Dog-eat-dog

I think I have definitely hit a saturation point. Today, I went into the kitchen to eat lunch. As I reached toward the dhal (lentil curry), two little beady eyes stared at me. A young rat that had jumped in through the kitchen window looking for food was slowly dying from the rat poison it had consumed in the house. I didn’t know how to react so I said, “Hi, little guy.” The lady of the house walked into the kitchen and asked me who I was talking to. I said, “The little rat from the other night.” I put my plate down and walked out of the kitchen. Lady-of-the-house proceeded to try to shoo it out of the window again, to no avail. This is a symptom of monsoon- rats can’t find food outside so they come into homes foraging for food. Every person I have talked to of all different levels of snobbery all kind of grimace and say yeah, it’s monsoon.

So after skipping lunch I waded through ankle deep sewage water to thankfully catch an autorickshaw to the train station. With monsoon in full swing, and Bandra at low level, I basically wade to the train station everyday. See, to take a cab was not a good idea for two reasons. First, when it rains too heavily, the engines tend to get water-clogged and stall. Secondly, you might get pretty far along and then get stuck in some not so safe neighborhood because that neighborhood will be knee-deep in sewage water.

The train is relatively dry and more efficient than sitting in traffic only to get stuck half way to your destination. After I got off of the train I realized the area I was in was not flooded and caught a cab to the place. I was lucky to have a sweet driver who dropped me off at the doorstep, and he didn’t overcharge me.

I was worried about getting home at night as it is supposed to rain continuously and heavily for the next five days. But it cleared up enough to get home okay. I walk into my room and the walls were leaking. My room was partially flooded. I feel a profound urge to call the airline tomorrow and catch a flight to some place where daily living is easier.

I haven’t been writing to you guys of late because I feel so tired all of the time. And most of what I would like to tell you is not appropriate to say in a public space.

I try to keep my chin up most days, but I’m tired of smiling at people. I realise that as long as you say something—anything with a smile, no harm done to you.

I can’t believe the tourism dept is trying to romanticize monsoon in Kerala to trick tourists into visiting the state in the middle of the rainy season. Monsoon is not romantic. Well, maybe sometimes. But not if you have to leave your cosy abode.

This and other things are experiences I will be able to laugh about most likely by the end of 2007. I realise that k's experience of Mumbai has basically been within the compound walls of an ‘Ivory Tower’ Hospital. Luckily, I have made friends here who are street-smart and help me figure out the little messes I get into everyday.

The other day I saw male beggars fighting on the street. I thought something else was happening at first. As I stared, I realised that in their weak state that was all the strength they had- not to actual take swings at each other, but to roll around and try to smother each other's face.