Monday, September 27, 2010

Shetta - Our Shetty Boy

Shetta this one is for you. All the things I miss. All the things you did that made the roughest time in my life, the smoothest too.

The first morning in Dubai I opened my eyes to see a new friend.
You took me sightseeing in Deira. I chased birds and Astro was there.

Shetta all those old newspapers you used to collect for us. :-) I used to save the Su-Do-Ku.

It took just one SOS call and you gave me a home and a one-man family. Little less conversation, a little more action please always.

Starting from giving up your room, cupboards, drawers, bathroom; sleeping on the sofa with that thin green rug.

Taking care whether I reached or not. Whether I got a cab or not. Whether I was ill. Whether I had pain or not. Whether I am crying. Whether I am stressed. You lavished a wealth of caring.

Snatching utensils from my hand.

Endless trips to supermarkets.
Veggies, sanitary napkins, phone cards, phone cards, phone cards.

Spinney’s DVD stocking up. 2 action for you, 1 ‘arty’ movie for me.
Jason Statham back to back.
In fact, why only Jason Statham, any movie with loads of action, guns that are drawn quick and fired even quicker.
You won’t believe that training is helping me now. :-)
Undercover horror movies. (You cowered even more than the female leads)

Fighting over a 5 day old dish I had cooked. I wanted to throw it, you wanted to eat it.

Taking me for Pani Puri to Karama.

Dropping me to driving school.

Letting me be the haddi between you, Janis and Astro.

Arranging the beers and then saving all the leftover dregs in the bathroom so I can condition my hair.

For giving me great advice and greater courage.

For never ever judging. For putting up with all my judgements and anger that one time.

For being the compulsive cleaner that you are.

For quiet weekends where our kitchen table became our cybercafé.

For the most potent, brain blowing, eyeball-popping, extra strongest, sugariest, milkiest tea on the planet.

For always wishing so much for Anand. Yet for never pushing me.
For being there for both of us.

For calling me ‘Ma’. :-) You were all the children I will probably never have.
At least I heard the word.

For helping me pack and those endless Post Office trips. Backbreaking! Man! How we managed that morning. It was madness.

For telling me how much you miss me. For Janis also telling me how much you do miss me.

A father, a mother, a brother, a friend. I will always remain very happily in your debt. :-)

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Be Unforgettable

We spent a year together. Well, almost.

Every day he ferried me to and from work.

Making my first days – actually every day - in a strange new place so very smooth and fun. Going out of his way to pick me up or drop me.

Showing me landmarks, pointing out things I could do.

He never made me feel that he is doing me a favour.
(I don’t think he thinks that still.)

What he does think and never tires of pointing out
is that he is the handsomest chauffeur ever.

Thanks to him, I have a new name. Dhoom2.
(And 'parcel' thanks to Radhi.)

Thanks to him I love Hindi film music now.
Even the whacky ones. (Ay hip-hopper playing in my head now)

So Sam. Here it is.

Thanks for stopping for Hardy’s burger every time I got a craving.

Thanks for letting me use and abuse your booze license.

Thanks for letting me come with you guys for movies.

Thanks for making me feel that I was not alone.

For being a phone call away. For being a shout away. For lunches and binges. For advice. For buying tissues when I did not know that you knew I was in the dumps. For the best khichdi in Dubai. For being the first at my farewell. For demanding a blog post about you. For always being there. For just being.

Unforgettable, that’s what you are. Too.

PS: And thanks to Radhi for always being my friend too. For always letting me sit up front. For all the late night co-ordination. ;-) I think if I had stayed longer you would end up being my best friend.