Well.
From the first breath I took, I have been enamoured of Chennai. Bred, born and brought up in Chennai, any other town even refuses to be acknowledged as a place worth to live.
Be it in Paris, Madrid, Chicago, New York. My heart beats for Chennai. Any time of my life. Despite all its shortcomings, my city rocks.
This time, when the flight landed at Bombay, I could not still feel as though I was in India. But the flight was delayed by two hours and I was sure the connecting flight was lost to me forever and I could not see the dawn break over Chennai. Disappointed, I took leave of my beloved Bihari.
I walked through a non existent customs check and was rushed through to :::::::::
My flight to MADRAS. It had been waiting for us. It was 4:00 am and I rushed to it as though it was saviour to deliver me from " ".
After a hearty breakfast @ 4:00 am which only Indian Airlines can provide. As a compensation though. The flight was completely empty. It was waiting for us for itwould mean losing passengers. Then after being strongly reminded on Kanchipuram Bus Terminus ,
"Saar, Sriperumbudur, Unndai, Poonthamalli, Porur, Guindy, Ashok Pillar, Koyambedu, eru, eru.. FM radio Mirchi Vandi saar, eru eru. Yamma, antha koodaya eraku. erakku eppo!!!. Poya munnala po edun erukula..eru,...Ticket vanginiya? Kami. sari po. Enga sir pogonum?? (Thirumbi :) Enna sar anga? . erunga saar vandi kelambum.. ellarum vanthathukku appuram..Enna ma anga morappu. eru seekiram. Appan vootu vandiya enna??? Rai rai..(whistle blows) (Yells : somari . vootla soolitu vanthutiya??)"
Literally. Though in high class english, the steward explained to us that the passengers were delayed. The flight could not leave without passengers..high funda operating costs!!! Man!!
I could not even wait for the hour's journey to be over. Impatient to end it quickly, I did the only possible thing : slept off. Then an hour and 10 minutes later..
"Ladies and Gentlemen, In a short while we will be landing in Chennai..MADRASSSSSSS..I was yelling. The guy in the next seat smiled and was surprised at whats so special in this city. He was travelling from Bombay but I, from Lexington!! Only I knew.
The flight touched down. Down know what made it so. But suddenly the region between my shoulder blades expanded to an extent I think not possible at all!!! It could have had 100 hearts at the same time. I thought my heart would thud itself to non existence!! I cried.. As the tears fell unashamedly down my cheeks..I ran out of the aerobridge. Absoultely no customs, no baggage in hand. Ran down the stairs to the baggage claim.........
AMMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA....
Mom, being an airlines employee, was waiting right inside next to the customs. Teary reunions and "How I missed you so" and salty kisses later. My baggages came through. Ran outside to met pop and mama. Hmm.
If all reunions were so sweet, then we shall wish for more separations I guess!!. In safe hands(actually crushed between those of my mom, appa and mama), I left for home.
Home again....see you soon.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
After nothing
Its been a while since my thoughts stained paper or blog alike. Just dried up after a "Chicagoan" Experience to introduce a new term to the local slang.
Well. I got to India. The flight from Air India was just superb. Just superb. Good flight. Long and frequent meals. No Nonsense Airhostess'. Sleeppp. Yup. All four seat in aisle were empty. Four pillows, Four blankets. Stretched out and slept. Woke up in Frankfort for a Western Lunch at the airport.
What happened next was pure riot. Actually my seat was not in the row of the empty bed but right in front next to a cranky couple. His son had been separated by the 2 feet in the middle and they wanted him to exchange seats with me. Though my legs were cramped by the now offered seat(I did not know then that all four would be empty) I accepted for I understood the "PAIN" of being separated from your parents by a"yawning 2 feet abyss". And now!!
God, pleased with my "sacrifice" offered me the four seats to be my humble bedding for the night.
The son's chagrin at being denied a free bed was too much I guess!!! The poison darts of arrow that shot out from me from the twin orbs of his eyes had answers to..From the Devil!!!!
