You know it's bad when you dream about getting 5 mosquito bites in a perfect row. Although, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if it actually happened. It would only add to my outstanding total of appx. 40...
This week we (myself, some aunts and cousins, and their 10+ chillun) went to Deolali or what I would call the modest Mumbaikar's Hamptons, but don't start conjuring up any images of grandeur. The saving grace of the situation lies in that it was a little cooler than Bombay's scorching 35 degrees Celsius - or a whopping 96 degrees Fahrenheit.
I'm sitting on the train back to Bombay with all of the aunties/old people trying to sleep while their trainload of offspring are busying themselves by playing Antakshari behind me. Me? I'm just sitting in my window seat, taking in the breeze as we move along, keeping one eye open for photo-ops.
I want to say that I had a good time in Deolali, I really do, but it's just not true. The childhood retreats of my mother to the sanatoriums and her memories of fun and frolicking did not hold up to the test of time. Yes, we sat on camels and horse-drawn carriages, went to parks, etc. but those things do not make up for the decrepit state of once very well-kept, wealthy villas and manors. I always feel like maintenance and restoration have been undervalued in India. Blame it on my antiquarian tendencies if you want, but rust and decay doesn't always add "character" to things. But, enough about aesthetics. I'm actually waiting for the moment when I will no longer be followed, pulled or dragged along by a brood of little ones. Believe me, I love me some kids, but I also love me some space.
The highlights were as followed:
- Eating my aunt's amazing butter chicken
- Seeing puppies on the streets
- Almost getting caught smoking cigarettes we never smoked
- Having a laziness contest with my cousin, bride-to-be, Zahra
- Annoying her immensely by looking at the texts her hubby sends her - he's a sap, and I'm an ass.
- Making up for it all by teaching her how to say certain big words with an American accent.
You dreaming about the bites created negative energy which then in turn drew the little vampy's to come and suck your blood.
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