As I meandered towards the dusk of my Mumbai chapter – I embarked upon a new section – Pune Diaries. My first stop entailed a journey through a village in the outskirts of Pune and an enriching experience through the agricultural revolution in the area. Amongst the farmer community, I stumbled upon my long lost buddy Praveen and his wife Arathi. In anticipation of yours truly’s arrival Arathi had admonished all the farmer folks to produce the best of their wares. The result was ambrosia which would have even had Goddess Edesia craving for more. Avial; which apparently is not her speciality, oozed of such exemplary taste that led my palate in to state of euphoria.
After having bolted enough to last me two winters, my next rendezvous led me to Mickey Mouse aka Nilesh. Here I must inform the readers of the perils that underlie when Mickey Mouse offers to pick you up from a meeting point. This extremely hazardous offer necessitates you to pillion on his Enfield Bullet, which gets hammered down on any road at 300 miles per hour( On that note Mickey Mouse stays very close to an airstrip – which sees constant take off of Sukhois). I survived this ordeal and also managed dinner(despite my stomach still reeling from extreme shock), with Mickey & Minnie Mouse as well as Amol. A late night tapri chai topped with a meetha paan brought back senses to my being.
After sometime, I do not know how long afterwards, I was piloting a Sukhoi- which thundered voraciously over the landscape below – and before I could crash, I woke up in shock. Sukhoi was not the shocking part, the fact that I slipped up in calling Her Highness of Pune aka Pooh was all the more quivering. After the initial ‘bash up the rat(myself)’ session, Pooh gracefully announced of her intentions of picking me up at Swaargate.
Pooh managed to pick up her waiting subject, not before being subjugated to the torture of an ignorant Hawaldar(The hawaldar was perhaps unaware of the traffic rules that apply to Her Highness). Soon, Pooh & Myself were ensconced in our seats (with atleast two rows of police protection) awaiting King Khan to start his latest boast(My Name is Khan). The movie started off well with flashes of mature handling of a sensitive topic of autism (though I would not completely agree with all aspects being portrayed as autism in the movie). However as the movie ambled on, it embroiled itself in to two complex topics – autism and Islamic fundamentalism and in the process managed to completely hash it up. My only take away however was – Kajol still rocks.
I was still reeling till my epiglottis; Pooh decided to embark on a shopping spree to overcome the shock and in the process managed to daub a mehendi on her palm. In the mean time, in came a whiff of smile smeared all over a familiar countenance of Amey aka Jet accompanied by his better half – Sayali. Next stop – Little Italy where the troop decided to dine a sumptuous meal which was punctuated poor to horrible service by the staff.
In the mean time, there was another world which was reeling from horror of mindless acts of terror. As India remains subjected to such radical acts of cowardice(German Bakery this time), my heart prays for the innocent victims.
As the last pages draw to a close on this somber note – I did manage to catch up with Sush(just in the nick of time) as well as old engineering mates(Prasanna & Sawant). Jhansi,ever so sweetly, stopped by, laden with a month’s ration of grapes. And soon the SQ421 beckoned. Till next time.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Mumbai Diaries - Part 2(Kala Ghoda aur Jhansi)
I had immersed myself completely in to ecstatic depths of Mumbai’s warm caress and it was just about right time to meet Jhansi – my cousin extraordinaire. To meet Jhansi however, is a mammoth task – for it entails her time off – from her students, her lecturing & her sojourn(through the city) – which trust me – requires large scale pre-planning and preparation(on her part).
Blessed as I am – Jhansi decided to bear with my presence and ensured my yearly Mumbai visit would be enriched with the blissful sights of Victorian Architecture. As I met my tall cousin, she has an extraordinary talent of adjusting her height – depending on the audience – just like my tripod, at CST station and proceeded forth in to warmth of Mumbai – I was disappointed. BMC had planned its renovation drive to match with my stay and extraordinarily – decided to revamp all the domes on all the Victorian Monuments that Mumbai has to offer and all at the same time. My head exhibited extreme springiness as it hung at its edge but perched up again at the prospect of Kala Ghoda 2010.
Presence and company of an artistic cousin(Jhansi) ensures vivid pleasures and Khala Ghoda offered unrivalled visual treats including the 3D- Horse and a mini Eiffel Tower (which lights up on solar power). Of course , some of the other ‘attractions’ including a weaver bird nest made of metallic wires were a bit too esoteric for the wrinkles in my brain to process.(We visited Eiffel Tower later in the evening only to meet the person who designed it boasting all the way to glory).Jhansi , however, ensured that I do use some of those wrinkles by planning a NCPA sojourn for the Mumbai International Film Festival 2010.
