Where is my mind??

As far as crazy and happening weeks go, nothing could beat the last week. It started with me flying down from Singapore...after a whirlwind weekend filled with packing, meeting friends, more packing, meeting C, drinking, an obligatory lunch, oh, did i mention packing (its amazing how much junk one can collect given enough time, money, good weather, willing friends and inviting 'sale' events).

The flight too was really something; Had the most interesting ever co-passenger (He told me, among other things, about a shooting facilty near Siagon where you can shoot AK-47s or even machine guns, picture that!), saw the 'arty-est yet entertaining and heart-warming' movie ever (Pan's Labyrinth, thanks Karan for the rec), and was served by the most interesting looking stewardess(her eyes looked like they would eject themselves any moment and roll around on the floor), who kept putting off my requests for water.

At this point, I am compelled to compliment the Delhi Intl airport. Based on what I recalled, I expected it to be a complete mess and so accordingly braced myself for a harrowing experience at the immigration, baggage and customs counters. But surprise surprise, I was out of there in half the time I had expected it to take. That left me with more problems than it solved though. My lift for the evening was blissfully lounging at home when I called to enquire where he was parked. Rather than jus wait for him to drive down, I got a lift from that 'most interesting ever co-passenger' though I did have to brace a few reprimands from C and A (Are u crazy? strange guy u've barely known for a few hours! This is Delhi! Call me as soon as you get home!) But the guy was really sweet, so was his cousin who had come to pick him up (helped me lug my luggage all the way up the stairs at home and made me miss out on a calorie-expending chance, damn!)

Wednesday night saw me going out for dinner with U and B and what ensued turned out to be the highlight of not just the week but my entire Delhi-stay so far. There we were, post dinner and post 2 glasses of wine, getting ourselves some good 'ol desi paan, talking about going clubbing somewhere. Suddenly I turn around and U is sprawled on the road clutching his ankle, his face painted with embarassment and pain. After failed attempts at getting him to walk, a random honda-CRV driver expressing his anger at me through closed windows for god knows what (was like watching an awesomely funny silent movie) and a frantic search for U's driver, we got him to Max's Emergency section.

U: I don't want to go to the hospital!
Me: why?
U: (sheepishly) I am scared of injections.
Me: (laughing) don't worry, its just a sprain or something. U won't need an injection
At the hospital,
Doc: (first thing after examining U's foot) He needs a pain killer injection!

Talk about bad luck!

B and I started to protest on U's behalf but the only thing that came out of that was us getting kicked out of there ("Ladies, can u pls step out!")

Well eventually when we were allowed back in, we got to know that the doc wanted to take an X-ray. Since there was already a small kid in the X-ray room (interestingly with much the same injury as U), we had to wait outside.

Kid inside X-ray room: Waaa waaa...nahi nahi....sniff sniff...Booo Hooo
Kid's parents inside as well: beta...ye toy dekho,Gaadi... vroom vroom...
....After a while... (clapping) ho gaya!!!!
U:Umm... (worried look on his face)
B: (with a smirk) We should get a toy for U as well!

What followed was a night of unexplained laughter, subsequent stomach aches from too much laughing and wacky photos (thank god for cellphones with cameras). B was on a complete trip of her own (kept insisting she wanted to be wheeled around in the wheelchair and on my refusal to comply, sat herself down on one and tried to will it forward!) I am surprised the hospital did not turn us out! (though i suspect that was more cause they had a few laughs too)

Eventually we ended up staying at U's place (poor thing needed all the help he could get), had a few more laughs (yes, at his expense), helped him pack for his US trip and reached office by lunchtime the next day. (why waste the excuse, heh!)

(am tired of writing now, will continue this post tomorrow, promise!)
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currently reading: City of Djinns- William Dalrymple
currently listening: Ya rabba- Salaam-e-Ishq, Here is gone- Goo goo dolls