Then, she was two years old. You were 26. Travelling abroad, alone for the first time. Her father had a thousand instructions, “Keep your eyes on the bags - Bombay airport is dangerous.. Hold on to her, she’s a kid - she’ll just wander off with a stranger..”
Knowing him, I’m sure he sent you a drawing of Sahar Airport in a blue colored aerogramme. Drawn to scale in blue ink.
You’d tell her, ".. must hold on to mummy's mundhani and not let go.. ok?.. Ever!" She'd bob her head vigorously, wide eyed with excitement. She was bustling about the house on the last few days. Running upstairs and downstairs while you were trying to get the packing done. She would tell Thatha that she was going to a new city where the roads were lined with Gems and all cars were Toyotas. And she would bring back one for each relative who came to see you off.
She held onto your pallu tightly throughout the trip. At the noisy airport where you couldn't find a trolley for the bags, when you were checking in, at the security check when she saw the metal detector for the first time. All the way till baggage claim at Seeb International when she saw her father waiting outside. She ran to him with a shriek. Customs officials and Immigration counters be damned.
Today, she insists you carry a cellphone and calls three times before you board the flight. "Have you taken your tickets? Keep the boarding pass safe okay? Shall I get you some coffee? A sandwich?". She asks you to message as soon as you land in Bombay, and again when you get home. "Don't carry the bags okay Ma, just ask someone standing nearby to get it off the conveyer belt for you.."
She sounds exactly like her father, you think to yourself..
For my mom, For an awesome weekend and For 22 years
------------------
*Mundhani(aka Pallu) : the part of the saree draped over the shoulder
*Thatha : grandfather
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
A Very Warm Day
It was a very warm day. Too early for summer. She dreaded what summer would be like. Already the cooler was running, the fan was on 5 and she felt hot and uncomfortable. The room smelled of dust. Dust everywhere. In the crevices of the keyboard, on top of everything. It felt like living in a desert.
She wanted to clean again. Almost three times a day she tidied and yet the dust it got in everywhere - in her nostrils, in her windpipe, till she felt herself choking on it.
She kept dreaming about the rain. Of travelling on a wide road with greenery all around and the wind lashing the rain onto her face. Her hair bundled tightly under a scarf, and a smile on her face. You could never make a sad face when the wind was blowing on you. You simply had to smile.
Thinking about those memories, she smiled to herself. She remembered interminable afternoons when she was stuck in school. Too hot to even concentrate on what the teacher was saying. And then a sticky ride back home jostling for space amongst twenty other kids in a tiny van. Showering with cold water from the fridge just to get rid of the heat.
Afternoons so close to the equator are meant only for sleeping. Swatting away flies with a piece of plastic doubling up as a fan and lying on the cold mosaic floor. Drinking elaneer* and eating grandmom’s set curd by the cup. Ladies woke up early in the evening and showered again. They dusted themselves with talcum powder at 4 only to turn into squidgy soft white masses by tiffin** time. The heat got to everyone. It crept into the dark shadows of rooms, on the floor, in the air. She drank water by the bottle and when that wasn’t enough, ate ice.
She remembered sitting by the table fan and devouring books, one after another. The childhood association remained and even today on warm afternoons, she wanted to lie in bed with a book and a bottle of cold juice by her side.
She thought about all those summers of long ago and sighed. It was early March still.
Waiting for November.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Coconut Water
** Early evening meal
She wanted to clean again. Almost three times a day she tidied and yet the dust it got in everywhere - in her nostrils, in her windpipe, till she felt herself choking on it.
She kept dreaming about the rain. Of travelling on a wide road with greenery all around and the wind lashing the rain onto her face. Her hair bundled tightly under a scarf, and a smile on her face. You could never make a sad face when the wind was blowing on you. You simply had to smile.
Thinking about those memories, she smiled to herself. She remembered interminable afternoons when she was stuck in school. Too hot to even concentrate on what the teacher was saying. And then a sticky ride back home jostling for space amongst twenty other kids in a tiny van. Showering with cold water from the fridge just to get rid of the heat.