I had a Bihari next to me for the rest of the journey. They boarded at Franfort. Now. I have nothing personally against the Biharis. Nice peace loving, Ganges tormented people that they are. And to top it all. He was a look alike of Laloo. Man!!!!
I could not stop staring at him for full 10 minutes. I would have taken it for granted that he was Laloo(Air Indian hostesses' do not melt their waxen countenances even for the Providence I guess!!!!) if a well mannered lady and a beautiful daughter were attached to him(I guess by the quirky nature of You know who!!!!)
To my consternation after boarding the family occupied the three seats next to mine!!! I threw dark glances at my devil across the abyss. Turned with a sweet smile to my neighbour now and had it dashed by a look that was as insipid and hostile as fungus on idlis three days hence!!!!
Hmpph!!! Boor. Village Bumpkin!!! Must have been an urchin when a child and not grown thence!!! My conjurations for a pleasant landing in India dashed!!!
He stomped on my right foot. Drank three glasses of wine. Burped in my face. Threw his fork (and a part of his meal) on the airplane's floor near my feet encasing it in cement unable to move!!!! His eating habits were second not even to the sloppiest eater in the world. Blurped, slurped, sucked the thumbs off his hand, sloppered his liquids.
I could bear all this!!! But when he took the half and half kept for coffee, ripped the cover and drank it in one gulp.......I could not help it. God forgive me.. I burst out laughing. Then came the margarine kept for salad. Gulped. Downed. My laughing fit could not be repressed and I became...wow!!!
Silence.
I rose up( I was bent double with laughing) to receive a cold stare!!! .
I stopped laughing and went on eating. My plate due to my delicate digestive system was full even as I returning it to my hostess. But Sir!! My neighbour had made justice to both of us. It was as though I had paid his ticket too. His plate was clean and shone like the sun shining on his blank pate!!!
Apart from the paper the apple had been wrapped on..Even the seeds had not been spared. If they had gone to his head, they would have sprouted like the golden apples of Hesperides.
Now abahsed by appealing looks from the young girl who apologised for her father, I was silenced into an uncomfortable sleep. I woke up to see a Hyder kala movie in Hindi. Killing me!!!
His attention was enraptured on the screen and on the Heroin. Sorry Heroine. I took to observing him closely. A shining hairless head. Spectacles shackled to his eyes by long chains that dangled from his hairy ears. A unclean white kurta. A neat dhoti. I think he would have been slipperless or more still to suit him wearing a moccasin.
His unbuttoned kurta smelt of the Chardonnay just poured for for him. Breath sour and interest zero. He might have interested aliens in search for a really primitive creature.
I am taking this to a ridiculous degree. Sorry. Guess I needed just some fun. But all information above are accurate and TRUE..
He threw his spectacles at my feet. I bend double to pick it up and he did not even take it from my hand. His daughter was prompted by a stare to take it and hand it to him.
A grateful glance and a rued smile later, I decided to close my eyes to this display of unwonted truculence and slept........till...
Bombay. The first breath again of my mother..
Returning to India..A tale by itself..
Have a good time and stay safe.
Well. I got to India. The flight from Air India was just superb. Just superb. Good flight. Long and frequent meals. No Nonsense Airhostess'. Sleeppp. Yup. All four seat in aisle were empty. Four pillows, Four blankets. Stretched out and slept. Woke up in Frankfort for a Western Lunch at the airport.
What happened next was pure riot. Actually my seat was not in the row of the empty bed but right in front next to a cranky couple. His son had been separated by the 2 feet in the middle and they wanted him to exchange seats with me. Though my legs were cramped by the now offered seat(I did not know then that all four would be empty) I accepted for I understood the "PAIN" of being separated from your parents by a"yawning 2 feet abyss". And now!!
God, pleased with my "sacrifice" offered me the four seats to be my humble bedding for the night.
The son's chagrin at being denied a free bed was too much I guess!!! The poison darts of arrow that shot out from me from the twin orbs of his eyes had answers to..From the Devil!!!!