I have to confess – documentaries always have sounded scary, and I soon discovered, this fear was unfounded. ‘Children of Pyre’ depicts an astonishing saga of real life heroes – angels of death – little kids enforced with the responsibility of ensuring the consummation of the process of body to ashes. It’s a travesty – which portrays innocence lost to death, honesty perishing over the flames of life and a bizarre industry of ‘kafan’ being recycled. I was overwhelmed.
I scaled zeniths of peace after this overwhelming experience as winds laden with love from the Arabian sea and the setting sun daubed my countenance. However the sun like the domes played tricks and was lost in the maze of smog that progress has presented Mumbai. Jhansi ensured I do not depart her august company before buying a shirt.
My sojourn also ensured that I catch up with Ganesh(my ex roommate),Rashmi and their lovely daughter Adwaita. And soon it was the glorious day – the day when the sun shines ever so brightly, butterflies flap ever so loudly, the flowers bloom ever so sprightly and repeated reminders from Parakeet,Jhansi et al about the ‘BIG 3’ did not deter this fable or so I thought.
8 AM – 8th Feb 2010 and I woke up with a cramping feeling in stomach and my entire being was ensnared in a spiral of gloom. I was however determined to fight it and so after the initial grumble and feeling of utmost hopelessness , myself and parents headed for the Mumbai pilgrimage. No camera episodes this time(for I was not carrying it) and no lost shoes(this version of Nike shoes remains with me) and the day ended in peace. Though I could not savour Kela Bhajji at Ram Ashraya@ Matunga this time – some wishes remain unfulfilled – next time perhaps.
More in next.
Blessed as I am – Jhansi decided to bear with my presence and ensured my yearly Mumbai visit would be enriched with the blissful sights of Victorian Architecture. As I met my tall cousin, she has an extraordinary talent of adjusting her height – depending on the audience – just like my tripod, at CST station and proceeded forth in to warmth of Mumbai – I was disappointed. BMC had planned its renovation drive to match with my stay and extraordinarily – decided to revamp all the domes on all the Victorian Monuments that Mumbai has to offer and all at the same time. My head exhibited extreme springiness as it hung at its edge but perched up again at the prospect of Kala Ghoda 2010.
Presence and company of an artistic cousin(Jhansi) ensures vivid pleasures and Khala Ghoda offered unrivalled visual treats including the 3D- Horse and a mini Eiffel Tower (which lights up on solar power). Of course , some of the other ‘attractions’ including a weaver bird nest made of metallic wires were a bit too esoteric for the wrinkles in my brain to process.(We visited Eiffel Tower later in the evening only to meet the person who designed it boasting all the way to glory).Jhansi , however, ensured that I do use some of those wrinkles by planning a NCPA sojourn for the Mumbai International Film Festival 2010.
I have to confess – documentaries always have sounded scary, and I soon discovered, this fear was unfounded. ‘Children of Pyre’ depicts an astonishing saga of real life heroes – angels of death – little kids enforced with the responsibility of ensuring the consummation of the process of body to ashes. It’s a travesty – which portrays innocence lost to death, honesty perishing over the flames of life and a bizarre industry of ‘kafan’ being recycled. I was overwhelmed.
I scaled zeniths of peace after this overwhelming experience as winds laden with love from the Arabian sea and the setting sun daubed my countenance. However the sun like the domes played tricks and was lost in the maze of smog that progress has presented Mumbai. Jhansi ensured I do not depart her august company before buying a shirt.
My sojourn also ensured that I catch up with Ganesh(my ex roommate),Rashmi and their lovely daughter Adwaita. And soon it was the glorious day – the day when the sun shines ever so brightly, butterflies flap ever so loudly, the flowers bloom ever so sprightly and repeated reminders from Parakeet,Jhansi et al about the ‘BIG 3’ did not deter this fable or so I thought.
8 AM – 8th Feb 2010 and I woke up with a cramping feeling in stomach and my entire being was ensnared in a spiral of gloom. I was however determined to fight it and so after the initial grumble and feeling of utmost hopelessness , myself and parents headed for the Mumbai pilgrimage. No camera episodes this time(for I was not carrying it) and no lost shoes(this version of Nike shoes remains with me) and the day ended in peace. Though I could not savour Kela Bhajji at Ram Ashraya@ Matunga this time – some wishes remain unfulfilled – next time perhaps.
More in next.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mumbai Diaries - Part 1(Seeking Mr Ho)
It was not fear, nor, was it exasperation at the realization that Singapore Airlines changes its movie menu only once a month – it was rather extreme relief for being 30,000 feet in the air and heading towards Mumbai.
6:15 AM(Jan 31,2010) and I was extremely glad to see façade of Changi Airport(and I know its façade pretty well!!) till the point I touched my butt. Oh no I am fine – my butt was fine, but a layer of leather that would otherwise have felt my touch was missing. I pirouette not as gracefully as a ballet dancer I would imagine – for my countenance would have expressed an unusually contorted look. Perhaps the back pocket of my Levi’s Jeans was not yet awakened from slumber when I dropped my wallet to its rightful place after having disbursed the fare for the cab ride.
