City revellers gear up for the night

PUNE: New Year is here, which is stating the obvious! Now, the million dollar question is how are you planning to see the old one off? There is no dearth of options to make your day a special one. What with hotels and restaurants gearing up for a unique New Year eve bash - special themes, special entertainment, special menus et al. Amidst all these, you are guaranteed your share of fun.As the phrase goes - ‘paisa pheko tamasha dekho’.
Yet, there are people for whom the year-end is an occasion to plan something new, to begin the New Year on a high note.
“This year, we are going to Matheran on the new year’s eve,” says Rajeev Madan, a software professional. “Going to restaurants and gulping a drink or two is common. The year-end should be different. That’s why I want to have some quality time with my family. Taking a quiet walk in the wood sounds perfect.”
There are others like Madan for whom the idea of celebration does not mean doing the regular stuff.
Author R Raj Rao plans to celebrate the night “in a queer way.” He explains, “Probably have some close friends over...” Shikha Singh, a senior HR consultant in Mumbai, came to Pune on Christmas eve itself, away from her hectic schedule, to spend some quality time with her sister.
“My sister is working on the 31st, so, no plans for a party. I just wanted a break from my routine life, and will probably do introspection about the year gone by while spending the evening alone at my sister’s flat.” That’s a big plan indeed! Anil Pathak, who owns a hardware shop in the city, refuses to go out.
“There are so many people on the road that I get claustrophobic, and I find all that revelry very impersonal. I would rather stay at home and watch television.” But unlike other days, he plans to stay awake till midnight to usher the New Year in.