We stayed at the Motiwala's home in Mumbai on Sunday. Beyond Royal treatment is one way to describe our stay. Batul aunty had cooked up a storm, in advance of our arrival. All excellent stuff, biryani, chicken samosas, spicy pomfret, alu chat and her trade-mark Eid sheer-korma. Their home is also very nicely and tastefully done. Dr. FEM made sure my Dad was provided with beer and whisky, and kept us all amused with his talks. For our bus ride to Shirdi, aunty woked up at 5 AM and prepared breakfast for our bus ride. A memorable visit indeed. I also met Q's uncle and Salma at their home, and various Veena-Beena residents while taking a walk in the building.
In Mumbai, we also visited Prasana's parents in Wadala and Aparna's parents in Shivaji Park. Both the visits were very nice and they were happy to see me in India.
The traffic in Mumbai seems to be more organized than in Delhi. Further, the cabs all run on meter which is completely unlike Delhi. We took a Volvo bus to Shirdi from Bandra east. Nice bus, it was on time with minimal stops.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Jab we met M
We travelled by Rajdhani to Mumbai on the 11th. I used to do this all the time when I was in India, and it was good to relive the experience. The train in general seemed more run-down, the bathroom's as expected, but the sleeper seats were good and the floor's quite clean. The food and service were nice too.
Now, Jab we met.... I'll refer to her as M. She was sitting by herself, next to the window in the coach, and we (me and my parents) joined her. We were then joined by this elderly couple, the Ramaswamy's from Bhopal. They are a retired couple, originally from Karnataka, but settled in Bhopal. He has worked all his life in MP Electricity board. Initially there was not much eye-contact with M, but somehow the ice was broken by some chatter about train stops. She chimed in with her 2c's. I then started chatting with her. Our conversations went along quite well. She's a Mumbaikar to the core, grew up in Ghatkopar, travels by local to work in Parel, complained about high vegetable prices, and seemed really grounded. She gave me a hard time for not eating chaat and sev-puri from the road-side vendor's (I think I will now). I told her I liked parathas, and she told me she had some from her sister's home with her, and I could try them come dinner-time. Nice! We did have some 1:1 talk time on the platform at Valsad, darn it, the stop was for less than 5 minutes. Come night-time, she took charge of arranging the bedding for the Ramaswamy's and helped me with the same for my parents.
Something I havent done in a while, before the train arrived at Mumbai Central, I asked her for her email and phone number. She wrote down her email, and entered mine in her phone (she was amused at the rdrdrd, and I told her its origins with the 2-yr old Reiyan running around the kitchen island chanting rdrdrdrd..).
Frankly, I was attracted to her from the outset, and this grew over the evening, I think she is someone I would like to know more about. The catch now is that I dont know her status. I am pretty sure she is single, but am not sure if she is already interested in someone else. I sure hope not.
I tell Dr. FEM about her that evening in the cab from Shivaji Park. "tabadtope, bhale kaam me deri nahin. Ghar jaa kar email bhej do". I did just that. And today (10/16), I returned home to Delhi from Shirdi, and she has replied. On to the next step now, wish me luck folks!
As an aside, there was a young Punjabi couple on the side berths. They referred to me as "Bhaiyyaji". In the middle of the night, I was struggling to get down from the top berth, and then I heard a helpful voice "Bhaiyyaji, yahan pakad lo". Mrs. Ramaswamy also gave unsolicited advice to the Punjabi lady on her crochet skills, which was very nicely received. Another incident with them...my father likes to wear his dark glasses even after night-fall, I think he gets used to it, so he doesnt care to remove them. The Punjabi dude asked me very seriously "Uncleji ke aankhon mein infection hain?"
Update: Ok, here's an update. We had a long phone conversation where we tried to learn more about each other's lives. She asked me about my marital status, and I gave her some details about my past marriage. I could feel the enthusiasm level sink, but since I wanted to be completely open with her from the outset, I had no choice. After that, we spoke more about how she is going about finding her match. She indicated her preference for a guy from her own community. Maybe that was her way of telling me no. Anyway, the conversation closed out with lets-keep-in-touch, but I knew it hadnt gone as well as I had hoped it would. End of story...no happy endings here. I wish her well in her search for her life partner.
