Lost in the City

Thursday, 22nd September 2005

• Got up early thanks to Murtaza at 8.00. B’fast of cornflakes and wondering whether to go for Zairet or not. Its raining so Huzi got lazy and would take me in the night. Procrastinated till 11. and then biked it in the rain to the top of Nesbit road after which I walked to Masi’s house.
• Hung around there and chatted about nothing and everything. Should have brought recent home pictures for everyone to see.
• Manssur (my cuz) is married to an outsider (WOW). How tempting...
• Bhen picked me up after picking Murtaza from school at about 3. The office had called and asked me not to come it as the rains have disrupted work and people did not turn up for fear of being stuck there forever.
• Went for a one hour long walk and got a bit lost. But the walk was through some interesting areas. Ended up at the back of warehouses and factories, and somehow in Mustafa bazaar, tho was disappointed cuz I expected flea market type things
• Passed a beautiful Parsi housing complex called the Rustom baarg. Very colonial. And a lovely church called Gloria Church.
• Ran home to be in time to take the kids for Karate. They practice in a church opp Dockyard railway station. A little way is is the ferry wharf, which teakes ppl to Uran Island. The are many ships/boats and trawlers. The big ship is more like a rectangle. Bhen is inquisitive and daring as always.
• Went across to what I think is a fish market. The man said the light house we see isn’t one. In Chowder there’s a power base and one of its towers are this. We had all thought that this was the light house.
• Came back and went for Zairat in the van (Maruti) as it was raining. Had to wear Saya else they would not let you in. It has become quite strict. The roza is in Bhindi Bazaar and this is a predominantly Bhora area. Apparently they have a lot of power in Bombay. From outside you cannot really see the majesty and splendor of the place esp. since it is surrounded by buildings. But inside it was as stunning as I remember it though a bit small. Everything is a bit small, cuz the last time that I saw it was in 1993. It was shocking and horrifying to see a bhora lady begging for alms. Saw a Sunni mosque very close by and apparently this was the cause of a bit of fighting. Moula has apparently cursed that place.
• I realized the importance of wearing topi, beard and paren only now. In a city of millions it is very reassuring to be able to recognize fellow bhora’s even though they are so distant and not really very friendly. Overall the people I talk to on the road etc. (mainly for directions) have not been rude. They have mostly been friendly, if at all a bit abrupt. No one really wants to stop and chat. Was told that Bombay is like this.