5 January 2014

Truckload of words!!

Saw this on Durgapur Expressway near Palsit. Somebody must have decided to paint out all the English words he knew on this truck. I get “Quick Service Best Service”. But what is “Go Luck”? Note how under “Fast”, it says “Slow Drive” πŸ™‚
“Only Export” – that has to be a stretch!! The ultimate is the last line “Don’t Sorry Fast” πŸ™‚
Finally, note the Hindi scribbling where the license plate ought to be. I think the license number is painted above “Please”!!!

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5 January 2014

Evening routine

Every evening last week, my brother, brother in law and myself would go to this one particular store in Kalyani and buy a bottle of red wine. Then around this time, the three siblings and their spouses would sit down and enjoy the wine like in the picture in my sister’s house.
Of course, my brother in law would have one parts wine and ten parts Frooti (a very sweet fruit juice) and my sister would have Frooti with one drop of wine (and then claim she was feeling dizzy).
It was absolute fun every evening to get together – just the six of us – as a routine and chat…
Missing it today…

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4 January 2014

One more Nikispeak

It has been two hours already that Niki and I have been playing. (up since 2 am or so). Tasha is also suffering from jet lag.

Niki finally came out with a gem after watching Sharmila sound asleep – “You know dad, mama does not have any jet lag. She sleeps thru the day and thru the night” πŸ™‚

4 January 2014

Niki quips

Lufthansa (from Frankfurt to Atlanta) had to change their airplane equipment because of oversold situation. The upshot is that they upgraded two of our tickets to First Class. Tasha and I volunteered Niki and Sharmila to take those seats. As I got them settled in their seats, as a parting shot, I told Niki – “Don’t get too used to these luxuries. Once you are on your own, you will have to start from basics like all of us did”. She immediately retorted “Dad, I have flown coach in Delta. I can do anything”. Even the air hostess burst out laughing πŸ™‚

3 January 2014

Nice experience

As we were deplaning in Frankfurt, I noticed an elderly lady struggling to get her suitcase down from the bin. A gentleman – probably in his fifties, quickly stepped up to help, pulled the suitcase with one hand and swung it down.

It is then I realized that he did not have a second arm!!!

I further realized that he is the same guy that I helped put his own suitcase up in Munich when we were boarding. I did it very mechanically when I saw him trying to put his suitcase up with one hand. I did not give a second thought to ask myself why would he possibly be Using one hand only. I don’t think I even made eye contact when I acknowledged his thanks.

At that moment, among the flurry of emotions I was going thru – seeing a man extending a helping hand – in fact, his only hand – to an elderly lady and that I was too casual in acknowledging his gratitude previously, all I could blurt out to him was “Hey, I was coming to help”. He put me at ease by smiling and saying with a heavy German accent “It’s ok. Gravity helps!”

I wish I had the guts to take a picture with him. It would have been too weird.

But, what spirit!! In the lounge, I tried for a few minutes to see what life would be with one arm by using only my right arm. Miserably failed. Could not even type out this message!!!

The world still has great guys – regardless of what the TV channels and newspapers focus on…