Now, Jab we met.... I'll refer to her as M. She was sitting by herself, next to the window in the coach, and we (me and my parents) joined her. We were then joined by this elderly couple, the Ramaswamy's from Bhopal. They are a retired couple, originally from Karnataka, but settled in Bhopal. He has worked all his life in MP Electricity board. Initially there was not much eye-contact with M, but somehow the ice was broken by some chatter about train stops. She chimed in with her 2c's. I then started chatting with her. Our conversations went along quite well. She's a Mumbaikar to the core, grew up in Ghatkopar, travels by local to work in Parel, complained about high vegetable prices, and seemed really grounded. She gave me a hard time for not eating chaat and sev-puri from the road-side vendor's (I think I will now). I told her I liked parathas, and she told me she had some from her sister's home with her, and I could try them come dinner-time. Nice! We did have some 1:1 talk time on the platform at Valsad, darn it, the stop was for less than 5 minutes. Come night-time, she took charge of arranging the bedding for the Ramaswamy's and helped me with the same for my parents.
Something I havent done in a while, before the train arrived at Mumbai Central, I asked her for her email and phone number. She wrote down her email, and entered mine in her phone (she was amused at the rdrdrd, and I told her its origins with the 2-yr old Reiyan running around the kitchen island chanting rdrdrdrd..).
Frankly, I was attracted to her from the outset, and this grew over the evening, I think she is someone I would like to know more about. The catch now is that I dont know her status. I am pretty sure she is single, but am not sure if she is already interested in someone else. I sure hope not.
I tell Dr. FEM about her that evening in the cab from Shivaji Park. "tabadtope, bhale kaam me deri nahin. Ghar jaa kar email bhej do". I did just that. And today (10/16), I returned home to Delhi from Shirdi, and she has replied. On to the next step now, wish me luck folks!
As an aside, there was a young Punjabi couple on the side berths. They referred to me as "Bhaiyyaji". In the middle of the night, I was struggling to get down from the top berth, and then I heard a helpful voice "Bhaiyyaji, yahan pakad lo". Mrs. Ramaswamy also gave unsolicited advice to the Punjabi lady on her crochet skills, which was very nicely received. Another incident with them...my father likes to wear his dark glasses even after night-fall, I think he gets used to it, so he doesnt care to remove them. The Punjabi dude asked me very seriously "Uncleji ke aankhon mein infection hain?"
Update: Ok, here's an update. We had a long phone conversation where we tried to learn more about each other's lives. She asked me about my marital status, and I gave her some details about my past marriage. I could feel the enthusiasm level sink, but since I wanted to be completely open with her from the outset, I had no choice. After that, we spoke more about how she is going about finding her match. She indicated her preference for a guy from her own community. Maybe that was her way of telling me no. Anyway, the conversation closed out with lets-keep-in-touch, but I knew it hadnt gone as well as I had hoped it would. End of story...no happy endings here. I wish her well in her search for her life partner.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
No problem aunty
One thing that seems to stand out here is respect for senior citizens. I noticed this on my first day here when we were picking up parathas from the local dhaba. Our car was blocking off a motorcyclist lunch-eater, who came out of the dhaba. On seeing his way blocked, comes to me with a fairly rough swagger and gestures with his hand for me to move the car (I'm in the passenger seat). I can't do much, my mother opens the door and tells him "ek minute mein move karte hain beta". The guy's attitude changes and he replied with "no problem aunty". My Dad comes back with the rotis some 10 minutes later, but the dude did not complain again.
Again today, I walked over to the MTNL office with my Dad. The folks there were so polite to him. He didnt have his signature on file, so they wanted his ID, which he didnt have. So, they told him he could send it over with anyone, and assuring him that he need not make a second trip to their office himself.
Again today, I walked over to the MTNL office with my Dad. The folks there were so polite to him. He didnt have his signature on file, so they wanted his ID, which he didnt have. So, they told him he could send it over with anyone, and assuring him that he need not make a second trip to their office himself.
Red means keep going
Apparently, there are some traffic lights that are meant to be ignored. On the way back from dinner @Alkouzer (Awadhi kabab place) I thought we skipped a light. I pointed out that it was a red. A dismissive "yeh koi khaas light nahin hai" was the response. My bro-in-law supported the jump, indicating he had never seen anyone stop at this one.