I had a Bihari next to me for the rest of the journey. They boarded at Franfort. Now. I have nothing personally against the Biharis. Nice peace loving, Ganges tormented people that they are. And to top it all. He was a look alike of Laloo. Man!!!!
I could not stop staring at him for full 10 minutes. I would have taken it for granted that he was Laloo(Air Indian hostesses' do not melt their waxen countenances even for the Providence I guess!!!!) if a well mannered lady and a beautiful daughter were attached to him(I guess by the quirky nature of You know who!!!!)
To my consternation after boarding the family occupied the three seats next to mine!!! I threw dark glances at my devil across the abyss. Turned with a sweet smile to my neighbour now and had it dashed by a look that was as insipid and hostile as fungus on idlis three days hence!!!!
Hmpph!!! Boor. Village Bumpkin!!! Must have been an urchin when a child and not grown thence!!! My conjurations for a pleasant landing in India dashed!!!
He stomped on my right foot. Drank three glasses of wine. Burped in my face. Threw his fork (and a part of his meal) on the airplane's floor near my feet encasing it in cement unable to move!!!! His eating habits were second not even to the sloppiest eater in the world. Blurped, slurped, sucked the thumbs off his hand, sloppered his liquids.
I could bear all this!!! But when he took the half and half kept for coffee, ripped the cover and drank it in one gulp.......I could not help it. God forgive me.. I burst out laughing. Then came the margarine kept for salad. Gulped. Downed. My laughing fit could not be repressed and I became...wow!!!
Silence.
I rose up( I was bent double with laughing) to receive a cold stare!!! .
I stopped laughing and went on eating. My plate due to my delicate digestive system was full even as I returning it to my hostess. But Sir!! My neighbour had made justice to both of us. It was as though I had paid his ticket too. His plate was clean and shone like the sun shining on his blank pate!!!
Apart from the paper the apple had been wrapped on..Even the seeds had not been spared. If they had gone to his head, they would have sprouted like the golden apples of Hesperides.
Now abahsed by appealing looks from the young girl who apologised for her father, I was silenced into an uncomfortable sleep. I woke up to see a Hyder kala movie in Hindi. Killing me!!!
His attention was enraptured on the screen and on the Heroin. Sorry Heroine. I took to observing him closely. A shining hairless head. Spectacles shackled to his eyes by long chains that dangled from his hairy ears. A unclean white kurta. A neat dhoti. I think he would have been slipperless or more still to suit him wearing a moccasin.
His unbuttoned kurta smelt of the Chardonnay just poured for for him. Breath sour and interest zero. He might have interested aliens in search for a really primitive creature.
I am taking this to a ridiculous degree. Sorry. Guess I needed just some fun. But all information above are accurate and TRUE..
He threw his spectacles at my feet. I bend double to pick it up and he did not even take it from my hand. His daughter was prompted by a stare to take it and hand it to him.
A grateful glance and a rued smile later, I decided to close my eyes to this display of unwonted truculence and slept........till...
Bombay. The first breath again of my mother..
Returning to India..A tale by itself..
Have a good time and stay safe.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Chicago : My first glimpse
Writing about Chicago after a peep hole's view would be totally out of focus. But my first look came to be a very enlightening and "sublime" experience. Laughed it out when I landed home though I was terrified during my stay there.
Chicago : the windy city. The most unsafe city of USA. The city of AL. All words seem to fail when we land at Chicago. I realised that words can only do justice to a certain extent and never more. Also delivering the punch in anglais!!! My God..No way. English is a very hard language when compared to Tamil. It is comparitively easy to emote in Tamil than in english. Anyhow.
I had been warned repeatedly against any nocturnal adventures in Chicago. So I managed to catch a flight that landed(supposed to land at 6:15) but actually ran into Midway by 7:10.
My cousin was waiting to pick me up. Being a very "busy" doctorate student : He was actually cross with me for the pilot overshooting his landing procedures. Forgiving this minor slight and cursing myself for the 24 hour halt at Chicago, I meekly followed his friend and him into the waiting car.
