Taxidriver

Taxi's and taxi drivers make most of me interactions with the people of this town. Going in the morning or returning at the end of a long day, the cabbie says Nihao and something else and then Naadi, Which then is your cue to blurt out where you want to go. Which is where the fun begins

Be prepared to start the usual flailing of the arms. But here you cant help feel that you are a traffic policeman, directing them here there and everywhere. Know the words for right left and straight and the chap immediately assumes that you are an expert in the language.

The other day, on the way to work, I get this hyper talkative chap. Think the guy was giving a load of gaali's under his breadth all the way. At one point there was this truck coming the wrong way up a one way street, chap breaks out into a string of words and then looks at me to respond. Me raises me hands with a look of what i take to be exasperation on me face and we go along. The chap was muttering all the remainder of the way.

And then there was the other day, Chap says something like you Xindian. i had just got on the cab and I thought he was asking whether i wanted to goto Xintiandi (or however you type that) I'm trying to tell him "No want to goto Xujiahui" Repeat this three four times to which the guy goes "Me Chinese, you Indian". Finally dimaag ki batti jali and I say yes yes lets go along. Next signal the guy takes out his bottle and empties his water, turns around and says "Paani nahin hai." Me is sitting there speechless and pretty much looking like a dumb fool staring back at him. Signal changes and we reach Xujiahui. Me says thanks and gets on going.

Fun I tells you.

Mondays

I am slowly beginning to sympathise with Garfield.

First of all its the day after the weekend when you just don't feel like getting up. Secondly things just seem to get weirder on this day. People fear friday the thirteenth, I say fear the vengeful monday morning.

Few weeks ago I got up, went about the usual morning routine. Go in, have a bath and come out. To find the as a room mate put it "Look its the Titanic". Water had overflowed form the drainage outlet to fill bathroom and the living room. So began operation mop up. Get out two mops and soak up the water. End result go into work 45 min late.

Today, get up and about to go in when was very nicely informed that the loo's gone and got choked up. Theres a job for the plumber. Add to that finding out that we have no rice to cook for lunch tho we had made sufficient food the previous

Rather nice mood these things leaves me in the morning.

Well, of we go trying to convince a plumber through gestures that the pot is clogged up. Should be good fun. If not for me...atleast for the innocent by-standers