Wrapped up Gods

Having missed the big day, we now gathered for an update. After the general wedding related chit-chat, the conversation moved towards presents. It is always interesting to find out what people from different cultures feel makes an appropriate present. The fact that he is Assamese and she Japanese also made this case particularly intriguing.

‘We got lots of gods,’ came the unexpected answer and before we could even consider how to reach to this piece of information, she continued with animated hand gestures ‘and some of them, if you plugged them in, they even have flashing lights.’

Hmm, lots of gods.  Not bad, we thought. And naturally we wanted to know what was to be done with all those gods. To that she sighed a little emphasising the dilemma this had caused. Despite both being non-religious, they didn’t feel comfortable to throw the gods out. Of course, we said in support. So the best thing to do, they found, was to distribute the gods among the grooms side of the family.

‘And who can say no when you given them gods, right?,’ she said with a smile.

Lal Kila (The Red Fort)

Made it inside the Red Fort today. Based on what few of my friends had said, I wasn’t expecting much. I think in my mind I had pictured an open park-like space surrounded by the ruins of the red walls. This, before I read the one page description my guidebook had on it, while on the metro. The actual thing was much grander than what I had imagined, and it totally exceeded my expectations at all levels (yes, even expectations raised post-guidebook). On retrospect, I should have got the audio tour and this gives me a reason to visit again – I feel a guided tour will definably be worth it.

Having now read half of William Dalrymple’s City of Djinns, I have a new found fascination for Old Delhi, and all the history and gory stories behind it. Visiting the Red Fort has further accentuated that sense of wonder. Although bang at the centre of the chaotic Old Delhi, once inside the fort you actually forget that there is much going out right outside the walls. And while there, I kept thinking this might only be a glimpse of what Old Delhi used to be. The beauty, the splendour and poetry that seem to ooze out of every corner must have been everywhere before the hard times came! It’s times like these I wish I was born much before my time.

There was talk

There was talk. People thought she was too good for him. They hoped they were not going out. But it was hard to believe they would not fall for each other when they spent every minute of the waking hour together. From Dawn to dusk. From six in the morning to almost midnight.

They were both apprentice in the hotel around the corner. He started a few months before her. In this sort of business, had he been any good he should have been her supervisor by now. But he wasn’t. In fact, in no time she had proved herself and she was his equal now. And somehow they always got assigned the same responsibilities, posted on the same site to do similar, if not the same, tasks. And they became really good friends.

It was a good thing in the beginning. Her company seemed to have calmed him down and helped him focus on his work. When with her, he seemed much more likeable and he had started to make sense too – not a normal occurrence. But there really is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Now it seemed they were inseparable. Too loyal, too friendly. Too much of everything. Not that anybody had ever seen them in a compromising position or anything. No, she would never have that.

But the mere fact that they were always together, always, was what people were beginning to get uncomfortable with. There was talk.

The Child

She at 9

Comes sits in my room, in the far corner

At 9

She is hungry

For she is fasting

For the first time

Head covered

No hair in sight

She is fasting

In the name of god

And to please to the grownups and feel like a grownup herself

At 9

She sits

Staring at me while I type this

While my breakfast is being prepared

We will be eating

In front of this 9 year old

Who claims she doesn’t get hungry

And that she had her tea at 3

In the morning.