Sadka

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone. On the day of the move, Nehru tells me he hasn't read any major philosophy books, nor has he worked hard to get where he is. At least in his opinion. We discuss about how learning is better when you talk about it, because you instill the conversations into your mind. You absorb everything you attach meaning to. The Driver finally caught the rat that bit his Nani thrice. She's diabetic. She doesn't feel the bite but the blood loss is all the same.

His dog caught the little mouse under its paw. The mouse was then transferred into a transparent plastic box. It didn't know how to bite its way out of it, he tells Nehru to kick the box and he does. When I ask him why, he tells me he doesn't know why. Maybe it makes it easier to pass the time. They terrorized the rat all afternoon. 

[THE GRINCH]: What if a man looks at the bottom of a bottle for questions of life? [2:21 AM]

[THE GRINCH]: What are the answers he will find? [2:21 AM]

Are you drunk? No. Maybe. Shut up. OK!

Arnold joins us this evening. He asks the Grinch whether he spends time with his beloved. The Grinch is disjointed. He doesn't answer. Arnold tries to make sense of his silence. He can't. Later in private he curses Arnold and tells me sometimes he forgets about Arnold's existence. Not out of spite but he's just not memorable. I suggest calling Arnold to our drive this evening. His face seemed swollen like a blowfish. It was funny seeing the Grinch angry. I didn't know how to take him seriously when he was being himself.

Nehru tells me when I disappeared 6 years ago, he forgot about me. He had no memory, no mental image remaining. He was just thinking of me as someone who existed. No internal life. No internal dialogue. Today, he walked beside me when everyone left. In the rain. 

That evening, we drove to AAREY COLONY and stepped out of the car. Into the dark abandoned streets, we found an isle of abandoned buildings: one of which was a parking lot where there was a militant coup of dogs. Their next generation was very anti-Animal Farm. They licked at my hands and some seemed to understand Hindi pretty well. One of them told me how his wife was a fan of The Godfather films but she didn't enjoy the final installment in the trilogy. De Niro was great in Part 2. Nehru believed talking dogs were rabid so he slept by the car.

We sit on top of parking lot. Watching the moon over the forest and rest of SGNP. Maybe the Jaguars and Leopards will talk to us next. Humsafar played on the Driver's (11k rupee) JBL speaker. He chided Nehru in Pune for not caring for it. His twin however was excused. She can take it at anytime. We spotted a bird in the tree and thought it was snake. Ironic. The Grinch calls out to me. He whispers to me he wished she was here. I mean, I wish so too. I miss you.

Mann yeh saahib ji
Jaane hai sab ji
Phir bhi banaye bahaane
Naina nawaabi ji
Dekhe hain sab ji
Phir bhi na samjhe ishaare
Mann yeh saahib ji haan karta bahaane
Naina nawaabi ji na samjhe ishaare

Twelve odd minutes of music. Three soft melodies. Two run-ins with wild beasts of the night.

In one quick swoop, we fall back into our seats. Nehru sleeps next to the Driver. And me in the backseat. They owe me for vadapavs and the drinks.