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Showing posts with the label Conversations

Conversations(I did it again) and other topics

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(This Dilbert one was amazing- goes so easily to the roots of the insecurities of people at many offices) Did I tell you, I did it again...asked a simple question that led to a long-drawn out answer, just a day before I was leaving from Baroda. I asked out friendly neighbourhood dhobi, who operates his business from a larri sheltered by one of the many trees in our area. Me:' Aap kal shaam ko nahin the, 430 pe? (You were not there yesterday at 430?)  (Translated from Hindi, for everyone's benefit)'Oh, I had a wedding to attend so I left early. This season has so many weddings. My son had gone to one, and he came back yesterday after 4 days. Tomorrow evening, I am going to Disa for another wedding. My son will be here. I am going by bus, since there's no direct connection by train. It will take us 3-4 hours to reach there. I should be back in 4 days. But my son will be here'. Knowing I was running out of time, I fled with a smile. Otherwise, he'd probabl...

Conversations in Baroda

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The sweeper starts at the 10th floor and works his way down. He's here at 830 AM everyday. He collects all the garbage on each floor, takes it down and leaves it for the Municipality truck to carry away. He knows he has to come on time. If he doesn't, the truck goes away. He then uses a wheelbarrow to cart away the trash and deposits it at some distance from our building. He's much better than the previous sweeper, who used to take money from flat-owners as well as the building people, on one pretext or the other. This one also clears all the landings on each floor. Good, hai ke nahin? We finished painting the exterior of the building. We can do the interior, but need to check with everyone as to whether they agree to pay a little extra to get it whitewashed or distempered. We would like to get the shutters of the 5 shops on the ground floor painted, as well. However, the shop owner(s) has not even paid the Rs. 6000 for the building maintenance yet. Remember he promise...

Merry Conversations

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Thought for the day:  Gloom we have always with us, a rank and sturdy weed, but joy requires tending.... Barbara Holland (Quite apt for this post, by coincidence only) I've been more in Baroda since the last six months, than I've been in eight years. And, I was discussing with some friend(s) about how things have changed, and for the better, and how nice it is to see these changes.  (This represents 3-4 tete-a-tetes): Me: It's amazing- broadband speed has gone up like anything. I'm using Tata Photon Plus, and it's superfast. Him: Oh, you just wait and see- as the number of people goes up, the speed will begin going down and will be just like dial up and you won't be able to load even yahoo with ease. Me: Isn't the VMSS(Vadodara Municipal Seva Sadan) doing a great job with the roads? I find them so much better than they've ever been in the past- less bumps, wider and faster traffic movement. Him: Oh-just wait- one heavy vehicle passed over them...

Conversations

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In Baroda, we have these newsvendors who settle down on any platform they see, even under the banyan trees, and begin selling newspapers. One such guy sits in our area and I used to buy the IE(Ind Express) from him, while returning from my daily walks. On one of these days, when I reached his place, I heard this tete-a-tete between him and a lady: (It was all in Gujarati, of course) Lady: You didn’t deliver the paper today. NV(Newsvendor): Oh, I did. It fell into the ledge between the water tank and the wall. Lady: But we did not get the paper today. NV: I told you, I delivered it, but it fell in the ledge between the water tank and the wall.(With a small gesticulation) Lady: But I did not get it. NV: (Stands up now)..it fell in the ledge between the water tank and the wall(With bigger gesticulations, now, to demonstrate the wall and the tank) Lady: Oh,ok..*seems about to turn, but doesn’t*..oh, there’s no-one there. NV: *Again shows the space between tank and wall by gestures*..just g...