Afternoons so close to the equator are meant only for sleeping. Swatting away flies with a piece of plastic doubling up as a fan and lying on the cold mosaic floor. Drinking elaneer* and eating grandmom’s set curd by the cup. Ladies woke up early in the evening and showered again. They dusted themselves with talcum powder at 4 only to turn into squidgy soft white masses by tiffin** time. The heat got to everyone. It crept into the dark shadows of rooms, on the floor, in the air. She drank water by the bottle and when that wasn’t enough, ate ice.
She remembered sitting by the table fan and devouring books, one after another. The childhood association remained and even today on warm afternoons, she wanted to lie in bed with a book and a bottle of cold juice by her side.
She thought about all those summers of long ago and sighed. It was early March still.
Waiting for November.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Coconut Water
** Early evening meal
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
A Walk to Remember
Last night, I went for a walk. Bought a coffee with chocolate sauce and took a long walk past LKP, RJM etc. For those who don't know - these are the beautiful lawns near our academic blocks and the auditorium respectively.
The great thing about living on campus is that you can see the stars. Unlike the city where stars are drowned out by streetlights and buildings, you can look up and see the clear night sky studded with stars. When I was a kid, my dad used to take us up to the terrace and point out stars to us. I learned to recognize the Hunter, Orion (the Hunter's belt), Sirius etc. Occasionally we would see Venus, and once even Saturn.
Dizzy Row, Day Won, Date U?
In other news, placements just got over with most previous records being beaten hollow. For detailed stats, just turn to the front page of any pink paper :) But this post is not about the salaries, offers, numbers, figures or inevitable comparisons with D/E/F. It can't be!
Its about the people behind all these dollar dreams. In a few days they'll be gone and these corridors will feel more empty. Until a new batch comes pouring in that is.
But before they go, here's a toast to the class of 2006. Here's to the investment bankers who're making headlines. To the consultants, marketers and future managers of India Inc. Here's to the intrepid few who are taking the roads less travelled.
May the journey be as exciting as the final destination!
The great thing about living on campus is that you can see the stars. Unlike the city where stars are drowned out by streetlights and buildings, you can look up and see the clear night sky studded with stars. When I was a kid, my dad used to take us up to the terrace and point out stars to us. I learned to recognize the Hunter, Orion (the Hunter's belt), Sirius etc. Occasionally we would see Venus, and once even Saturn.
Dizzy Row, Day Won, Date U?
In other news, placements just got over with most previous records being beaten hollow. For detailed stats, just turn to the front page of any pink paper :) But this post is not about the salaries, offers, numbers, figures or inevitable comparisons with D/E/F. It can't be!
Its about the people behind all these dollar dreams. In a few days they'll be gone and these corridors will feel more empty. Until a new batch comes pouring in that is.
But before they go, here's a toast to the class of 2006. Here's to the investment bankers who're making headlines. To the consultants, marketers and future managers of India Inc. Here's to the intrepid few who are taking the roads less travelled.
May the journey be as exciting as the final destination!
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Down Memory Lane
This is a Tag that was left in the comments to an earlier post. As you can see its 4 am and I don't have much to do. So here goes!
What were you doing..
Eleven Years Ago
It was 1995. I was 12 years old. I had spent my winter break in London and Paris and was over the moon about it. I'd spent months reading about everything in both cities what to find in Madame Tussauds and what to order at Berthillons.
I was in the 7th standard and used to play tennis on weekends. I was averaging I think two to three books per week and used to devour science fiction (mostly Asimov). I was living in a huge apartment complex with a large bunch of friends and we used to go rollerskating, cycling, swimming and play tennis/cricket.
I twisted my wrist the first time I tried to catch a ball. I realized that cricket was not my sport. I had got a chemistry set as a gift and I and Divya tried to make soap in my balcony while our parents worried that we'd burn the building down.
I was listening to Backstreet Boys (!$#%) and was an earnest Girl Guide. I had really long hair (Think waist length) and used to wear it in two pigtails with white ribbons. I was class monitor, and truly - quite a geek!