I know that gas prices are shooting up and in Chicago it is more so. Gallon @ 3:40 seems to be a gargantus amount as compared to 2:89 somewhere in the sixties..But to have a spider spin cow webs not allowing a compassionate person to get into the car!!! Dont even dare tell me that you are a member of SPCA.
I got in through the other door and we left Midway for good. Situated very close to the University, the street in which I was about to spend my first night at Chicago was beautiful. It was the first place in the US that had terraces and I was charmed.
The car stopped and we got out. After lugging in the bags to the ground floor apartment(Thank God!!), I stood like a door post!! Hoping to be intorduced to his roomates.
It was a three bedroom apartment/ single bath. Maximum of 4 people can give an impression of comfort. That's all.
There were four in the living room. This made me accept them as mon cher cousin's roomates. I helloed them with no appreciable response other than a millimetric inclination of their thick heads. I towered over them and I thought that might have been the possible reason of this cold reception.
Anyways not the least bothered, I followed my cousin into the kitchen where I found three more of these numbskulls!!!! Shocked I looked around for an explanation.
My cousin : Hey meet....
Me: next apartment?
Cousin : actually they are in transit!!
Me: what!! like me? are they also leaving tomorrow?
C: Not exactly. S is moving to Florida in three months. N is rethinking as he has a job now.
P will actually be here for 6 months
God!! This is "transit".
Me says: Cool. so there are actually 7 of you in this apartment and now for tonight 8.
Not even a slight hint at the arrows of sarcasm shooting at him
C: Yes. We make a snug apartment. Jolly: always full of noise..
Me: rolling eyes and looking at Heaven
I was already stymied by the impossible task of spending a night with 7 guys in the house and a single restroom. To think about dinner provided a pleasant reprieve. I was engaged in conjuring a gourmet's dinner at one of Chicago's Indian restaurants when a mound of Lady's fingers grinned at me. I was so irritated that I turned the other way. I hate okra in the states. Stupid, gellous substance fit for pigs!!!
As I smiled to myself thinking about my dinner and these poor guys, I almost felt sorry. ALMOST. My cousin's voice intruded into my half faint stupor. It was 9:00. Two hours since I came. No offer of even water.!!!! What happened to "Thamizhar Varaverpu"?? Everybody worried whether I will take their juice. Man!!! Was I irritated!!!!
C: Hamsa, variya velila poitu varalama?
Me: Jumping..
C: Sari, Hey S, Samachu veida. enga than vanthu sapduvom!!!
Me: NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(no other way. resignedly follow cousin out of the door)
Another cow web destroyed, in another dilapidated car, we left for Chicago's attractions. after a brief guided tour, we came to Lake Michigan. WOW!!!Beautiful. Thankfully there was a display of fireworks to end the trip.
When I entered the house:::: Oh My God!! what the ----!!! what's happening
I just stopped myself from screaming. There were around 13 guys, Marlboro lights, rum, beer, chicken, CARDS!!!!
I just stopped myslef from crying.
Whatever I write and whatever I say: I am still typically the TN Girl with a sense of South Indian Decency. Even If I peddle drugs, I wouldnt have guys like this over with a "girl" coming over. I was appalled. This threw Chicago in a new light altogether. Has this culture eroded away the minds of these guys that they behave like boors!!!
I wished I had checked into a motel at O Hare!!!
As we sat down to a stupid-------------- dinner of Parupu sambar and Okra, I felt I couldnt take it. Man!! I cooked better when I touched the stove for the first time. Lousiest most tasteless dinner. I wish I could be a Hindu reporter so that I could have slashed it with a red pen.!!!
The noise grew boisterous. My cousin who had not spoken more than 10 words since I landed now asked whether everything was allright. I wanted to shout at his face. But maintaining my sense of decorum, I said I needed to sleep. He showed me into his room. I locked the door to shut out all noise and covered myself with a quilt he so generously offered. Not washed for his entire stay, a homeless bum outside would have smelled better..
Gnashing my teeth, I wondered if the AC could be lowered.
C: No di. The buys would die of burning.
