and then

Today with both room-mates gone for Diwali, i spent the morning reading. Light hindi music from my old laptop, the dry autumn chill lending an airconditoned feel to the room, it was almost like i was in Dubai again; on one of my 'off' days. just reveling in being able to sleep late, of having an entire day with nothing to do except read, with the promise of being able to go out later in the day with someone. Akash from Jhumpa Lahiri's Unaccustomed Earth filled my mind, nearly like Sam and Isaac, Ruma was Rekha. it is almost like they are in the hall, Jiju would have gone off to work, Its eleven and Rekha would have woken up, perhaps one of the little ones as well. She'd be making tea now. then i would go in there, their home smelling wonderfully of small kids - cornflakes, milk and a tinge of urea. the warmth of those little madmen. with tea in those huge mugs, and like always she'd offer porridge which i would refuse. i would sit and read their al-Kaleej Times and she'd flip through malayalam channels - her activity for most of the day.

Being free on a week-day (one of the problems of being in retaik) meant few others were free in the mornings. this was good in a way. Back here in symbi, hostel life means there s hardly any time where i am alone.

i must be missing home, atleast home food. for in the last week itself i v been to mallu restaurants thrice, ordered enough food to have waiters ask resignedly if it was enough at the end of it. It has definitely been a foody week. food well taken. :)