One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble; no difference between pain and ecstasy. Murray Head brought Bangkok to the world, somewhere in the 80’s. I landed in Bangkok in the Indian summer of a warm April in 1989. I got a free ticket. We had to go and pick up jeans and Italian shoes from Bangkok. It was a ‘white collar smuggling‘ operation. I liked the sense of adventure over nothing; we were just picking up clothes for a boutique and saving on customs by spending on tickets, in an Indian way. As we left Grandpa‘s flat (apartment in US English), my cousin and me were ready and excited about our first flight.. Our relatives were not as warm as the time when Grandpa went on a world trip.
The night sky gave way to a beautiful morning through an Air France window. The airhostesses didn’t seem to like Indians too much as one of them was arguing with an old Muslim passenger and insisting that he had asked for vegetarian meal so here it was.
Dawn trips are fun once you are awake completely. Arun and I decided to live are wannabe-photographers-who-visit-ancient-ruins-and-forts. It was still dark when we reached the fort and clicked some amazing pictures that are lost thanks to Arun. Anyway these are some of them.
Its a ghastly beautiful experience as I balance my lifestyle and the cheque book and the poetry club i go to. Sophie is there and my cousin is safe in Australia. the days are warm and beautiful in the mornings and chilled to death does its part, in the night. my comp is great and I have more liberty with a bus pass. albert park is greener and library is richer. life is good as sun enters leo. mom is fine of course and the poetry on the escalators was a great experience and i look too chubby in pictures so my 40 km walks last week was great. i left a part time job for poetry but am fine. i’m having fun.
There was a mad hat that Michelle brought and the library was all silence before we decided to break it. I half did not go there but the spirit of adventure was too strong. And there was Amy, Christian, Michelle, Lisa Samuels and many others. Poetry was txted and displayed on the screen. I sang a few lines from Tennyson and Humpty Dumpty as the passion caught fire and we were going up and down the escalators in a frenzy. It was beautiful. Michelle confirmed that “Poetry will be made by all not one”.
It has been recorded how for an hour the 343 course recited poetry at top treble
The graduation ceremony for my post graduate teacher’s qualification is in September. The mist has given way to bright sunshine and it was great to see Sophie again. I walked 12 kms yesterday. I had to make a Police complaint to get a free replacement of my lost I Card from University. Life is good and the Poetry paper has started at Auckland University. So I am having a great time. There is a Poetry day at the Auckland City Library and we will read our poems on the accelerator. I chose PASSION as the word that defined me and immediately became friends with the SEX girl Julie. She gave me the yellow card with the word on it. Planning to get a DVD on Once were warriors or the Piano. Met Melanie, Ex girlfriend’s ex-sister. Like her. Have gotten over the bomb blasts. Auckland is becoming warmer and mistier. Did two good deeds so far. Feeling great.
Hi I have left your room last Thursday and had a sterling and stunning time between the pink sheets. Your duvet was warm and the sheepskin under me negated my need for a heater. Here’s a poem, I wrote for you. Your room is as I found it with few bits of paper for character.
Iselta’s Binocular’s
On the wall Iselta smiles
to make up for Shelly
at various junctures Meli’s
around to balance Jess’ Yes
and No.
The train looks like a Noddy toy
and the Mobil blue light keeps me warm
Shelly’s cough next door
keeps me cosy as I cling to cream
Piggy whose pinks are not rosy
but brown matching the unsaid smile
and the untold frown
The water is warm and the blasting
curry is hot as I look through the lens in
the middle of the night as I hear the Talkback
show and add my two pence for colour
Iselta smiles but the grey TV room
has lost it. I love it here as I pack to leave
smiling at the little room that kept me warm
and the creaking floor that kept company
I leave the piggie for Shelly
I dont know why, may be because
her silence was company and anger
a reaction. I leave nothing for Meli
but my friendship and the hot chillies
in the curry. I leave a ruppee for Jess
as it shines like she does
I miss Iselta’s smile and Jess
and Shelly Meli
As everything is an event for me
I have moved to the new house since Shelly and I had a disagreement. As it is it was a temperory place. I have finished my teaching qualification and moved to a
beautiful place on top of Mount Roskill as you can see all the teeny weeny houses below. There was a tremendous mist this morning and I could not see a thing in lynfield downstairs. The view is stunning from all the windows and the wardrobe is huge. Most people I know are safe so i thought I’ll go and
celebrate. Daniel had come to help me move house inspite of a heavy schedule with doctors and a quick lunch.