Impressing Mom
Impressed my mother and my family with Pesarattu (courtesy Vanitha). I told my Mother yesterday that I know a good recipe for dal dosa. She heard it, and then I told her I make it. She couldnt beleive what she heard "you make dosas?". I nodded, and then we decided to make some for breakfast today morning. Everyone loved it.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Health and food
We went for a walk/run at the Rose Garden, Hauz Khas. Great place, its near IIT....stunning, as Sid would say. A cool morning today, its been unseasonably hot these past few days.
The garden has a nice path all around it, which makes it perfect for a run. I did 2 rounds and then was inspired to do some yoga. Yoga was all around..its the thing here. Multiple pockets of people- groups doing yoga. Many individuals too. People in general seem to be much more health-aware. Our 80-year old neighbor plays tennis regularly.
Of course the other side is here too..unhealthy food. Pakoras get sold here by the kilo. Everyone loves it, me included. Went to my Aunt's house, and the help there made some killer crisp pakoras. I ate half-a-dozen of them.
Another unhealthy habit here...alcohol. Drinks i.e whisky is consumed on a daily basis in the evenings. I went to my Dad's close friend's place nearby. Really nice, friendly people, and they insisted I consume some scotch. I tried real hard to refuse, but a glass still appeared in front of my hand. I played along, consumed it, and thought I was done. No way, "you can't stop at 1 drink, accha nahin lagta". So, a 2nd scotch appears. Now I thought I was truly done, but time comes for a 3rd round, I refuse, "just a few drops", and glass in front of my hand again. I was buzzed by the time I got out.
The garden has a nice path all around it, which makes it perfect for a run. I did 2 rounds and then was inspired to do some yoga. Yoga was all around..its the thing here. Multiple pockets of people- groups doing yoga. Many individuals too. People in general seem to be much more health-aware. Our 80-year old neighbor plays tennis regularly.
Of course the other side is here too..unhealthy food. Pakoras get sold here by the kilo. Everyone loves it, me included. Went to my Aunt's house, and the help there made some killer crisp pakoras. I ate half-a-dozen of them.
Another unhealthy habit here...alcohol. Drinks i.e whisky is consumed on a daily basis in the evenings. I went to my Dad's close friend's place nearby. Really nice, friendly people, and they insisted I consume some scotch. I tried real hard to refuse, but a glass still appeared in front of my hand. I played along, consumed it, and thought I was done. No way, "you can't stop at 1 drink, accha nahin lagta". So, a 2nd scotch appears. Now I thought I was truly done, but time comes for a 3rd round, I refuse, "just a few drops", and glass in front of my hand again. I was buzzed by the time I got out.
first trip to Nehru place 10/07/08
Nehru place is supposedly Asia's biggest computer market. Its about 5 minutes walk from my house here. Me and my Dad go there by car, and it takes us some 30 minutes to get there...lunch-hour trafffc is the reason. For parking, you enter a lot and hand over your keys to the attendant. The cars are parked next to each other, couple of cars have to be moved later in order to get to your car, hence the key's. I had a what-the look, my Dad shrugged it off.
I bought 2 AC-DC adaptors for cordless phones. Nice and cheap, and seems pretty good quality.
Then my Dad wanted his shoes polished. While this was being done by the street-side cobbler, his buddy comes by with chai in a plastic bag. He pours it very skillfully into 3 cups..not a drop is wasted. He then tosses the plastic bag behind him on the road. No biggie. Nehru Place is full of trash...piles of used plates, cups, newspaper wraps, etc, so one more plastic bag is allright it seems.
I bought 2 AC-DC adaptors for cordless phones. Nice and cheap, and seems pretty good quality.
Then my Dad wanted his shoes polished. While this was being done by the street-side cobbler, his buddy comes by with chai in a plastic bag. He pours it very skillfully into 3 cups..not a drop is wasted. He then tosses the plastic bag behind him on the road. No biggie. Nehru Place is full of trash...piles of used plates, cups, newspaper wraps, etc, so one more plastic bag is allright it seems.
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