The Idea-smithy

Friday evening and I was leaving work. Later than expected, about 3 hours later than I’d have wished. I got into the cab and paused for those brief seconds that are those rare occurances in a Mumbaiker’s day when he or she thinks of absolutely nothing. Then snapping back into action, I pulled out my [...]

No auto. No bus. No taxi. Feels like Monday on account of holiday yesterday and already it’s off to a bad start
*DripdripdripdripSPLASHdripdripBLOODYJERKdripdripdrip*
An auto finally!!!!
*Vrrrooom vroom vrooom….kaff kaff….sputter sputter….*
Engine mein paani, madam. Have to get off.
*DripdripdripJUSTMYBLOODYLUCKdripdripdripSPLASHdripdripASSHOLEdripdrip*
Station ke paas bahut paani hoga. Public aage nahin jaane degi. Get off on the main road!
*SplashsplashSOMEONESHUTTHEWINDOWSchookchookchookchooksplashsplash*
Taxi!
*Vrrroooom Vrooom Vroom kaff kaff [...]

And I would have to take the road on this day…. Mumbai’s twin obsessions – Ganeshji and cricket (okay, that’s national mania) spiral their noisy, raucous ways into my senses. The roads are alive and a heady hysteria of celebration. Like an oil colour with neon under-tints that someone smudged before it was completely dry. [...]

The Lady has spoken and we always listen to what she tells us to do. (At last count, I’ve attended blogger meets, parties, written about them and replied to comments solely on her orders….tch tch, the things I have to do in the name of friendship!)
So the rocking Punju chick, queen of [...]

I’d rather punish you with my absence than with my presence.
But what happens when I don’t want to punish you anymore? Then it’s time for me to take my punishment, apparently.
And what if I turn around and tell you that,
Imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, baby…so thanks for the compliment!
It isn’t punishment anymore [...]

Mum shook me awake at 4 a.m. Grandmother had fallen down in the bathroom and wasn’t able to get up. Mum couldn’t pick her up either.
We got her up and put her back to bed. And then I patted her arm and soothed her brow. Full circle from the baby-massage I got from her years [...]

There was a plan. Several, in fact. Shopping, movie, drinks, dinner, long late night conversations, early morning walk on the beach, breakfast.
The plans fell through. And though those could have been done with someone else or even alone, there wasn’t any desire to.
So this is what it is to miss someone.
It’s got nothing [...]