Luckily Justin txted and I let danny boy be since I could see how tired his family was. Daniel never tires of helping me out. That’s Danny.
I’m using Justin Mckelvie’s comp these days and took a trip to tauranga through the Canadian looking pines and the the wooden board bridges over stagnant waters
and Pairoa and Thames and the rugged countryside that was filled with cows and horses grazing. Tauranga was cold. Mt. Maunganui is a rich, white hill touching the
green waters where Justin ’sermoned’ on being cool and that raving a storm since my strong personalty does conflict with people.
I have missed Hepa’s birthday but she has been busy since I came back twice and I am awkward. i did think of the Loleshis when I took the bus to Takinini at the
outer end of Auckland. Just besides Manurewa and I thought of the loleshis and really missed them.
The tauranga trip on the way back was dark in parts and mysterious like going through an indian village during power cuts. i stuffed in a Chinese takeaway while Justin stuck to Subway Sandwich which is too bland for me. Tauranga was cold but it has been a good two days after the initial shock of the blast. Went to Mt. Eden and One tree hill and saw Auckland from various perspectives. Saw the planetriam One Dome show on
stars and realised that the star to us besides the sun, we see it as it was four and a half years ago as light takes four and a half years to travel the
distance. Thus Light Years.
Show Super man returns, another love story but lois is soooooooo cute.
Most people I know in my country are fine but then often that’s what we are concerned about only. But Mumbai is coming out rising from its ashes showing the world how its done.
Changing the numerological significance of the city by changing its name has been dangerous. I hope you are allright. This blasts have been detrimental to innocent people who work hard and go to labor everyday. I hope there are no communal repurcussions, since it is always the innocent who die.
There’s a course in Arts that I have just started attending for four days and it will give me a credit of 15 points. Its cool and we have been cutting, crumpling, folding paper to make an underwater scene through a porthole. My mom knows how clumsy i’m with paint and glue and i haven’t changed since then.
The soccer world cup final looked like Anand vs Krishna Apts.
Today I went to check two flats at Mt. Wellington and Papatoetoe. I liked both the flats and the bus ride was great. It’s not such a cold night tonight and I enjoyed my walk to the bus stop and am back at the college library. The Papatoetoe place is next to all amenities and a great house that touches Papatoetoe High School and i can meet the loleshis on Sunday and Justin is near by. i love the nights in South Auckland as they are semi-rural and beautiful. The place is flat and I like it. Mt. Wellington is not bad either, close to shops, Sylvia park, the biggest mall in the Southern hemishphere and all amenities. Tanya lives there with her three cats and it is a cool house with a bigger bed. They are cultured musicians.
Soon I’ll start relief teaching and life will become busy with 4 papers at massey and umpteen papers at Waikato University. Let’s see.
Manakau City Centre is still a beautiful place with neons and the odd black girl from California. I had my eyes open for Sesa, who used to work in Burger King. It would have been nice if i had met her. But Thursday late night Manakau city Centre looks beautiful.
When Justin Joe dresses up in a suit, there are chances that a lot of people will mistake him for a Hong kong Mafia don, whose hat is made of steel and chops off heads a la GoldFinger. I on the other hand may look like a technician and a bit of a womaniser, of course.
Well we went to an Indian wedding of a Fijian Indian friend, held in a beautiful garage and the food was exotic. This place is South auckland, a place close to my heart because of Loleshis and Sesa, of course. Oh the ceremony was nice as a ‘minister’ of marriage performed ring exchanges and vow blasting with a small sermon on Christianity, of course. I felt welcome in a room full of Indians in colourful sarees and sombre looks as it involved bidaai and other boo hoos. I loved the food and had a great time and my Chinese friend Justin, a connosier and a super foodie thought the food was great too.
We then went to the city where we devoured more Japanese food, where I met Penny and later had great ice cream, (from Justin’s share of sundae). He’s still sore about it.
Had a quick word with Tarun Patwa, the ex birthday boy and my aunt from USA. Yesterday i watched ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’. Daniel is out of town so the car has not arrived yet.
