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May
7, 2007
Day Sixteen
An Evening in Mumbai
Started out the day much like the others – got
on the internet to see if anyone still
remembered I was alive. Gratefully it seems a
few did.
Found results for Irvin and was jazzed to see he
had a great race but have yet to talk with him.
Got another race report from Robin. Sounded
like a tough day out there with the winds but he
gutted out a good one!
Worked on the outline for a few hours then made
my way to the gym. On the way I decided to have
a shave.
That was quite an experience. That razor is
sharp. The fellow who had the honour of having
my mug before him was slick. He’d clearly done
that job a few thousand times before.
He rubs a little cream on your face and then
lathers it with a brush for at least five
minutes. Felt nice. Then out comes the
straight blade – and he moved fast. It seemed
like in no time he had my whole face cleared,
but then to my surprise he lathered me up again
and took another pass. After that he clips your
nose hairs and cleans up your side burns. Then
he rubs a bar on your face that stuck something
fierce and finally finished up with a splash of
Brut that had a bit of sting itself. Quite the
experience. My face hasn’t been that smooth
since I was twelve. It was almost too close.
Now, almost twenty four later, I still feel like
I’ve just shaved.
Had a good workout. An hour on the shaky seat,
twenty on the elliptical (I’m getting used to
that beast but I still don’t care for it) then
tested out the Achilles on the treadmill for ten
minutes. India seems to be good for this
injury. The ten minutes went by well. The
tendon definitely reminded me it was there but
the run didn’t inflame it in the least. Maybe
I’ll try twenty the next time.
On my walk home from the gym a young lady joined
me to ask about myself. She was probably ten,
very well dressed in traditional bright flowing
garb. She asked me my name and where I was
from. She was most sorry I didn’t have any
children or a wife. I told her no woman would
have me because I was too old and grumpy. She
laughed and told me that was “nonsense” and that
I was a very handsome man. What a charmer!
I told her if I was younger I would marry her.
She laughed and said when she was finished
school she would be happy to marry me. There’s
hope for me yet.
She told me her, her mother and her grandmother
lived on the street outside of the school she
went to. She spoke excellent English and hoped
to teach it when she was older.
She smiled so easily and seemed so happy, this
child of the street, until I asked her how she
liked living in Mumbai. She said she liked
going to school very much but then her face
darkened for a moment and she said, with knowing
experience, “But there are many bad people
here.” My heart broke to hear her say that. To
think of someone harming that child could make a
man murderous.
When I came to the end of the block she offered
her hand to shake and did not ask me for any
money. Of course, I gave her some. She said
she did not care to ask for money from
strangers. I told her were friends now so it
was alright.
Later in the evening DJ and I hooked up with
Naushad and took in Spiderman 3. The Indian
theatre experience was a trip, if the movie
wasn’t. What tripe.
You chose your seats when you purchase them.
The theatre was large, cool and sported large
reclining chairs. The tickets were 180 rupees –
about $5.
The movie opens up with the Indian national
anthem and everyone stands. At the end of the
singing a few individuals shouted out with
nationalistic fervour. I always find that
unsettling.
After the movie we drove around downtown Mumbai
with Naushad till 3 in the morning, just taking
in the sights. To do so in the day time would
have been impossible with the traffic.
We saw a temple for the female goddess of
knowledge. There were hundreds of pilgrims
making their way there even in the middle of the
night. Once a week they walk in their bare feet
to the temple to pray. Entire families will
walk for miles.
After that we went to the Sheridan for a
midnight snack. I’m on the weight loss program
so no eating for me in the middle of the night
but I enjoyed the food vicariously.
On the way home, Naushad detoured through the
red light distract of Mumbai. I’ve never seen
such despair and squalor in my life. The women
squatted and huddle together by the dozens down
a street so dark you couldn’t see anything until
your eyes had several minutes to adjust. I was
sorry when they did. The buildings behind the
women opened to interiors that looked like they
came from the mind of Clive Barker. The place
felt like death.
Got home and went straight to bed. Despite the
late hour and the long day I wasn’t able to
sleep very well. I kept thinking about the
little girl and her chances of avoiding the dark
alley I’d seen in the middle of the night. |
