In 1972, Veer Vijay Singh and K.K. Bhatti met at the Pusa Institute for Hotel Management, New Delhi. “I clearly remember our first meeting in 1972, when I joined the institute along with my late friend Mahindra Singh. We were avoiding all chances to choose a third roommate till I met the extremely innocent and naïve K.K.B. from Jammu. His innocence struck us and we welcomed him to our room,” recalls Veer Vijay Singh, the founder of Trance International Hotels & Resort Private Limited.
Hotelier K.K. Bhatti adds, “It was my first trip to Delhi from my village in Jammu; being in a big city and the fears about getting ragged were very traumatic. But I was brought to ease by Veeru and Mahindra.”
Veer Vijay Singh
“Yes, the friendship started immediately and Bhatti’s warm nature and innocence somehow connected us,” says Veer Vijay. Bhatti adds, “Veeru’s warmness and friendly attitude attracted me the most. He was always mischievous and full of fun.” Veer Vijay says, “After three years in college, we worked together at a hotel in Mumbai. We continued our friendship and regularly kept in touch even after he moved to Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. Our birthdays are just one day apart — September 26 and 27 and he never missed greeting me on my birthday. He also came all the way from New Zealand to attend my wedding in 1984 and while going back, he got married himself.” And Bhatti adds, “I can trust Veeru with anything. My nephew once wanted a job and just one call to Veeru was all it needed to get the job done.”
K.K. Bhatti
Sharing their favourite memories together, Bhatti says, “Once, when I walked into the common room after a bath, he just pulled my towel off and I had to cover myself with a newspaper. There are so many such stories which bring smiles to our faces.”
“Bhatti used to claim to be a great palmist and one day, six-eight girls gathered around him in the lounge to listen to his palmistry skills. We were on the top floor of the institute doing our cookery demonstration and were jealous finding him there. So I threw a bone at them and got all of them to disperse,” laughs Veer Vijay.
