Two’s a company and many, a sheer joy

BENGALURU: Imagine shifting to a new city with little or no friends and acquaintances. More than 20 years ago, business man Ram Chugh and his wife Sheetal started a “couple kitty” in Bangalore. “We were in our mid twenties and were newlyweds. We got together and formed a community of the same kind of people in our age group and formed a couple kitties. It spread by word of mouth and today the kitty is a mix of people and is truly cosmopolitam,” says Chugh who is a popular figure in the social circuit. Chugh has not one or two but five different kitty groups.

One for dining which has about 35 couples,  one for pubbing and clubbing, one for breakfast meet ups on Sundays, one for night coffee and dessert and one for early Sunday evening gourmet suppers in which children are allowed. “These way even children get to socialise with each other.”Attendance is mandatory and a fine has to be paid by absentees. Everyone goes Dutch.

For travel agents Aparna Kapur and her husband Pankaj, couple kitties are a cool way to make friends and enjoy a fun-filled monthly dinner event. “We were new in Bangalore and even though I was brought up here, I moved out after marriage only to return after several years and I had to make new friends, “says Aparna. “Men usually take time to make friends and this is a good way to get my husband to meet other people. Initially we joined the Punjabi Sabha as we wanted to meet our people with the same roots, celebrate festivals and bond, “says Aparna.

A smaller group of 24 couples from amongst the Sabha members was formed and they meet once a month on a fixed date.The host pays for the food and drinks and entertainment like a standup comedian, a DJ, music, karaoke etc. Hotels are preferred as it is tough to handle so many at home.
The Kapurs are part of a smaller kitty comprising eight couples and they meet up at each other’s homes. This is more informal, intimate and homely.

Another popular social work group called Harmony also has a couple kitty.  Harmony works with social projects like building and repairing government schools. “We formed a smaller group from amongst the members and again, we meet once a month on a fixed day, “says Aparna.Aarti Sud and her husband Suresh Sud are part of a kitty where couples meet in each other’s homes.

“When I moved here from the US, I did not quite like the social scenes where dinner would be served really late and people would be drinking late into the night. I decided to get likeminded couples together. In case someone has an issue meeting at home we meet at a restaurant.   Meetings are on the third  Wednesday of a month at around 8 30 pm and dinner is served by 10 pm,” says Aarti who is quite a stickler for time and discipline.

“Our kitty has a mix of men from different backgrounds and professionals like technology, IT real estate and other fields. Suresh is an avid golfer and hits the golf course five times a week so this is way one of getting him to meet men who don’t golf.”  Out of the 15 couples, five of them even travel abroad for golfing vacations!

Kitty involves each member putting in a fixed sum of cash into the ‘kitty’ each month and each one gets the whole amount once in the cycle. Its like a chit fund, minus the interest! Women’s afternoon lunch kitties have been popular but its the couple kitties that are relatively unknown.