Sunday, December 11, 2005

We are the World!!??

Nowadays every second person one meets on the Bangalore streets is white. By white, of course, we mean white/cream/yellow/brown/black and a few shades of gray in between. Anyone who isn’t Indian, out to “experience” the great Indian whatever-they-think-it-is, and stopped in Bangalore by the lure of a dirt cheap (by their standards) KFC or Benetton.

Most of them settle in pretty well, smack their lips like the “Southies” over a idli sambar, boogie the nite away at some random pub, and enjoy their time.

However, met someone a while back, who has, or at least had, a decidedly myopic approach to India. It was all “dirty, and ugly, and he actually wanted to go elsewhere, but landed up here by fluke”. Lovely European intonations, very musical, but the words were unpalatable. Remember being a bit irritated at his views about this place.

So, it came as a horror as I walked down Shivanagar Market area this morning, with people throwing buckets of mucky water on the roads, in everywhich way, to find myself muttering “bloody Indians!” and other expletives that would make a sailor blush.

Does this make ME a un-patriot, or is it merely a growing testimony to an era of people whose allegiance is only to themselves?

neurotic ramblings

Have resolved to talk about anything and everything, in this blog.

So, whatever random neurotic thoughts I might be having, will from time to time, be reflected in this space. And god knows, I might be another late 20-something, wise ass, weird bordering on strange, Bridget Jones’ Diary, in the making!!! :-D

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

the truth about cats and dogs

I have a dog at home. He is this humungous sized, typical blonde, slightly vain and eminently cuddle-able Lab. My mom, in moments of true irate-ness, swears that he is a cat in disguise, as Leo has the remarkable habit of living life only for himself. He growls deep in his throat and does a bored rendering of “lifting the lip into a curl” when one wants to drag him close and cuddle him, unless of course, HE is in the mood. The only one he cant do without is his older “brother” , Sasha, a Spitz.

Most unlike a dog really!!!

And now, in Bangalore, there’s a cat. She belongs to my neighbor, 2 doors down, a slim sinuous feline. And she’s most unlike a cat I have ever known.. I think she’s a dog in disguise. She has taken a fancy to me and my house, for reasons unknown. So whenever the door is open, she comes scampering in, till I drag her out of under the bed and send her homeward.

When I get home, and she’s around, she comes running up to rub herself against my legs till I bend and pet her. And then stands up on two hind legs, purring up at me in impatience for me to open my door.

She’s also the only cat who I have known, who plays “tooki”(hide and seek in Bengali). So, if u stand behind a pillar/wall/door and want to beckon to her, all u have to do is “hide” behind it and say “tooki”.. and she comes running.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Walk Tall

Saw a little girl in the bus today.

She got on, as the bus trundled through the streets, from what can be called as a "lesser economically well off" area.

Frayed socks, typical black school shoes from which both her big toes poked out of holes, a uniform too sizes too large for her.

But the uniform was spotless, the socks pulled on without a crease, the shoes polished till they shone. Her hair was neatly oiled and pulled back with 2 ribbons, as is common among all good little Southie girls.

Amongst all the pushing and shoving, she stood there holding the back of the seat, with a steady hand. And there was a sparkle in her eyes, a smile on her lips, and excitement at the thought of a new day, of playing with her friends at school.

Leena D, of class IV b, as her school bag proudly proclaimed…may you go a long long way.