Oh!! Let them die before I kill them!!!
Silence..
He was gone. To join those ----------.(expletive)
Anyways.
I dont know how I managed to spend the night. It was a fear filled one and totally scary with dreams troubling my already frustated mind.
I got up at 8:00 and wandered towards the kitchen. After the night's party, All the asuras were slumbering. I opened the fridge and got the shock of life. Everything that had happened the previous night was nothing at this!!!
NO MILKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
NO COFFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
GOTT IN HIMMEL!!!!!!
I started crying. I sat at the kitchen counter and cried for 10 minutes. :))
Then got down on my knees and went to sleep cursing.
10:30 AM..
C: Hey Hamsa. wake up. I have to go to the lab and I cant be late. I have to be there by 11:00
Me: Have you finished your ablutions?
C: No. I just woke up.
Me: WHAT!!!
C: yup. I am a bit late for I slept only by 2:30. So be ready by 10:45 and we shall leave by 11:00
Man!! Guys. I really cant understand them. They shout at girls for having to dress so much, frills and laces and all that stuff. But then give 15 measly minutes to brush, bath and be ready????I gave him a look that would have frozen any other living heart. No. No way. NOT HIS ..
No reaction.
Got into the restroom and slammed the door. To realise I had no brush. Going back to my primitive origins, I forced my lips open with my fingers, tears tumbling out of my eyes..
Finished brushing. Somebody had decided to provide me with music and there was a rhythmic beat hammering into my head "NO COFFEE. TRA LA LA NO COFFEE".
Dazed I walked upto the bathtub and yanked the shower curtains off to reveal that the tub's window opened very kindly on to the neighbour's porch and was not covered.
NOW!! THIS WAS THE LIMIT!!!! I rummaged the entire bathroom for somekind of a closure. Finally got to the original curtains(kindly provided by the owner but never put up). Wondered how much the neighbour paid them for this perverse pleasure and hung the curtains up.
Took bath and was out by:: guess when?
C: Hey what the hell are u doing!!! Come out fast.. no/
Me: Came out and took a look at the watch: 10:50.
Gave him a look and a piece of mind to go with it.
Subdued C walked into the bathroom and slammed it.
We finally left by 11:20.
After a coffeeless morning, I ran into Descartes. I was about to order coffee when
C: hey 4$ for a coffee too much.
Me: I pay it very morning at starbucks. No problem
C: wow!! rich kid
I could only shake my head: I an unfunded G S. He a funded RA. God gives us money but not the mind to spend it. I thanked my stars that I had had not that much money that I did not want to spend it at all.
Thought of all those happy evenings at starbucks. walked silently past Descartes minus coffee.
After a yucky subway sandwich for lunch and 3 hour wait..His prof had come in and he could not leave. My flight(international unconfirmed flight was at 7:20) , we left for the airport by 4:35 and reached by 5:15.
My parting was probably the happiest thing that happened to me...
This visit and 24 hours showed me a lot of things. How not to take care of guests. How not to behave when a girl/ guy comes home. I had never realised even when I lost my scholarship that money was so scarce in US as not to afford a single cup of coffee to someone when they come home.
Maybe I am extravagant. No. I know I am not. I am decent. I am glad. I realised that all relations in the US are forged after money. After a few years of living, people become so tight fisted that they no longer have even the courtesy to offer dinner to a long lost cousin. I met him after 3 years. Life.
It teaches you a lot of things. But Money. Now that gives you the lesson of your lives.
Again morals. I am immoral. Ethics. These kinds surprise and revolts me. I am glad I recognized I dont fall in tune with these....Whatever they may be. My ethics are different.
Thank God for it...
Chicago : the windy city. The most unsafe city of USA. The city of AL. All words seem to fail when we land at Chicago. I realised that words can only do justice to a certain extent and never more. Also delivering the punch in anglais!!! My God..No way. English is a very hard language when compared to Tamil. It is comparitively easy to emote in Tamil than in english. Anyhow.
