Due to some new and immensely pungent variety of glue that our office has invested in, I feel like I'm working in a chemistry lab. Which is a refreshing change. The smell also reminds me of Mumbai. Which reminds me that I have never made a list of my happy places.
Here are a bunch, in random order.
Balcony of Room 102, YWCA, Colaba, Mumbai
I spent a week in this room in 2004. It had the hugest balcony in the building, facing the bustling smoky Madame Cama Road. Also one of the eeriest places, doubtless. But I was happy there. If I close my eyes,I can see the Malayalee cigarette shop right outside.
202, Dona Maria, Cooke Town
My first home. And by that I mean, the first house that I lived in, when I moved out of my parents' place. One bedroom apartment, with a tiny hall and a balcony that you had to look for. Has housed as many as 20 people, when it was in the mood.
"Time it was and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago it must be..."
Tea Centre, Churchgate, Mumbai
Green walls, Vinay Aravind, hot buttered apple tea, the struggling Richard Clayderboy on piano. I have tears in my eyes. I would sell my non-existent soul for another hot buttered apple tea.
Koshy's, Bangalore
Responsible for about 60% of my life, considering how much time I spend there. But it was my happy place in the days when Chandra and I would spend hours together. I think we've written a bunch of short stories there, none of which I seem to have.
Hotel Mamatha, off Cunningham Road, Bangalore
Back in the Mount Carmelesque heyday of Kiran, Sam and Anoopa. Chai- Rs. 3/-, Cigarette- Rs. 3/-. About two-thirds of our grand declarations, sweeping statements and not-so-teenage ideologies took shape under the eagle eye of the Malayalee hotel owner. (Notice an alarmingly large population of Malayalees in this post, as in most other places in the world. The world is their banana chip.)
Upbeat, Cox Town, Bangalore
A recently-discovered haunt. Tart and I have taken to spending at least one evening every fortnight, catching up on bad decisions, lousy personaity assessments and other hilarities, in the warm, sour company of Riviera White.
Anoopa Anand
Anoopa Anand lives in Bangalore, India, with her parents and four dogs. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore. When she isn’t writing, Anoopa likes to read fiction, do crosswords in auto rickshaws, sing jazz standards in embarrassed whispers and obsess about cricket. When she grows up, Anoopa will write for a living, sing for love and find a less commercially successful sport to follow.
9 comments:
hahahahaha!! cheerses :)
Koshys is my happy place too!:)
I'm back! Sorry I've been quiet for a while. I love your poem 'Narcissa'. Hope you're ok.
hmm. we are such different people. can't do that tea centre in bbay. I rem when it first opened and puj n i went to scope it out. i guess im about the mozzie chai stalls. and those amazing biscuits they have. can't wait to come back.
yaay! i am famous...sigh....now i can retire (from what, i don't know)....but much thanks for the company, the humour (the encylopaedia titanica is nearing completion i assume?) the fame, etc.,
in my next trick...i hijack a DJ console at Tavern :)
oooh, i just had an idea...you could TAG people with this...to list their 5 happy places....would make a good tag....and i have a constant yearning to be tagged....so i can actually write something on my wretched blog...
Smith: :D
Consider yourself tagged, my friend!
Tart: Yay!
Puddy tat: I'm sure we've seen each other there, then. :)
Liam: Sorry about not writing earlier- I'm fine. And you? :)
Firefoxcub: Come off fast!
Loved it.
You not in Bangalore now? Thought I'd bump into you in Koshy's or something. :D
You be from emseesee mins me be your junie. ;)
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