The end draws near and it is time to start the difficult task of separation. For all the challenges that the experience has brought to me and my family, we are all in awe of the shear beauty that India has shown to us on so many levels.
On so many of those occasions it has been in the company of Dr. Sharma's two daughters - Virajita, or Veru (or VEE-you as Evan calls her), is the elder and Vipanchika (or Veer - CHEEKA as Evan prefers) is the younger. Both girls have been instrumental in helping us to assimimlate into our lives in India.
Every morning and afternoon I accompany the girls to and from school in an auto rickshaw for about a 10-15 minute ride. On most days I receive Hindi (and on rare occasions, Telagu) lessons from Veru, my language guru. Those have been some of my brightest moments here - watching the busy life of average Indians whiz by from the leftmost seat of the rickshaw, veering around cows and crater-sized potholes and huddling under the canvas doorflaps during the heavy monsoon rains. There are many moments, in the crisp, sunny, and warm Indian mornings where I tell the girls how beautiful the weather is today - "aaj ka mosam bahout acha hai" - only to see their quizzical, sometimes blank replies (maybe it was my accent). If only they had suffered through one New England winter of darkness and cold they would understand. The commute was never boring - I seemed to learn something everyday about Indian society, either from the just watching or directly from the girls. Veru would often explain something without prompting if she spotted me staring - she is a natural teacher.
My language lessons on the commute were often interupted by a few belly laughs from the kids. I think my mispronunciations have been a source of amusement for hundreds, if not thousands.
The presense and friendship of these girls and their amazing mother, Sudha, will be sorely missed. And I can feel it coming.
1 comment:
Patrick: It's been great following your blog these last few months, and taking a peek at the Hyderabad life through New England eyes. All the best to you and your family, and hopefully your memories of India will make you want to come back for more! And maybe next time we can celebrate the Sox (and the Patriots!) winning the big one in Hyderabad!
Cheers
Ravi
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