Went to see Cars, the movie and you know I don’t fancy cars but was great fun. It’s a love story and a great movie like Irfan and rocky about humanity and love. This Americans know their movies and can inspire tears. Ordered a new credit card after my $2000 one got lost. And the animation by Pixar is mind-blowing. Got a cool, blue t-shirt and a piggy toy for Simu, who for the time being will keep me warm. I’m still thinking Samoan Islands, where Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island. Justin and I were planning a day trip but that will have to wait. It’s still cold and smoke comes out of your mouth as you talk or drink green tea on the terrace as you look at Eden Park and the train station.
My flatmate Shelley is still sick and coughs all the time and I’m reading a Pacific Island travel book and thinking of Natalie for no rhyme nor R.
Am at the lab using computers and hoping to catch up on my other courses.
That teaching graduation had been a pain in the backside and I will free as a bird and ready to roll again. The Mobil petrol station with its blue backlights and the distan train that looks like a toy from noddy books and the eden park and the house in the distance from the binoculars (Iselta’s) look beautiful. I am planning to move to South Auckland and change students’ lives there. I love the relative flatness of South Auckland. Mom is fine and it is pouring in Mumbai but this time the government jokers have got their sanitation and drainage right.
Crime is rising in Auckland. There was an incident of some 15 yr old throwing a concrete from the bridge on the Motorway and killing a guy. Twin kiddies got murdered. Policemen have been hit. Teachers attacked. It’s drug and/or alcohol. Prison guards make as much money as teachers and ultimately if you look at it: both jobs are exactly the same.
This entitles me to teach anywhere on the planet. its a cloudy morning and having just created a Killer Pau Bhaji. Its been a cursed course with the Emma Break up and three returns to India for a total of 27 months since mom was alone, sick and depressed at three different times. I was reading a cool travelogue on Pacific islands and that is my next destination. it has been cold in auckland and the night lamp has been used to read. Life is beautiful.
No matter how cold it is out there in the week with the clouds and the condensation and the whole crap but come Saturday and the world opens up. Spoke to Jihan, Peggy’s daughter. Always nice to get an aloha from Canada. I might be going visiting in September. life is changing everyday. Once I get the car I will be stable and stuck in one place. Daniel’s lost the keys (and his wallet, poor soul). My Advance Fiction notes have come from Massey University. And after sleeping for a day or two I dont like sleeping much. Also I feel rice does not suit me. Planning to make my own Rotis soon. Armed my self with breakfast: Honey and Cruchy Peanut butter and all. Superman has hit the Cinemas but i feel Christofer Peeve is irreplaceable.
I have slept realllyyy well. Oh I love sleeping and tell myself in the twilight zone betweeen wakefulness and sleep, on days of exams since childhood, ‘Sleep while you can’. Anyway i finished handing in two exercises. The ones you upload on to University websites. I’m pretty pleased and reading another Suneal’s (a kid from Canada) blog.
There are three people in the lab and I’m suddenly lightened by finishing my last assignment this winter. Its cold outside. Inside of course, i have kept the temperature static at 25 degrees.
I have walked 20 kms in the last three days. Thus, today i just made a mean Pau Bhaji and slept like a log. It was cool. Just Mc might be giving me his comp and I’m planning to join I-Hug soon. Its around 8.20 in evening and the pretty warm in the lab. I’m planning to catch up on my other paper: Written Communication. I’ll be learning flash soon. Sleep makes the whole world a brighter place. Something’s happening at Eden Park stadium next door. The lights were full blast. I may be going to Napier but Gaurav has a small engagement party and thus, I can only leave after 6th. Need lots of driving practice and training. The red racing jacket looks good. I must shave everyday.
Suddenly the cold has come from nowhere and as we all moved out of the center at 8:46 at night for the vacuum party. The cold hit me. I thought it was me but even the Kiwis and Polynesians are freezing. The cold has come and winter is upon us now.
Sorted the room. Cousin Gaurav treated me to an Indian meal. Went to Blockhouse Bay, Henderson. Met Sensei Pat who was pleased to see me. Picked up my luggage must be 40 kgs in Henderson and 28 in Blockhouse bay. Left all the video cassettes on the doorstep of Red Cross Army Shop. Cluttered Isela’s room with my stuff. Gaurav helped. the place is really cute. Just got back at the library for another day of deliberating on the assignment.