I had been warned repeatedly against any nocturnal adventures in Chicago. So I managed to catch a flight that landed(supposed to land at 6:15) but actually ran into Midway by 7:10.
My cousin was waiting to pick me up. Being a very "busy" doctorate student : He was actually cross with me for the pilot overshooting his landing procedures. Forgiving this minor slight and cursing myself for the 24 hour halt at Chicago, I meekly followed his friend and him into the waiting car.
I know that gas prices are shooting up and in Chicago it is more so. Gallon @ 3:40 seems to be a gargantus amount as compared to 2:89 somewhere in the sixties..But to have a spider spin cow webs not allowing a compassionate person to get into the car!!! Dont even dare tell me that you are a member of SPCA.
I got in through the other door and we left Midway for good. Situated very close to the University, the street in which I was about to spend my first night at Chicago was beautiful. It was the first place in the US that had terraces and I was charmed.
The car stopped and we got out. After lugging in the bags to the ground floor apartment(Thank God!!), I stood like a door post!! Hoping to be intorduced to his roomates.
It was a three bedroom apartment/ single bath. Maximum of 4 people can give an impression of comfort. That's all.
There were four in the living room. This made me accept them as mon cher cousin's roomates. I helloed them with no appreciable response other than a millimetric inclination of their thick heads. I towered over them and I thought that might have been the possible reason of this cold reception.
Anyways not the least bothered, I followed my cousin into the kitchen where I found three more of these numbskulls!!!! Shocked I looked around for an explanation.
My cousin : Hey meet....
Me: next apartment?
Cousin : actually they are in transit!!
Me: what!! like me? are they also leaving tomorrow?
C: Not exactly. S is moving to Florida in three months. N is rethinking as he has a job now.
P will actually be here for 6 months
God!! This is "transit".
Me says: Cool. so there are actually 7 of you in this apartment and now for tonight 8.
Not even a slight hint at the arrows of sarcasm shooting at him
C: Yes. We make a snug apartment. Jolly: always full of noise..
Me: rolling eyes and looking at Heaven
I was already stymied by the impossible task of spending a night with 7 guys in the house and a single restroom. To think about dinner provided a pleasant reprieve. I was engaged in conjuring a gourmet's dinner at one of Chicago's Indian restaurants when a mound of Lady's fingers grinned at me. I was so irritated that I turned the other way. I hate okra in the states. Stupid, gellous substance fit for pigs!!!
As I smiled to myself thinking about my dinner and these poor guys, I almost felt sorry. ALMOST. My cousin's voice intruded into my half faint stupor. It was 9:00. Two hours since I came. No offer of even water.!!!! What happened to "Thamizhar Varaverpu"?? Everybody worried whether I will take their juice. Man!!! Was I irritated!!!!
C: Hamsa, variya velila poitu varalama?
Me: Jumping..
C: Sari, Hey S, Samachu veida. enga than vanthu sapduvom!!!
Me: NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(no other way. resignedly follow cousin out of the door)
Another cow web destroyed, in another dilapidated car, we left for Chicago's attractions. after a brief guided tour, we came to Lake Michigan. WOW!!!Beautiful. Thankfully there was a display of fireworks to end the trip.
When I entered the house:::: Oh My God!! what the ----!!! what's happening
I just stopped myself from screaming. There were around 13 guys, Marlboro lights, rum, beer, chicken, CARDS!!!!
I just stopped myslef from crying.
Whatever I write and whatever I say: I am still typically the TN Girl with a sense of South Indian Decency. Even If I peddle drugs, I wouldnt have guys like this over with a "girl" coming over. I was appalled. This threw Chicago in a new light altogether. Has this culture eroded away the minds of these guys that they behave like boors!!!
I wished I had checked into a motel at O Hare!!!
As we sat down to a stupid-------------- dinner of Parupu sambar and Okra, I felt I couldnt take it. Man!! I cooked better when I touched the stove for the first time. Lousiest most tasteless dinner. I wish I could be a Hindu reporter so that I could have slashed it with a red pen.!!!
