Splendid, most especially this: "Have come full circle: I remember being maybe five or six. Holding my father’s left hand. We are going to cross the widest street in Calcutta at that time ---Chowringhee, in what the Brits called “white town” where stood the Great Eastern Hotel with its florid staircases, Firpo’s, an Italian-run tearoom in the sweltering tropics, Motwani and Sons, the watchmakers, where we were probably headed. Though Calcutta at that time only (only?) had 3 million people, the traffic seemed whirling to my child’s eyes. I grip his hand, mine disappears in his palm. I feel his hand clasp my wrist and we propel ourselves into what seemed like six lanes of traffic but was probably only four made frightening by the lack of lane markers. I fervently trusted Baba to get me across unscathed.
~ Have learned to look left and then right and left again . . . CROSS."
"~ Went to the movies instead of the final high-school year prize-giving ceremony where my parents were present, and I was getting three prizes in a row." Truly awesome for running away, and as expected for getting the prizes.
That's a curious age. You do well academically because that's who you are. But, there may be a little bit of hesitation about doing well, perhaps because it sets you somewhat apart from the others. My parents never came to me school so I did not face such a situation. And, there was no way I was able to go alone to a movie in Jaipur, So, that was not an option!
❤️❤️
Thank you for sharing such a personal glimpse into your life. Beautifully written even in the times of sadness and pain.
Splendid, most especially this: "Have come full circle: I remember being maybe five or six. Holding my father’s left hand. We are going to cross the widest street in Calcutta at that time ---Chowringhee, in what the Brits called “white town” where stood the Great Eastern Hotel with its florid staircases, Firpo’s, an Italian-run tearoom in the sweltering tropics, Motwani and Sons, the watchmakers, where we were probably headed. Though Calcutta at that time only (only?) had 3 million people, the traffic seemed whirling to my child’s eyes. I grip his hand, mine disappears in his palm. I feel his hand clasp my wrist and we propel ourselves into what seemed like six lanes of traffic but was probably only four made frightening by the lack of lane markers. I fervently trusted Baba to get me across unscathed.
~ Have learned to look left and then right and left again . . . CROSS."
Amelie! Thank you. Am grateful for the reads and comments
"~ Went to the movies instead of the final high-school year prize-giving ceremony where my parents were present, and I was getting three prizes in a row." Truly awesome for running away, and as expected for getting the prizes.
Hahaha. I don’t know what that was about. Shyness definitely but also some hostility toward my parents?
That's a curious age. You do well academically because that's who you are. But, there may be a little bit of hesitation about doing well, perhaps because it sets you somewhat apart from the others. My parents never came to me school so I did not face such a situation. And, there was no way I was able to go alone to a movie in Jaipur, So, that was not an option!