Got the cutest house in the Universe. I had half moodily walked from auckland College od education early morning through the small curvy lanes of Mount Eden to Eden Park and I did not think much of the exterior but inside is seriously sexy house with cream curtains and red duvet. Iselta the landlady (temperory) is nice too. The deal is done. Its at kingsland railway station and has a freat lounge and a cut kitchen and fantastic balconey. Its great. I pay $100 a week. My new telephone number post Wednesday is going to be (00649) 845 4422. I’m cool. There are three other girls who live in the flat. One is a violonist and other is something else and Isrelta is going to London for a wedding. She’s nice sort..
NZ becomes the best place on the planet when the sun comes. Its been a great day and all I have achieved is an idea of how to do things. A heavy $5 lunch with fried stuff and a clear idea where I’m going is keeping me alive. I made a new id footloose.fancyfree@yahoo.com I have this penchant for creating ids.
Footloose and fancyfree is dedicated to endless hours I spent on the 6th floor of Anand with iyer brothers. It was my favourite Rod Stewart album. You keep me hanging on and I was only joking played well when we were in love with the Seemas, Dinas, Santhas and Dimples-Mumtas. Crazy time of life that. Mithibai College and break dance and free papaddams. Cool.
The day has gone well but no productivity yet.
It’s been a long time since I have had time for myself. A long, long time. I last had such peace at Manurewa, when I was renting a whole outhouse for a mere $90 and living alone in that outhouse that was nice and warm and I loved the hot shower it used to give. At Uncle’s house there were many people that kept me from being alone but i prefered Manurewa with occasional visits from the Loleshis. Then, mom fell ill and I was in transit and no peace. I stayed there for one and a half years and had a good time when it was not hot. Then I came here stayed at Justin, no peace because of his obsessive, mad girl friend Jenny. Justin was great mind you but I could not stand his girl. I moved to hostel but the city life wasn’t peaceful. Interesting but not peaceful. Paul’s place was nice but then Chris came with his problems. The graveyard pictures and Paul Kite flying lifestyle was good but Bond and Bond job bored me to death. Went back to India. between July 2004 and June 2006, I was in NZ only for 3 months. Mom was sick and I cherish being alone in computer rooms and libraries and am planning full concentration on my final assignment. Winters I love here. The heater is better here than any place I have lived in. I once gave up non veg for a guju girl I loved. Today, I had raw fish Polynesian salad. It was mindblowing. I have rested well and warm and vaguely started my final procastination for my last assignment. Life is sensational. It rained a wee bit and the Auckland college is peaceful, perfect. I wonder how Sesa is?
There are two girls in the computer room: The blond and the Maori. The blond is discussing how her boyfriend tried to commit suicide. I’m really amused and in a great mood. I don’t know why. I am confronted with too many living options. Two places in Palmerston North, two in Wellington, one in Hamilton. So I have an adventure trip where I know I have to sit on my back and finish my essay. Twenty books need to be read than maybe I’ll go to Melbourne for a visit.
My essay needs a definite start and a conclusion. And a pregnant middle full of other people’s ‘quotes’. Part of the bloody deal. The references have to be APA or ‘American Psychological Association’ style. I need some water so be back in a few minutes.
My main goal this winter is to crack the last paper that will give me an international teaching qualification. Went to paul’s house. He has moved out and lives with Sherryl. Oh! I’m happy for them. Got my knapsack, returned my uniform, bought a cellphone 0064 (0)211459976 and went to the big cvomputer center in the city. Not a single place so I slept on the couch. Had to meet someone at Sandringham but dozed off from around 3-9. Am at Epsom, this is the free time and space I really require because the final assignment is a book review and is a bit of a killer and I’m reminded of I used to come from Uncle’s house everyday and stay the night. I feel great. I’m always on the computer, eventually I will start WORK. I got a lot of my asssignments back. Good feedback bad grade. I seem to have a problem following orders. It’s near 10 in the night.
