In Downtown Bombay, Still Culling, Clearing and Cleaning at Dad’s and a Cousin Visits

Monday, August 5, 2019

In Downtown Bombay, Still Culling, Clearing and Cleaning at Dad’s and a Cousin Visits

I am getting used to waking up at 6.30 am—either to bird song or the music of the monsoon. While the rest of the household slumbered, I worked on my July newsletter—hard to believe I am actually writing it in the first week of the month.

When the rest woke up, we sat down to a delicious and unusual breakfast was South Indian breakfast organized by Dad from Shiv Sagar—Masala Dosa and Idli Sambhar with coffee—lovely! But I had to wolf it down as there was no time to waste. I had to rush off to take train to meet Kamal at 11.00 am at Yacht Club. I rode the bus, as usual, bought my single first class ticket but was disappointed to find that there was no Bandra local train today as renovation work on the station continues and the place is a holy mess. As I had bought first class ticket, I went into the regular Ladies First—which was actually quite peaceful because by Dadar, I got a seat. I then took the 137 bus to Regal (amazing how quickly I had learned where to wait for buses and what routes they ply in downtown Bombay), and then I walked along Colaba Causeway (still quiet at this early hour) to the Yacht Club.

Kamal arrived in five minutes and we made our way to the mercifully cool Coffee Lounge where I had a fresh lime soda with her. While we were chatting, I saw Nisha da Cunha go by and I ran out to say Hello and then Goodbye to her. Had lovely chat with her as I inquiry after her husband Sylvie who has been doing rather poorly.

After a really good chinwag of about an hour, Kamal took me in her car to the Museum as I wanted to see the Gaitonde exhibition. But what a disappointed ment we had! For, sadly, the museum closed is closed on Mondays! Bummer! OK, we thought as we had some time to kill before my next appointment—let’s go to the Jehangir Art Gallery next door. But what do you know??? That was closed too! Double Bummer!

With no choice, we returned to Kamal’s car and she suggested we get to the Bombay Gym for my 1.00 pm lunch date with Vispi, my former colleague at Jai Hind College and a friend with whom I have stayed in touch. She did not arrive till 1.30 when I called her to find out that her plans had been cancelled at the Asiatic Society due to the rains. So were her classes at Jai Hind College as the rains have played havoc with the city. She could not contact me to inform me…but apologized profusely and said that she owed me a lunch!

     I walked to Churchgate station and went to Burger King to buy a crispy Chicken Burger which was very good as I did need to get a small bite. Once I reached Bandra, I hopped into a rick from Bandra station to Hinduja Hospital to hand over Claim Form B for Russel’s medical insurance and to pick up the daily vital notings chart. That was, unfortunately, not ready and I was called again tomorrow. I took rick back home, then tried to get some shut eye as it had been a somewhat disappointing morning—no such luck! Bunty very talkative and noisy.

Deciding to gain some productivity out of my day, I spent most of the evening cleaning out the files from the area under the dressing table in the bedroom. Most of the stuff was Mum’s hospital records—piles of them in files—all to be disposed of. Bunty was very happy that his crucifix was found as was a South American flute from Peru. I was in the middle of this mammoth task and getting along swimmingly when my cousin Meera texted to tell me that her daughter-in-law Jolene was in town and wanted to meet me. I had been hosted by Jolene and her husband Rolen when I had visited Dubai (where they live) and when only the older girl, Sofia, was around. Now Jolene had a second daughter, Michaela—and I looked forward very much to meeting her.

Meera arrived within the next half hour. I met Sofia and the new baby Michaela and they stayed until we left with them to go for Mass—i.e. Dad and myself. When we retruend from Mass, we had dinner at home: white pumpkin, one cutlet and chicken curry with Sandy’s delicious saffron-flavored china grass for dessert.

            On a day of historic developments in Jammu and Kashmir—the state has been made into a union territory—there is much polarization of political opinion. I sat with Dad to listen to Times Now with Rajdeep Sardesai to get the developing headlines, then took a shower and decided to write a blog post.

            I have no idea where the days fly—but they are certainly very different from the ones I’d had at home in my studio.

            Until tomorrow…