The noise grew boisterous. My cousin who had not spoken more than 10 words since I landed now asked whether everything was allright. I wanted to shout at his face. But maintaining my sense of decorum, I said I needed to sleep. He showed me into his room. I locked the door to shut out all noise and covered myself with a quilt he so generously offered. Not washed for his entire stay, a homeless bum outside would have smelled better..
Gnashing my teeth, I wondered if the AC could be lowered.
C: No di. The buys would die of burning.
Oh!! Let them die before I kill them!!!
Silence..
He was gone. To join those ----------.(expletive)
Anyways.
I dont know how I managed to spend the night. It was a fear filled one and totally scary with dreams troubling my already frustated mind.
I got up at 8:00 and wandered towards the kitchen. After the night's party, All the asuras were slumbering. I opened the fridge and got the shock of life. Everything that had happened the previous night was nothing at this!!!
NO MILKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
NO COFFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
GOTT IN HIMMEL!!!!!!
I started crying. I sat at the kitchen counter and cried for 10 minutes. :))
Then got down on my knees and went to sleep cursing.
10:30 AM..
C: Hey Hamsa. wake up. I have to go to the lab and I cant be late. I have to be there by 11:00
Me: Have you finished your ablutions?
C: No. I just woke up.
Me: WHAT!!!
C: yup. I am a bit late for I slept only by 2:30. So be ready by 10:45 and we shall leave by 11:00
Man!! Guys. I really cant understand them. They shout at girls for having to dress so much, frills and laces and all that stuff. But then give 15 measly minutes to brush, bath and be ready????I gave him a look that would have frozen any other living heart. No. No way. NOT HIS ..
No reaction.
Got into the restroom and slammed the door. To realise I had no brush. Going back to my primitive origins, I forced my lips open with my fingers, tears tumbling out of my eyes..
Finished brushing. Somebody had decided to provide me with music and there was a rhythmic beat hammering into my head "NO COFFEE. TRA LA LA NO COFFEE".
Dazed I walked upto the bathtub and yanked the shower curtains off to reveal that the tub's window opened very kindly on to the neighbour's porch and was not covered.
NOW!! THIS WAS THE LIMIT!!!! I rummaged the entire bathroom for somekind of a closure. Finally got to the original curtains(kindly provided by the owner but never put up). Wondered how much the neighbour paid them for this perverse pleasure and hung the curtains up.
Took bath and was out by:: guess when?
C: Hey what the hell are u doing!!! Come out fast.. no/
Me: Came out and took a look at the watch: 10:50.
Gave him a look and a piece of mind to go with it.
Subdued C walked into the bathroom and slammed it.
We finally left by 11:20.
After a coffeeless morning, I ran into Descartes. I was about to order coffee when
C: hey 4$ for a coffee too much.
Me: I pay it very morning at starbucks. No problem
C: wow!! rich kid
I could only shake my head: I an unfunded G S. He a funded RA. God gives us money but not the mind to spend it. I thanked my stars that I had had not that much money that I did not want to spend it at all.
Thought of all those happy evenings at starbucks. walked silently past Descartes minus coffee.
After a yucky subway sandwich for lunch and 3 hour wait..His prof had come in and he could not leave. My flight(international unconfirmed flight was at 7:20) , we left for the airport by 4:35 and reached by 5:15.
My parting was probably the happiest thing that happened to me...
This visit and 24 hours showed me a lot of things. How not to take care of guests. How not to behave when a girl/ guy comes home. I had never realised even when I lost my scholarship that money was so scarce in US as not to afford a single cup of coffee to someone when they come home.
Maybe I am extravagant. No. I know I am not. I am decent. I am glad. I realised that all relations in the US are forged after money. After a few years of living, people become so tight fisted that they no longer have even the courtesy to offer dinner to a long lost cousin. I met him after 3 years. Life.
It teaches you a lot of things. But Money. Now that gives you the lesson of your lives.
Again morals. I am immoral. Ethics. These kinds surprise and revolts me. I am glad I recognized I dont fall in tune with these....Whatever they may be. My ethics are different.
Thank God for it...
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