I pour sweat over my immaculately white HTC Magic as I scramble for ideas, and eventually manage to contact Comfort Cab call center. After uttering gibberish for perhaps an extended period – my mind hears the voice at the other end beseech ‘ What was the name of the cab driver?’ At this point I realized that in our daily humdrum we overlook some basic civilities – but fortunately I remembered having glanced at the driving license and recalled ‘Ho’ written somewhere. I conveyed this very vague description with utmost clarity.
The time that followed was spent, incessantly, tiring my legs as my parents watched on worried. My immediate aim was Mumbai and SQ422 but the hurdle was my missing wallet which held the key – my Singapore Identity. The façade was not pleasing anymore, the butterflies of happiness were not fluttering anymore and the horizon was not bright anymore (with the benefit of thorough reflection I now realize that the sun had not risen yet).
At this moment of despair, the silence of gloom is suddenly broken by ABBA in full throttle ‘Mama Mia’, which I realize after a few moments of hopelessness to be my ring tone. And lo it was Mama Mia indeed for my key would be delivered. My heart and my being reverberated, in unison, ‘Thank You Mr Ho’.
But relief at 30,000 feet in the air did not mean that I had let my mind to rest. I split my lenses from camera (in to separate bags – mine & dads) to avoid the customs bribery net as soon as I landed, but this was not necessary owing to a Japanese girl who had learned to say ‘Namaste’ and in the process hogged the limelight amongst drooling custom officials.
The next few days I sunk my soul in to the breath of Mumbai. My first social interaction was enabled through Sameer aka Garfield’s wedding – which entailed winding down the Ghodbunder Road at 1000 bumps per second. Garfield seemed to have remained faithful to his version of lasagnas while Rachno was chirpy as ever. Jigar and Nidhi would have assured Garfield or any jittery dulha of the possibility of bliss afterwards. The economics prof aka Ritesh just about managed to congratulate Garfield & Arlene as family and friends were almost convinced that no one else would turn up.
Breath of Mumbai warm & fragrant and it had just about begun. More in next.
6:15 AM(Jan 31,2010) and I was extremely glad to see façade of Changi Airport(and I know its façade pretty well!!) till the point I touched my butt. Oh no I am fine – my butt was fine, but a layer of leather that would otherwise have felt my touch was missing. I pirouette not as gracefully as a ballet dancer I would imagine – for my countenance would have expressed an unusually contorted look. Perhaps the back pocket of my Levi’s Jeans was not yet awakened from slumber when I dropped my wallet to its rightful place after having disbursed the fare for the cab ride.
I pour sweat over my immaculately white HTC Magic as I scramble for ideas, and eventually manage to contact Comfort Cab call center. After uttering gibberish for perhaps an extended period – my mind hears the voice at the other end beseech ‘ What was the name of the cab driver?’ At this point I realized that in our daily humdrum we overlook some basic civilities – but fortunately I remembered having glanced at the driving license and recalled ‘Ho’ written somewhere. I conveyed this very vague description with utmost clarity.
The time that followed was spent, incessantly, tiring my legs as my parents watched on worried. My immediate aim was Mumbai and SQ422 but the hurdle was my missing wallet which held the key – my Singapore Identity. The façade was not pleasing anymore, the butterflies of happiness were not fluttering anymore and the horizon was not bright anymore (with the benefit of thorough reflection I now realize that the sun had not risen yet).
At this moment of despair, the silence of gloom is suddenly broken by ABBA in full throttle ‘Mama Mia’, which I realize after a few moments of hopelessness to be my ring tone. And lo it was Mama Mia indeed for my key would be delivered. My heart and my being reverberated, in unison, ‘Thank You Mr Ho’.
But relief at 30,000 feet in the air did not mean that I had let my mind to rest. I split my lenses from camera (in to separate bags – mine & dads) to avoid the customs bribery net as soon as I landed, but this was not necessary owing to a Japanese girl who had learned to say ‘Namaste’ and in the process hogged the limelight amongst drooling custom officials.
The next few days I sunk my soul in to the breath of Mumbai. My first social interaction was enabled through Sameer aka Garfield’s wedding – which entailed winding down the Ghodbunder Road at 1000 bumps per second. Garfield seemed to have remained faithful to his version of lasagnas while Rachno was chirpy as ever. Jigar and Nidhi would have assured Garfield or any jittery dulha of the possibility of bliss afterwards. The economics prof aka Ritesh just about managed to congratulate Garfield & Arlene as family and friends were almost convinced that no one else would turn up.
Breath of Mumbai warm & fragrant and it had just about begun. More in next.
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