It’s two in the morning. The weather is pretty cold and I’m in the computer redesigning my site. i have lived in Auckland city for a total of 20 months and have lived in lots of suburbs. Jignesh’s Papatoetoe, Joe’s Mount Roskill, Tapan and Anu’s Mount Roskill, Wakena’s Manurewa, Emma’s Waterview, Robin’s Richardson road, Sid’s Onehunga, Hyderabadi Mount Eden, Uncle’s Mount Roskill, Raman’s Manurewa, Justin’s flat in the city, AUT hostel in the city, Daniel’s house in Howick, Mashood’s New Windsor and Paul’s Henderson. Now I’m absolutely sick of Auckland. Have seen it so before I return to India or Canada or wherever, I want to live in at least five cities. Whangerai, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson.
It has rained and temperature was 8 degrees C when I arrived. Its cold but the heater can be turned up and the computers are fantastic in this room. i’m trying to get inspiration to finish my huge assignment. Its a twenty page master-blaster killer of an assignment on whether counselling is required in schools.
For some reason, may be its the cold, I’m very relaxed. I miss Raman’s outhouse, my favourite house in New Zealand. I have lived in India 25 months in the last 45 months.
The education college is fully lit up with tubelights for safety and I’m wondering if i should take the bus, train or flight to Wellington.
Let’s start with mom. Mom has finally relaxed and the anti-stress pills are doing wonders to her life. As for me, travelling to and fro has psychologically damaged me. Money-wise things are great. I have two thousand dollars in my account. That is 60,000 rupees. That is justification. I miss Emma. I’m in touch with Geeta and Nitu has decided to ignore me. I feel great but seeing Auckland airport time and again is pissing me.
I always hated my job. They wanted me to start tomorrow. Luckily they asked me if i still want the job. There was too much politics in that tiny place. Learning heaps and heaps just to get $10 an hour is not worth the bloody thing. I would rather work labour and have a healthy lifestyle.
Tonight, I’m purposely homeless. I need space and time that I have not got since a long time. It is cold so I’m the computer centre. Aslam is dead and Sandeep in jail. Life is damaging a few souls around me. I hate India. Once I sleep I’ll see Auckland in a different light. It has rained. I’m feeling positive about my course at Auckland.
Every now and then I try to live on shoestring just for the fun and adventure. I’m wondering if I should try the homeless option. Shower in the gym, night in the computer centre and life is great. There are two Maori girls in the room and the Australian and I exchanged email ids. oops this one is not a Maori. She’s a european and we discussed Europe, cycling, academic writing. i can turn the temperature on and off. wellington is cooler and friendlier. Hamilton is a hole. Whangerai might be nice and warmer. i plan to see a whole lot NZ since half the times I dont know if i’m coming or going. But i must get out of Auckland.
The airport is a piece of work with a huge roof and trains going from one terminal to another. Add to that millions of people that dont have to stand in queues. The tatuatory KFC and Mc Donalds and the steel and glass that surround a rainforest, actually a huge hedge of greenery.
The mosque is shining in the distance in all its glory and Baghdadi look and the sun is slowly going down as I kiss Malaysia godbye. Job offers from India have started pouring in.Have heard some awesome things about Melbourne which is a cool place. the five floors have everything even a train at level 1 thatt goes into KL for 25 ringhits. Its an awesome place but I have a strange feeling that next time I will travel West. Let’s see what happens.
I have mixed feelings, getting attached to people and places and having to go. Must find a home soon.
Ran to the Australian woman and gave her my email ID and lost hers and ran back to see a cheerful Kiwi officer waiting at KL to check immigrants in. Added bit of security.
A nice 2 hour nap and a few quite moments at the pool with the waterfalls. It has rained and is pleasant now. The hills from 11th floor are looking beautiful as are the church, mosque and the temple. colors of early Madras and Calcutta, when they were cleaner cities.
I saw Pink Panther and it is a brilliant piece of comedy. The inflight service was excellent as I was watching the movie sleeping on four seats. Got no sleep but enjoyed the first ray of golden sunshine.
I immediately went to a window seat and saw vertical clouds in all shades of white like cotton on different layers, high like mountains and filled with pink and blue. It was the best set of clouds I have seen in 24 flights. They looked like barrier reef and a night lamb made of shells with a rough texture with beautiful bulbs inside. The lower clouds were moving at a different pace. The plam trees from top looked like miniature toys with toy houses near by. A Corel with light within.
