Out and Back

Thanks to those who wished me Happy (several things). I wish you the same.

We're back, after two weeks of vegetating in Bangalore, in the most beautiful cool weather.

As we went through the airport security check I scanned the list of prohibited items. I found that, in addition to hatchets, knives, and so on, one must not carry betel nut cutters on board.

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I've seen people sit down after dinner with a betel nut cutter - something like a nutcracker, with blades - and a betel nut - about the size of nutmeg - and expertly shave off thin slices to chew. I wouldn't think of taking one on a plane, though. Trains, yes: Most of one's time in a train is spenting eating something or the other. It's one of the reasons to go by train.

We returned to see Mary's kolam in front of the gate, and at the door.

She's turned out to be expert at making the rice-flour patterns. They begin with a grid of dots, which are connected in an amazing number of ways. She told me excitedly one day, just before we left, that a group of foreign tourists had walked down the street, photographing the kolam at every gate.

I've spent today dealing with real life: I ordered a truckload (12,000 litres) of water, because none has come through the pipes in these two weeks; called Palani the repairman, because one of the hot-water heaters has conked out (he says it's because the water is too salty); called the washing-machine repairman, because something has gone wrong (he will also blame the water quality). Ramesh used to say that we should name our house Breakdown House, but this isn't too bad.

There's a funny ad for chewing gum on TV these days: A man is annoyed at another man, and comes charging wrathfully toward him. Then he smells his intended victim's fragrant gum, and begins to smile. Embracing him, he sings an altered version of a (beautiful) Hindi song:

kyo~ itna muskaraa rahe ho
kya gham hai jis ko chupaa rahe ho

Why are you smiling so much?
What sorrow is it that you are hiding?

The commercial alters the second line slightly:

kya gum hai jis ko chabaa rahe ho

What gum is it that you are chewing?

It's clever, funny, and another example of the current fashion of mixing English and Hindi.