Someone Missed Me in Delhi

I was away for eight days on an official travel, and got back this weekend.  Before I left, I gave my clothes for washing to a family which runs a laundry on the street.  They have a shed, a mobile phone number, I call them, someone will come and collect clothes and return when ready.

This family seems very young, the mother may be in her fifties, then there are a half dozen of girls agees between 15 and 25, two young men, possibly in their 20's, two little boys, the first one is 13, and the other is younger.  If there anymore, I have not seen them.

I could hardly communicate with them, a few words in Hindi, at times incorrectly used, and they know a few words in English.  Once I owed them six ruppess, the boy did not know how to say six in English, and to put him out of misery, I asked him is it 20 rs in Hindi.  He nodded, and I paid.  This is only 40 US cents, so not worth worrying about, but a good story on 'Lost in Translation'.

Back to the main story, the family was looking for me for two weeks, and today the teenage girl saw me on the street.  She started yelling at me in Hindi, calling me uncle, and wanted to know where I went.  Well, someone in Delhi missed me!

Maha Sivarathri - Now and then.

When I was a teenager, when Maha Sivarathris came and went, I have had very little memories.  We tried very hard to stay up all night, but usually went to sleep by mid night.  The next day, I will hear tales from my unruly friends about how they stayed up all night watching a third show movie (from 1 AM till whenever..).

Today is Mahasivarathri, and I am watching TV in India.  There are more than one channel, usually sponsored by a GOD's Men, - including the one who founded the Art of Living, and the one who founded the Isha foundation.  Plenty of bajans, music was mesmerizing, muscians were usually westerneres, shave heads-saffron clad - drummers, flutists, you name it.  They were all GOOD.  Stars like Hariharan trying to promote or endorse a CD.

A few hours ago, I went to a Siva Temple, the priest was in the Sanctum, gossiping with one of his visitors.  When the visitor left, he came for a walk about.  A middle aged woman wanted to touch his feet and receive his blessings.  Then he went back to the Sanctuom, leaned on the wall, and started to read a book of slogans - noone was paying attention to him, but it did not bother hime either.

I am unable to comprehend all these things!

Can anyone feel lonely in Delhi?

This is my first blog ever.  I just did not know how to do it, and did not have the time to figure it out. 

I came to Delhi on the 1st October 2011, and it is 4.5 months since I moved to Delhi.  This is a city of 13 million, and if you include the satellite cities, the population is over 20 million.  So, how can I be lonely.  Well, that's how I feel most of the time.  My wife and kids live far away, we meet three times a year, and spend about 10 weeks a year together.  Not good enough.  People I work with are locals - Delhites with families and plenty of friends, and I live in a flat not well suited for partying.  So, there you go.  I am lonely in Delhi.

So I will post blogs from now on.