Originally Written/Mailed on 3rd Jan., 2012
The car pulled up alongside mine at the traffic signal - a new Volswagen Vento, lovely metallic grey, sleek looking. I glanced over, a driver at the wheel, bade saab sitting in the rear. I glanced away (ok, lemme confess, an autorickshaw to the other side with green fingernails certainly did have that li'l bit more appeal!!) This was a rather loooongish red-signal, all of 180 seconds so I'd switched my car engine off.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the Vento had inched ahead, maybe a foot or so. The rear seat now alongside mine - the occupant, an extremely handsome, distinguished looking gent, perhaps in his early 60s or maybe late 50s. Silver hair, a full beard equally thick, well groomed. A mark of sandalwood paste on his forehead, clearly making him look even more distinguished and slightly devout too. Talking on a cell phone, a sleek Blackberry, a solid gold ring just on one finger adding to that look of respectability.
On the FM radio for some strange reason almost all the channels - including staid All India Dario - were playing only "item numbers" and I wasn't in the mood for that. Switching the radio off I was searching for a good CD, maybe a Rafi or an RD Burman.. ah, got it. Inserting RDB into the slot I notice the traffic light turning green.
Engage the clutch, about to move ahead.
The distinguished gent opens his door, leans down and out, puckers his face..... SHEEEEESSSSSSHHHHHH, OH NO, NOT THIS!!!!!!!!!!
SPLATTER SPLATTTTTT - betelnut juice!! Even as I make a face, he has shut the door, oblivious to my disgust.
A day in the life of a Mumbaikar? Naaaahhhhh, not a DAY, this is just one fleeting moment in a day that's made up of a million such fleeting moments.... not just in Mumbai, I think this is prevalent "PAN" India?
The car pulled up alongside mine at the traffic signal - a new Volswagen Vento, lovely metallic grey, sleek looking. I glanced over, a driver at the wheel, bade saab sitting in the rear. I glanced away (ok, lemme confess, an autorickshaw to the other side with green fingernails certainly did have that li'l bit more appeal!!) This was a rather loooongish red-signal, all of 180 seconds so I'd switched my car engine off.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the Vento had inched ahead, maybe a foot or so. The rear seat now alongside mine - the occupant, an extremely handsome, distinguished looking gent, perhaps in his early 60s or maybe late 50s. Silver hair, a full beard equally thick, well groomed. A mark of sandalwood paste on his forehead, clearly making him look even more distinguished and slightly devout too. Talking on a cell phone, a sleek Blackberry, a solid gold ring just on one finger adding to that look of respectability.
On the FM radio for some strange reason almost all the channels - including staid All India Dario - were playing only "item numbers" and I wasn't in the mood for that. Switching the radio off I was searching for a good CD, maybe a Rafi or an RD Burman.. ah, got it. Inserting RDB into the slot I notice the traffic light turning green.
Engage the clutch, about to move ahead.
The distinguished gent opens his door, leans down and out, puckers his face..... SHEEEEESSSSSSHHHHHH, OH NO, NOT THIS!!!!!!!!!!
SPLATTER SPLATTTTTT - betelnut juice!! Even as I make a face, he has shut the door, oblivious to my disgust.
A day in the life of a Mumbaikar? Naaaahhhhh, not a DAY, this is just one fleeting moment in a day that's made up of a million such fleeting moments.... not just in Mumbai, I think this is prevalent "PAN" India?
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