Day 1, Baroda
I am in Baroda at one of my favorite person’s (R’s) home. How long had I craved to see her in her natural habitat, see what makes her so sensitive, strong, and funny! What I saw in the last 2 days is what today’s journal was to be. It would start with the airport and being surrounded by all the Gujju floral pant adorning women and their ‘throwing Cheetos at the security belt’ children. It would be followed by a story of the middle-aged couple who ate sabji and thepla out of oil dripping dabbas during take-off. But all I have time for is highlights.
- I flew to Ahmedabad swimming in gujju slangs
- I sat next to an entertaining bunch who made an event out of the hour and a half long plane ride.
- I am staying with a joint family that Bollywood movies are made of
- I watched Bahubali
- I did not see an inch of Baroda except R’s house and Inox Screen 3
- I heard about Bahubali for longer than I have listened to my Clinical psychology lectures
- • Drank chai drank chai drankchaidrankchai
And for the self-esteem improving bits, here are 3 things I am proud of myself for:
- Remembering to write and post this from the middle of a festive-ish family day
- Being able to make friends with people my age and women across ages with moderate ease
- Remembering to get my charger back home
(Time taken to make list: 23 minutes // Target time: 3 minutes)
Because I would hate to end this post on that note, here is a nice thought to take away into the world: R’s father holds her hand continuously when they walk, gives all the children in the family back/foot rubs, gives them a peck on the head before going to bed. He taught her to drive. Let’s be him when we have children, shall we?