I will put in the box

 

I will put in the box 

Not just one, instead a stack, shiny, clever 

of tiffin boxes, tightly clipped 

and first 

that all-pervading everywhere aroma

woodsmoke, spices, dust

Indian essence

with blare and startle of horns and high-pitched peep

in and out auto, car, overloaded motorbike and bus, 

wandering cow, munching 

new road, three lanes, no rules apply, weave/wander 

for gods sake stay alert! 

Lime-green paddy waterlogged 

houses in pink/ magenta/ turquoise, saris red and orange and yellow 

flowers in your hair 

here the hottest hues 

no beige, no bland. 

Like the past, another country 

they do things differently here 

although WhatsApp calls and Selfie! One more Selfie! 

could fool you otherwise..

Noise and sweat and dust, crows at full volume 

long wail of the train passing, over the points, over the points, 

all filling the tiffin boxes, magical 

between the sambas, rassam, rice and dhal, chapatti, dhosi, lentil cakes and idli, curd, 

and special pyassam, warm milk with cashews, raisins, sweet treat. 

All this is India, my India 

plus  mingled memories, the years of coming, from forty two to seventy five 

mum to granny, 

our friends once schoolboys fathers now and proud 

scraping a living somehow, though ‘India small money ma’am’ 

but no tiffin tower, however tall, could hold it all 

the light in their eyes, the smiles and the laughter 

the namastes and hugs across the years and many miles 

culture and language no barrier, not separated 

nothing between us except love.

21st January 2024 Guest House Ruhsa 

January 4th 2024

 

Very spicy very delicious food brought to us in our kitchen-diner. 

Front of guest house. Much of the site has recently been tarmacked / paved and the gardens are still beautifully tended by the  women’s SHG. 

The new guest house. 

It’s wonderful to be back at RUHSA in KVKuppam for the first time since 2019. So much has changed in that time. Dr Biswajit is head of RUHSA, Mr Allen is the new Vinoth, the lead administrator. Already there are real signs of great efficiency. When I was last here we knew that Dr Rita had initiated the building of a new guest house. At the time I was puzzled about that as a priority but now that we are guests staying in the finished building I can certainly commend it! The accommodation is modern and comfortable and comes with very helpful young men who do whatever is our bidding! So far, sorted wifi, cycles, hot water for shower, food, washing up. 

This afternoon I think we will be accompanied to the police station at KVK to check in as alien visitors! Lovely to be back with the sounds ( crows, trains) and smells ( woodsmoke, spice, India!) and to be resurrecting my rusty old Tamil. Sacray ille- no sugar, very important as tea and coffee is sweetened as a matter of course. Nandri- thank you, accompanied by namaste gesture- much used. Time for our second curry meal of the day, 12.40 here, 7.19 in UK.