Bonding over Prostitutes!

My most current maid, Molly, has been with us for over a year now. However due to the fact that she speaks little or no English, and even less Hindi, conversations are a tad lacking. Now don't get me wrong! Its not like we don't talk to her at home at all or anything extreme like that, I know 'enough' about whats happening in her life and with her family and friends. We share the routine conversations when I get back from school -not before going to school however, i despise talking for at least 20 mins after i wake up- but we really haven't gotten swept away in a conversation, well, ever. And considering the fact that I live with her, the situation seems rather desperate.

Now normally if i need to buy anything from Bur Dubai, I'd go by myself after informing Molly. But a few days ago, I needed to buy some cloth and I really didn't have the time to 'shop around' for it. So I asked Molly to accompany me. We got ready, locked the door behind us after making sure the dog had been provided for, took the lift down, and made our way across the road into the market, all in relative silence that was punctuated now and then with small talk.

Pathetic.

We picked up 'the goods' after the expected haggling, got distracted for a bit by the shiny that was the jewelry shop, and then proceeded to make our way home. Ho ho hum, just a regular chore completed.

It was then that we saw two women walking towards us. Did i say walking? Sorry, I meant strutting their stuff towards us. Short skirts, ridiculously high heels, gaudy makeup, badly bleached roots. Our set of eyes met theirs and stayed connected as we walked (well they waltzed) past. Molly and I glanced at each other. "Es taruh ki aurat!.." (pardon my 'Hindi') was all it took, and we launched ourselves into a long, highly animated discussion on prostitutes; our first ever REAL conversation with actual 'connections' being felt and formed!

Funny how it took a pair of prostitutes to get that to happen :P

First post- Yes I pleed guilty of conforming

So I was driving [acctually twas more like being driven by dad] through Deira to the eye doc for my routine semi-annual 'checkup' when i was struck by a tidal wave of nostalgia. Ah nostalgia.. mind's oh so pleasant and inviting recluse.. Anyways back to the story at hand, the familiar sights coupled with the gorgeous overcast weather aroused a very 'self-fulfilling' and content feeling within me.

You know, the feeling you get when you visit your birthplace, or your grandparents' house, or when you step out of the airport after a long holiday and get into the taxi after loading your bags in; the feeling of being at Home.

I made dad detour down to good ol' Riqqa Road. It felt so good seeing the house I lived in when we first came to Dubai! Driving down the streets, observing the little changes, and the very BIG change that is the metro. My minds eye was having an absolute field day! Memories at every corner, nook and sand patch :P, the little jaunts we took without our parents knowing, fake marriages :P, breaking into the tents and various other attractions left behind from the highly predominant festivals that seemed ever present, cooking disasters, cops and robbers games of MONUMENTAL proportions that spanned over the two neighbouring streets, ALL buildings included, the excitement that came and stayed when we moved from India to this part of the world. Memories of all the friends I had there, how close we were < i must get intouch with all of them again>

I cannot even start to explain how good it felt to have just driven down those 3 streets. To experience that lovely recap of 5 to 6 odd years, to see how much things had changed, to see how much I had changed.

I wonder what kind of things 'elate' you reader , for me it's small things like this that totally make my day.

GOD i LOVE nostalgia!