It was amazing. I had breakfast at Royal Adelphi with Kathy, a Australian tourist and went for a woke at a green lake that faced old Indian Subramanium temple and Chinese cone-shaped roofs that look like inverted ships. The green lake had a giant lizard swimming in it.
Had a swim side lunch with lots of leafy veggies. I’m a bit sleepy so may be rest before catching the 8.30 evening flight. I think of mom. I spoke to dadaji and had some hot pau bhaji at Andheri before I took a rickshaw and sailed through immigration, baggage and departure. I feel good but miss mom.
The departure went clockwork and there was no queue at the airport. I was the first at Immigration and Baggage. Jagruti’s car droped to Mama’s (uncle) house and the ac and Shahrukh Khan songs stoped me from crying. Mom is fine too and India will draw another boring cricket match. Have reached the beautiful Malaysian Airport.
Its a hot afternoon as I spend my last day in Mumbai. It has been a mixed bag: this visit. I’m off to Auckland and looking for a place to live in since paul has already rented out his rooms. I’m happy for him though.
Jagruti has warned me how Indian skies have too much traffic and can be risky. I’ll be happy when I leave the Bay of Bengal where it is turbulant and the plane does a bit of Rock N Roll.
At Malaysia I’ll be staying at Royal Adelphi, one of the best hotels I have been in and the foods gonna be just great.
Meeting the specialist has done the trick. Ravi is fine; listening to music and screaming at full volume for small things. My work is done. My bags are packed. I’m sooooo out of here. Taking a memory, old poems, four papers and twenty odd kgs of baggage. The sun has come out and I’m trying to avoid the tension of playing another cricket match since I have to curb my pace since Kanti not Jigu is the wicket keeper. I can’t bowl pace with Kanti.
There are elephants on the highway and the Sunday is choked with beautiful women dressed in colourful costumes.
On the night of the 6th, the Malaysian Airlines will take off from Mumbai alongwith a nondescript passenger to Kuala Lampur and from then on to New Zealand, Auckland Airport at 1 in the afternoon of 8th June. Joey, I hope you can make it by 4.
There’s light at the end of the cold grey cloud
It is filtering inspite of the lightning and thunder
No one can stop us now as the earth is
covered in rains and mud and waves of eternal
torment. it’s going, going gone
There’s an old man sitting contain
a man we know from the grave we
visit and flowers we put on the gray stone
covered with a silky sheet and colour too.
The Mumbai Muncipalty sleeps on their ass as the first rains have clogged the city. Previously, rains washing the city was a pretty picture. Now I’m filled with extreme hatred at the way this country treats the only city that pays taxes so that the other impotent bastards in the country can survive.
My early website wildblueskies.com is gone but the design is still here. http://wildblueskies.blogspot.com I had drawn the picture in paint.
My new website is http://www.blueskyfox.com since it was started when I used to walk with Shaju in the aarey jungles and there were foxes in the track. We were just looking for fresh oxygen and blue sky but what we got were foxes. Luckily they stayed away.
Maoris have a big heart. Some of my best friends and a family I consider my own whanau are Maori. Thus, in the summer of 2002, sometime in November just before I moved in with my Pakeha girlfriend Emma Turner’s, I stayed at Wakena’s house. Wakena was just returning me an old favor, when I had gifted his family $200 grocery since they were short on cash. But we were not always friends and if Waky (as I called him) weren’t a Christian, he would have killed me.
We were working at the warehouse of Warehouse at Wiri and that place was filled with islanders and Maoris. Some of how they liked me. I had broken the Indian stereotype and was constantly abusing them in their languages. When I learn a new language, I generally learn the abusive part first.
As I took the bottles out of the dispatch trail, I saw a big Maori fellow leaning over me. His face was tattooed as he looked at with ‘kind’ eyes and said, “He is coming.” I knew this was an abstract statement and didn’t bother to look around for ‘who’ is ‘he’. I just smiled at him and he said, “Isu is coming”. I knew Isu was Indian for Jesus and I said, “Oh that’s nice”.
His initial overtures to convert me yielded no results so he tried making fun of me, which if said precisely means imitated me scratching my balls. I took up the challenge and amongst 20 laughing Samoans in that dark warehouse imitated Waky. Put out my paunch, ambled around, scratched my head and looked into boxes like he did. The uproar was humongous. My initiation was complete. I had come out trumps. What followed was a friendship between a Maori and an Indian.
