Chandni Chowk – Losing ourselves (Part Deux with special appearance by Sridevi)

Remember where we left off – my mother had jumped off a nearly stationary car in a traffic jam without specific instructions about what we were to do.

This was obviously a trip that required some improvisation because our driver continued to drive as we lost a frantically waving mother in the crowd. So we also manage to get off the car in the middle of the traffic jam and dodging a tempo that was determined to not let our car go more than 7 inches away from its side. Rather the guardian tempo that was. Also the inconvenient tempo it was, as we found it difficult to open the door (well we could open the door, if you MUST be technical, but couldn’t get out).

Yes yes, finally we did manage to get out of the car leaving a clueless driver to manage through the traffic all by his lonesome. ‘Woh dekho, Sridevi’ (for my international readers – yes all 3 of you – that translates into “Look, Sridevi” who was a really really famous Indian movie starlet of the 1980s and early 1990s). Apparently my darling friend in her Gucci dark glasses, open flowing hair and super tight jeans and tee reminded a father of the goddess from yesteryear who had to point the same out to his son.

Meanwhile, my mother was refusing to pick up her cell phone. I don’t think I have ever been more grateful for mobile technology, when she finally did pick up her phone. What she told us had us wondering if we would ever be re-united with her again. She was in the middle of the road, it seems. In front of the Gurudwara… right… so she wishes to commit suicide before the abode of God. That does make sense (NOT).

Re and I clung to each other for dear life as people shoved us out of their way. The millions of pedestrians that were walking around were walking around not without determination to reach their unspecified destinations within that street that was Chandni Chowk that day. As we started walking ahead, hand in clutched hand, we spotted the mother waving frantically yet again. It was as if we had never lost her.

Wow, this is turning out to be a good story for a book… to be continued