Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Bombay trip - 2

(This is a weak translation of my malayalam blog post. Part 1 is here)



Bride is a Punjabi. I will be able to devour Tandoori chicken, lassi, chicken tikka.. To top it, there would be jalebi etc. Moreover, the Punjabi girls with the colour of wheat would be a treat to the eyes. I should enjoy this vacation.

While I saw these dreams sitting in the taxi and enjoying the views outside, we reached the bride's place. Straight to 3rd floor where her flat was. Another 15 minutes of exchanging pleasantries. It has become too difficult to contain my hunger.

"Beta, are you hungry? Give another 10 minutes. When you folks said the taxi was stranded, we put all the food in the refrigerator. We were not sure what time you are going to reach. Chapathi is getting prepared. You can have them hot. Wait for a few moments"

Vineeta: "Poor chap! He had to push the car a lot!"

Ant: "I liked father pushing the car!"

Antlion: "The first couple of Chapathis should go to ant. Poor thing, she should be hungry!"

Vineeta and Antlion are vegetarians. Our philosophies don't match. So I freshened up and sat a little away from them. After all, I have to give salvation to Tandoori items, right?

"Beta, hope you like the food. There is a pooja today evening. So all food have been prepared without onion and garlic. Here, some potato. Curd and pickle are kept over there. Have to your content"

Enjoying my disappointment fully, Vineeta and Antlion spoke.

"So, what are the plans for marriage?"

"Engagement tomorrow. The marriage is the day after. Both in Tamil style. The groom is a Tamilian"

"Eh? But you said the groom is from Bombay..?"

"Yeah, he was born and brought up in Bombay. But originally they are Tamil Brahmins"

It was a hailstorm in my Tandoori at the moment. Did I catch a flight to Bombay just to push a taxi and to have curd rice and Sambar rice?

Our stay was arranged in another flat which had been rented for these 4 days.

"Alps A wing. 16th floor. Flat 4. Here are the keys. Go and take rest"

I had an attitude which a filled stomach gives a hungry man, when I took the keys. I have to take rest for some time.

It was with this confidence I reached the 16th floor. Tried a key.

The door won't open.

Tried all the 5 keys in the bunch. The door lock would not budge. It remained a mystery.

Went downstairs and got the security guy. He sweated for 5 minutes, surrendered himself along with the keys and promised never to visit that floor again.

Finally we got the guy who was in charge of the apartment. He looked at the keys, then to the lock, then our faces and finally the long array of our luggage.

"Sir, the apartment is not in A wing, but in B wing"

(you useless fellow)

"But what about the keychain? It's written A wing here"

"That... is a mistake"

The apartment was good. All rooms had air conditioning. Switched it on and had a good rest.

The pooja that evening was a grand one. Everyone had a ribbon tied to their heads and were dancing to Jhankar beats.

"We've got special permission to make noise today!"

3 more people joined us in our apartment later that evening. The apartment was meant for all of us. Two were a middle-aged husband and wife, who took one room. I, antlion and ant had one room. The third was a lady who shared the room with Vineeta.

I woke up late on 26th. I was the last to get into the bathroom. All others were ready.

Now, I have a problem. I forget the surroundings once I get into the bathroom. I start singing. I enjoy the shower and it takes some time.

So before I got into the bathroom, antlion had warned me.

"Don't start your singing. You need to quickly come out"

I disagreed to her in my mind and started my session as usual. In a short time, there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Fast. Everyone is waiting"

I took the soap cake.

Another knock after 5 minutes.

"Don't have time for your songs. Breakfast will get over unless you get ready in 5 minutes"

Unthinkable. I resumed my shower.

"Enough. Are you going to come out?"

This is irritating. I need to put an end to this.

Throwing the mug into the bucket, I pulled open the bathroom door suddenly.

That's it!

The middle-aged family and Vineeta's roommate were looking into the bathroom.

They did not intentionally look into the bathroom. It was more of a reflex action because I pulled open the door with such ferocity. But what did they see?

Bhagvan chithal, except for a little shampoo on his head, was giving a rare full darshan without any cover!

If you ask me how the moment felt, I would say that we both, who got to show and see unintentional scenes, could just stay stunned in mutual respect for some long moments, unable to move.

Eventually they voluntarily realigned their eyes to elsewhere while I stopped my show and closed the bathroom door once again (they were outside, I was inside).

I should also mention that I have still not realised the meanings of the smile I saw on the middle-aged lady's face, and of the gesture which Vineeta's room mate did, just before I closed the bathroom door.

After 10 minutes, hearing antlion say "they all have left, it is safe to come out now" I cautiously opened the bathroom door, put out my head fist and surveyed the surroundings, and ran into the bedroom after finding the coast clear. Antlion followed me.

We both did not speak, but just remained looking at each other. Then a foolish expression must have kept up my face, because antlion started to laugh. Though surprised for a moment, I also joined the laugh.

I: "Vineeta did not see"

Antlion: "Why? I saw her roommate run into their room and talk to her. I could not see Vineeta's reaction. Not sure if Vineeta is now aware of what happened"

I: "Ok, now don't ask Vineeta if she is aware"

Antlion: "Ok. In case she is not aware, don't go and tell her all these yourself either"

I: "No, I won't. Shall we have breakfast?"

The next time I met the middle-aged family was for the engagement function. They stared at me. I just ignored and went my way.

The return trip was in an innova. I noticed that the middle aged family and Vineeta's room mate also boarded the same car. No one spoke throughout the journey. I pretended to be asleep.

(Is the driver smiling?)

Next day is the marriage. I finished my bath even before others woke up, and got into a formal attire. No one should laugh on me hereafter. When Vineeta, antlion and Ant got ready, I silently walked with them. We reached the line of cars waiting to take us to the hotel where the marriage function was to happen.



(To be continued..)