The Clendon ward would definitely look awesome after sunset and we definitely lived in the poorest area, which was a rather cute place with kids littered on the sidewalk and young gangs trying to outstare you. The first morning I woke up and Waky informed me that it was raining as I was chomping the Maori break (fried flour) that his wife had made. Wakena has four daughters and a hundred relatives in houses clamped together. I was grateful for the warm duvet given to me and was generally in a happy mood despite the rain.
Wakena borrowed my cell to call his mom, who owned a small, green car. Sorry I’m not a car freak so ‘small’ will have to do. She looked like an ancient women, who smiled with her eyes and was smoking all the way to the warehouse with lips that twirled up to say I don’t care. When Waky gave her $4, I was amazed. Why would you have to give your own mother money to drive you to work? In hindsight, I feel this a Pakeha-induced custom. Pay for what you use.
What happened at Midnight!
That day I decided to retire early since it was a Friday night and I did not want to scratch myself in full view of Waky and Catherine and all the neighbors who had gathered to see me and called me bood-bood. I had made Pau Bhaji for the family and Waky was the only guy that could eat the spice I dished out.
It had been a tiresome week and I was still intrigued by how close the houses were. Let’s see from my window I could see the ‘women living in sodomy’ house. They were the butt of every joke in the clammed neighborhood. I was thinking of the compliment Wakena had paid me as he was walking besides his cycle, “ A lot of people are surprise to see a Maori walk with an Indian but you are in many ways like me…not easily intimidated.” I was ‘wow’ as I looked at the tattoo-faced seriousness. I just nodded in a cool-sort-of-a-cowboy-knows-his-way-across-the-sunset way. I was thinking of other imaginary glories like taking a hat trick, making love to Emma’s sister etc. as I dozed off.
Around midnight I heard voices and screams. “There is the bastard”. “He’s hiding here.” “Catch him.” I gasped, did not dare to turn the lights of the ghetto house, since I slept in the nude. “Fuck… why did I ever come to stay here. They were after me!” I was scared shitless. I heard other set of footsteps in the house, running everywhere on the wooden house…through the green toilet that had floating toys in the bath tub around my room and towards Waky’s room. My room did not have a latch as I tried to search for my wranglers in the dark. I found it. Luckily no one opened my door. After about fifteen minute of abject commotion, where all the four houses that stared into my sneak window that opened only half an inch for oxygen, all lights in the neighborhood were ablaze. I decided to venture out into the lounge. My manhood was at stake. Remember, I was the guy who could not get intimidated.
I looked at Waky as he was trying to start someone’s car. I said, “Hey! What happened?”
Waky shrugged off “Oh a fight in the neighborhood.”
I smiled at Kathy “That happens?”
“Oh! All the time.”
Now my curiosity took precedence over my fear that I hid rather well. Ok so what’s happening? I ventured nearer to the door and saw lots of cars and Police lights and Waky trying to start someone’s car. I did not completely risk going out. What if someone says, “What’s this bloody Indian doing here?” And, suddenly everyone realizes his point and starts smashing me. But hey! I had proved that I was brave inside. So there! It was time to sleep.
I later put all the fragmented pieces together and realized that there was a party happening in the cream house besides the Lesbian Villa and someone got drunk and mistook someone else’s wife for his. Actually he just molested her. And hell broke loose. The culprit ran through the backyard into our house and ran through the door. Whew! That was a close shave. These New Zealanders didn’t they ever bolt their doors? I had generalized till I saw how meticulously Emma turned the alarm and bolted every little window in the house.
My stay at Wakena’s house was fairly comfortable but I was awakened by Mormon readings of the Bible in tongues from the other room. I did enjoy chips dipped in white sauce. Waky loved my curry. However, one morning when I heard Waky and Kathy fighting over ‘how he’s not interested in touching her’. I decided it was time to pack. I did not mind them occasionally turning my God’s picture frame face-side-down because they were sure it was the Devil. But, when husband and wife started fighting, it was time to leave. Of course, I came back in a week but that’s another story.
