Vacation?

The vacation truly started when I entered the Calcutta international departure terminal and got an eyeful of the warehouse effect that the artistic natives had created. It got better when I went through the round of check in-immigration-customs with cheerful, helpful Bongs.

And reached its peak when I finally stepped into the state of the art Fokker aircraft that was going to transport me to Dhaka. If it hadn’t been so scary, it would have been hilarious. Rather, it was like living out my own liking for black humor. Some impressions – elephant women dressed in printed sarees, greeting you as you walk into the cabin, a meaningful glint the eyes…..- 2 pretty girls fanning themselves with newspapers in the absence of a working AC – a middle aged trying to stem the persistent water drops from a (non working) AC vent with napkins – elephant women rushing down the aisle, handing out green plastic tiffin boxes packed with plastic cheese sandwiches, and then a few minutes rushing back down the aisle with a huge plastic bag, throwing all the tiffin boxes back in. – the Britisher sitting next to me smiling gently and crossing his fingers as the plane swooped down towards the runway – and finally, stepping out onto the tarmac, gazing up into the sky and wondering that you came from up there in this gleaming contraption which stood beside you.

Dhaka itself is an interesting city. There is no middle class. That is evident by the lack of upmarket malls, movie theatres, coffee pubs etc., the normal trappings of the average Indian city. The presence of the both the upper and lower classes is of course highly visible. In some ways in fact, I am reminded of my stay in Chennai – people not speaking Hindi/English ; humid weather and an abundance of eating places. Lack of local industry (except garments) is another reason why the poor remain poor and the rich get to spend their money – everything is horrifyingly expensive. Some of my most interesting moments were spent in the supermarket as I compared prices here with those at home – a Lux bar is Rs.12/Tk.15 ; a Clean n Clear Face wash is Rs. 18/Tk 70 ; a Lay pack is Rs.20/Tk 65 - WHY??!!

At home, its been a mixed bag so far. I am sleeping 8 hrs and above, something that my body is going to rebel against very soon! Am relaxing, talking, gossping, surfing on net, reading, buying & watching movies…….however, the many concerns right now are also a bit draining – there’s Nanima’s health which has been down since Mummy & Dolly left and we all know its because she’s depressed ; Dolly’s job which appears to be a distant possibility unless she joins the omnipresent garments industry ; Mummy’s future, both short & long term, now that she’s no longer independent. Its evident that these concerns are felt and shared by all, which is why there is a sad lack of energy & positivity here. I think I came at the right time, will try to do something about all this before I leave. If nothing else, I can act as a sounding board. Mummy hadn’t been keeping well either for the past 2 weeks, thankfully she’s better today. We have spent the whole morning chatting. I have reacted suitably to the narrations of the incidents involving my sensitive Masi and she’s listened patiently to my long recollections of my office life.