the land of plague and floods

the diamond city is far from glittering. it is a dirty, dusty eyesore. at least the old city is - garbage piled up around street corners, encroachments bang in the middle of main roads, ugly broken down buildings, dust and grime all around, factory chimneys belching smoke in heavily populated places...a total municipal disaster.

as one enters the city, a giant hoarding proclaims the biggest lie i'd encountered in a long time - Welcome to Surat. clean city, green city!

mass apathy or mass illusion.

• 
  

the evening saved the day from becoming one more statistic in the most-boring-day-my-life register.

dinner and conversation with mr. and mrs. sharma, my gracious hosts for the evening at their lovely home. watching the comfort of an alliance of long unfolding in an equal, if different, partnership. the sweetness in being taken for granted.

later, a walk in the garden made fragrant by the flowering of the ratrani, the full-moon glow and the sound of crickets in the stillness. on the drive back, i notice that night shows the city off in kinder light. the warts are hidden in the dimness and the neon lights add a touch of festivity. an obligatory dressing up.

the car cruising over the flyover with the windows down and the breeze all soft and whispery, companionable silence and the comfort of being with a friend in a city of strangers....not a bad day.

small blessings abound. and i am thankful.