Five Years Ago
It was 2001. I was writing my 12th board exams. Was nervous about getting into a good engineering college after school. I look at my sister and cousins these days and realize that I was quite clueless back then. I somehow coasted along and got into a good college and had four awesome years there!
Last Year
Was going to Banglore every second week to attend interviews. Agonized over which institute to pick etc. Was busy preparing for GD/PIs and getting a lot of gyaan from seniors :-)
Yesterday
Had a 4000 word submission for my WAC (Written Analysis and Communication)course. Worked on it all night and all morning. Finally finished and submitted with ten minutes to spare. Slept all evening and missed 2 meetings. Had a 'ramp' in the night and danced for hours. Saw Munich and didn't like it as much as I expected to.
If you read this tag and smiled, or thought about what you were doing 11/6/1 year ago, leave a comment or blog about it on yours. And leave a link.
Cheers and Happy Reminiscing!
What were you doing..
Eleven Years Ago
It was 1995. I was 12 years old. I had spent my winter break in London and Paris and was over the moon about it. I'd spent months reading about everything in both cities what to find in Madame Tussauds and what to order at Berthillons.
I was in the 7th standard and used to play tennis on weekends. I was averaging I think two to three books per week and used to devour science fiction (mostly Asimov). I was living in a huge apartment complex with a large bunch of friends and we used to go rollerskating, cycling, swimming and play tennis/cricket.
I twisted my wrist the first time I tried to catch a ball. I realized that cricket was not my sport. I had got a chemistry set as a gift and I and Divya tried to make soap in my balcony while our parents worried that we'd burn the building down.
I was listening to Backstreet Boys (!$#%) and was an earnest Girl Guide. I had really long hair (Think waist length) and used to wear it in two pigtails with white ribbons. I was class monitor, and truly - quite a geek!
Five Years Ago
It was 2001. I was writing my 12th board exams. Was nervous about getting into a good engineering college after school. I look at my sister and cousins these days and realize that I was quite clueless back then. I somehow coasted along and got into a good college and had four awesome years there!
Last Year
Was going to Banglore every second week to attend interviews. Agonized over which institute to pick etc. Was busy preparing for GD/PIs and getting a lot of gyaan from seniors :-)
Yesterday
Had a 4000 word submission for my WAC (Written Analysis and Communication)course. Worked on it all night and all morning. Finally finished and submitted with ten minutes to spare. Slept all evening and missed 2 meetings. Had a 'ramp' in the night and danced for hours. Saw Munich and didn't like it as much as I expected to.
If you read this tag and smiled, or thought about what you were doing 11/6/1 year ago, leave a comment or blog about it on yours. And leave a link.
Cheers and Happy Reminiscing!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Joka's Dirty Laundry vs Vastrapur Luncheons
When a group of students from different institutes meet :
A guy/girl from IIT will say he's from IIT. S/he'll briefly make fun of Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati or whichever IIT s/he is NOT from and then move on to bond with them over the price of onions, the lack of academic research or the school systems in California and costs of private tuition.
A guy/girl from IIM A/B/C will immediately launch into the finer nuances of the differences between IIM A/B/C on topics ranging from architecture to the quality of friday night mess food, the alcohol laws of Gujarat, Banglore's infrastructure and the latest b-school rankings.
Just a thought in response to Ms Bansal's frivolous comments on Joka's infrastructure. (No i will not post a link)
A guy/girl from IIT will say he's from IIT. S/he'll briefly make fun of Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati or whichever IIT s/he is NOT from and then move on to bond with them over the price of onions, the lack of academic research or the school systems in California and costs of private tuition.
A guy/girl from IIM A/B/C will immediately launch into the finer nuances of the differences between IIM A/B/C on topics ranging from architecture to the quality of friday night mess food, the alcohol laws of Gujarat, Banglore's infrastructure and the latest b-school rankings.
Just a thought in response to Ms Bansal's frivolous comments on Joka's infrastructure. (No i will not post a link)
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