I am at a crossroad in my life. On one side there is mom and on another there is my teaching qualification. My mom insists that I go back to NZ and I feel that we should not put all our eggs in one basket. Last monsoon we had water logged in the house. If I’m outside, I can always try and get my family in NZ or atleast send them enough money. If all of us are in the same hole, we could get into a mess. Because Ravi and I have always lived abroad we have not bought a second house yet. Mom insists i go. I feel that is the logical decision too. We do not have the luxury to be emotional especially since Mom is sick and we may need big money anytime.
I’m planning to bool my tickets for 1st June.
Saw the new Hypercity at Goregaon. it looks like Foodtown amd most Mumbaikars were happy to be there. I took a look at Crossword and had a haircut at a local place where got a oil head massage. Am sleepy and the methol in the oil cooled my head. Have delayed proceedings towards NZ for another ten days. My education paper looks better and generally having a ball.
have slept on terraces in Ahmedabad in Navranpura and my maasi’s wedding. Its a beautiful experience with the shy stars making an appearance too. I’m Pune at Raison’s house and after a long talk about everything I went up to the terrace. For summer, it was cold at night and i needed a blanket. I forgot the pillow and curled the cotton mattress and the duvet to balance my head.
The jerk living opposite had not shut his bulb and thus a lot of night beauty was lost and also the moon was in its larger period so stars could not get the limelight.
The dew wetdreamed my bed and the singing Mynas woke me up in the morning. There is a huge tsunami threat in NZ and I wonder how my loved ones are coping!
The morning oxygen is pure and devoid of moisture. The rustling paper in the windy night made me wink-wake searching for ghosts.
The Simghad fort is at the distance where Tanaji lost his life and Shivaji sais “The fort is captured but the lion is dead”.
Whenever I have gone to New Zealand, for some unknown reason I have visited Poona. The soul of Pune always tugs at me. Its almost a ritual now. So today, I took an ST bus to Bhiwandi from Borivali through scorching heat that makes red soil Maharashtra a romance. I had downed a glass of sugarcane juice and the the concrete road went through greens and hay coloured landscape as I got down at Bhiwandi bypass and took a 12-seater tempo to Kalyan and then went to Khapoli in the train, only to get down at Karjat and take a local to Pune as I got down at Chinchwad bought a ticket and boarded the train again. I had sat up on the luggage shelf as i read through Bruce Chatwin’s mesmerising book Songlines about Aborigines in Australia. How the ‘Land and Songs are one’. I reached Pune and had spicy Pau bhajia as I caught up with Sam Rice. Am in a Cyber Cafe that costs 10 bucks an hour. Pune is as beatiful as ever.
Arun’s bike was still short on shock absorbers when we zoomed through Thana Bhiwandi Highway. Breakfast was great with eggs and jam sandwiches at a road side Dhaba. It was around seven and we reached Shahpur at ninish. We broke from the highway into the rural green going further into a territory that was untouched in lifestyle for centuries. We told the local farmer to make his patent feast on our return and shot off through thje ancient temple that looked like Inca land into mosquito country. It was sensational as we struggled on brown patches at the edge of the hill but mosquitoes were buzzing around me like cars jammed on a busy signal in Mumbai.
We reached the hot stone land, where suddenly we were exposed to the sun and sandwiched between the sun and the black rock that was presently getting hot on our backs as we slept on it.
We actually prayed and it actually rained in the middle of summer. We took those long leaves and made a waterway that ended in our mouths. It was really satisfying. And, there is a God.
We eventually reached the ladder that looked as old as time. And Shivaji tiny fort shrouded in mists. Arun went into a ancient pool that was chilly and I stayed in the mists and explored the territory feeling slightly haunted.
Came down and had rice with onion bhaaji and bhaakri in the farmers straw hut. It was sensational.
Its been a gruelling to months of meeting Shamen and seeing Mom depressed and bowling on a placid pitch. We still won. But this trip has been a bit of a disaster. Mom is fine and I should be off soon. Had no time to meet my loved ones. Had some special time with Mom and Shirdi, Mumbai trip and thread ceremony. Must meet Iyer. Summer does have a holiday flavour and have made some friends. Some enemies. Thats life. Went to Mumbai University to sort my MA part 2 admissions. The Librarian is a pain that screams. It’s been awesome two months.
