Monday, April 27, 2009

Old times, revisited

9pm Saturday night and I am getting ready to watch the Red Devils battle their way back to the top of the Premiership table. The phone rings... its Sudhir, perhaps my oldest friend -- old in terms of the number of years we've known each other. Sudhir is now settled in the United States and is visiting here after a gap of almost 6 years.

(Sudhir and I first met in 1984, when studying 2nd grade. Sudhir's maternal grandparents lived in the next street. At the time, there were, probably, all of 7-8 houses in our neighbourhood and it was but natural that we ended up meeting each other and our friendship is 25 years young).

Sudhir asks if I am game for a trip to MG Road and Brigade Road Sunday. I cross Brigade Road every day heading to work, but its been close to 7 years since I've been to (what used to be) the favourite haunts of new entrants to Bangalore. Given my boredom on weekends, I jumped on the idea. So we set out at 3:15pm Sunday.

As old time Bangaloreans, the first thing that struck us was how much MG Road had changed, for the worse :-( No hustle, not many pavement hawkers, in short, not much activity at all! During our student days, the place would be bustling with so many people that walking on the footpath would be a major exercise. Kinda sad to see such an iconic boulevard losing its identity to 'development'. After lazing around for a couple of hours, including a fruitful book buying/browsing session at Blossoms, we headed back.

But, both of us are suckers for the 'old' Bangalore. How can we head home when Food Street beckons? Involuntarily we end up near Sajjan Rao Circle.

All ye swanky hotel yearners, you know not what you're missing. Take it from me -- Street food still tastes the best! Economies of scale ensure that any food you choose will be heavy on your tummy, but light on your pocket ;-) After a sumptuous assortment of choicest Masala Dosa, Onion Dosa, Bondas and Masala Soda, we head home.

Sudhir is game for more such escapedes before he gets back to Uncle Sam. "No place like Home", he says, I wholeheartedly agree. We make an appointment to drive down Mysore Road to another old haunt.

All in all, a Sunday well spent, after a really long time!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Innocence...

The other day at a concert of a famous artiste, I ran into a very good acquaintance, who was there with family. The daughter, a cute, naughty kid all of 4+ years, was also there, prepared with her toys and sketch book to keep herself occupied while her parents and grandparents enjoyed the music. I took a chair next to this group.

ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅಮ್ಮ, ಯಾರು ಅವರು?
ಅಮ್ಮ: ನಿಂಗೆ ಅನಿತಾ ಆಂಟಿ ಗೊತ್ತಲ್ಲ್ವ? ಇವರು ಆವರ ಅಣ್ಣ
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅವರ ಹೆಸರೇನು?
ಅಮ್ಮ: ನಿಂಗೆ ಅವರ ಹೆಸರು ಕೂಡ ಗೊತ್ತು!
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಇಲ್ಲ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ
ಅಮ್ಮ: ಅಣ್ಣನ ಹೆಸರು ಏನು?
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅನಂತ್ ನಾರಾಯಣ್
ಅಮ್ಮ: ಅವರ ಹೆಸರೂ ಅದೇನೇ!
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅದು ಹೇಗೆ ಸಾಧ್ಯ?
ಅಮ್ಮ: ಯಾಕೆ ಸಧ್ಯ ಇಲ್ಲ?
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅವರೂ ಅನಂತ್ ನಾರಾಯಣ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರೆ, ಇಬ್ಬರು ಒಂದೇ ತರಹ ಇರಬೇಕಲ್ಲವ?

Kid: Amma, who is he?
Mom: You know Anitha aunty? He is her brother.
Kid: What's his name?
Mom: Know what? You already know his name...
Kid: No, I don't
Mom: What's Dad's name?
Kid: Ananth Narayan
Mom: His name is also the same...
Kid: No, no... How can that be?
Mom: Why not?
Kid: If he is also Ananth Narayan, shouldn't he look the same as Dad?

Forward 45 minutes. The concert was fabulous and we were engrossed in the music.

ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಅಣ್ಣ, ಅವರು ನಿನ್ನ ಫ್ರೆಂಡಾ?
ಅಪ್ಪ: ಹೌದು ಪುಟ್ಟಿ
ಪುಟ್ಟಿ: ಹಾಗಾದ್ರೆ ನೀನು ಅವರ ಜೊತೆ ಮಾತೇ ಆಡ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲ?

Kid: Is he your friend?
Dad: Yes, he is a very good friend of mine.
Kid: Then why aren't you both talking?

Towards the end of the concert, I was showing her an old trick of squinting my eyes just for fun. The kid goes:

"ನೀವು ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ರೆ, ದೊಡ್ಡವರಾದಾಗ .. ಅಲ್ಲ, ಇನ್ನೋದ್ಸಲಿ ದೊಡ್ಡವರಾದಾಗ ಕಣ್ಣು ಹಾಗೆ ಆಗಿ ಹೋಗತ್ತಷ್ಟೇ"

"You know, you shouldn't be doing that, 'cos when you grow up... errr.. when you grow up the next time, your eyes will get stuck like that".

Why can't all kids retain their innocence for ever?