oops, memory glitch!)

  7. Sridhar ji (the mastermind behind it all)

  8. Guntur Venkateswarulu ji

We laughed, we reminisced, we debated who had the worst hairstyle in college. 


The KAY Restaurant dinner was a feast of food and memories, wrapping up at 10 PM with hearts full and smiles wide. Sridhar ji, take a bow—you made this night legendary!

The Ongole Odyssey

On 5.7.2025, after a hearty complimentary breakfast at KAY Hotel, I set sail for Ongole to meet Prasad ji and Murali ji. I reached by 11 AM, but Murali ji was out of town (classic!). Prasad ji and I swapped stories about our Ballia glory days and caught up on life. Another selfie fumble—why do I keep forgetting these?!

Post-lunch, I cruised back to Chennai, pulling into my driveway by 6 PM. 

Exhausted? Sure. Elated? Absolutely.

Why This Matters (And Why You Should Do It Too!)

This wasn’t just a road trip—it was a soul recharge. Rekindling ties with my Ballia babuvas reminded me that life’s too short to stay cooped up in your shell. To my fellow introverts: step out, reach out, and reconnect. Those old friends? They’re like hidden treasure chests of joy, waiting to be opened. Plus, laughing over college shenanigans is the best medicine—no prescription needed!

I’m penning this down on 6.7.2025 to freeze these moments in time. One day, when I’m 80 and sipping filter coffee, I’ll reread this and grin like a kid. 

My advice? Start your own friendship revival tour. Call that friend you haven’t spoken to in years. Plan a meetup. Take the selfie (don’t be like me!). Life’s too short to miss out on these connections.

A Big Thank You

To my Ballia friends—thank you for sharing your time and stories. 

To Sridhar ji—mate, you’re the real deal. 

I’m already dreaming of our next meetup, wherever it may be. 

If any of you Ballia babuvas want to host round two, I’m packing my Baleno and hitting the road!

May the Almighty bless us all with health, happiness, and endless reunions.

Yours in nostalgia and new beginnings,

Abdul Naseer 

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