1. The Week started with our first major deadline and release of "GFC's"
(Good for Construction) drawings to be sent out to the client. It was a big
high, while simultaneously being a little unnerving, since in my head a
'GFC' better stand for it's purpose; which is to be built as drawn. But of
course things work differently here. I am told, there can be more than 26
versions of 'GFC's', as the drawings can be tossed back and forth between
the design-build contractors and the clients, much like a tennis ball. Even
the English alphabet from A-Z is less to name each revision at times, so
they have to conform to AA, BB, CC ....and so on.
I am singing "This happens only in India" in my head again!
2. More frustration mounts; this time from the unprofessionalism displayed
at the US Consulate's VFS office. Untrained administrative staff, who have
absolutely no idea of what they are doing, made sure my poor Pops, was sent
back twice, when he went to submit my visa application paperwork. The first
day he was sent back because my photograph did not show enough of my "ears"
and the second day they accepted the same photograph, in lieu of one which
showed more "ear". It took a 4 hour mid-work break and a lot of agitation
and arguing on my end, at the VFS office in Mahalakshmi, until an apology
came my way and the job got done.
3. The Bandra-Worli Sealink, being hailed as Mumbai's architectural marvel,
finally opened on Tuesday this week. A laser show was held a
day earlier and starting Wednesday, the bridge will be thrown open to the public.
Cant wait to take my first drive across.
4. Wednesday night was spent catching up with an old school friend, whom
the best friend and I were meeting after 15 years. Each one of us took turns in the
"After school, this is how my life went..." round. Dinner was at Basilico, in Bandra. A casual, minimally done up space, with the regular outdoor/ indoor seating that most Mumbai restaurants seem to flaunt. We chatted over hummus platters, Conchiglie with spicy sauce and bruschetta. The evening ended with a promise to meet with some more school friends on Sunday evening.
5. Every conversation with the hubby over the phone this week, starts with a "Today's
frustration issue was ....." and I rant my issue of the day. This week, it was the bank account and salary issue. L&T is still not able to decide if they should pay me in INR or USD. Talks are on to revise the contract, once they figure out which one is easier. Goes to show, that the most taken for granted aspects of a new job dont come easy, even in a reputed, large company like this one. I am not sure where the terrain of unprofessionalism stops and pure ridiculousness begins.
6. Saturday was Rain Day. When it rained, it poured. From morning to night. Non-stop. Word went around the office, to leave work at 5:30 pm. For once the "boys' bus" would leave with the "girls' bus". So more than half the office emptied out at 5:30 pm. The rest of us, privileged few, who go home in chauffered cars, stayed in and left around 6 ish. More on the drive back home in no. 7 below.
7. En route, I felt like a criminal. Atleast 50 pairs of eyes, at various intervals, stared right into mine, seeming to say "You lucky bitch you". As I stared at the world beyond my car's glass window, I saw people wading home in knee deep water while others stood drenched under their umbrellas, in never-ending queues at bus-stops. Shying away from their stares, I decided to look in the other direction, only to find open manholes and more water clogged streets. Vaykar (my driver at the moment) and I, glided through the rain water to reach home, luckily within 30 minutes. But something in me said, while this limitless rain brings with it a promise of overflowing lakes, it also seems to bring with it overflowing manholes and gutters. One day of non-stop rainfall and the Bandra-Worli Sealink was already in a traffic jam. Both runways at Mumbai Airport were flooded and hence unoperational. All incoming flights were diverted to Pune and Ahmedabad. News channels were already pointing fingers at the BMC for having once again, successfully falsified all their pre-monsoon promises. Mumbai does not seem prepared. And this is only one day's worth of rain. Where will we go from here? is the question in my mind tonight.
8. Sunday morning was a pleasant surprise. Most of Mumbai thought they would be waking up to crazy rains from yesterday, but instead there was just a cloud cover, that at times gave way to the sunshine. No signs of "non-stop rainfall" as predicted by the MET Department earlier last night. And the entire day was clear. I did the regular 8 miles in the gym and then set off to the Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple, for the best friend's parents' joint birthday celebrations. A spectacular Gujju thaali buffet awaited my tired self, with endless glasses of 'masala chaas'.
The afternoon was spent at Snehi-Atit and Ira's where the three of us fell asleep trying to put li'll Ira to sleep. Finally when Ira did snooze, Snehi and I spent our afternoon catching up in the salon, over hot-oil head massages and more girlie - pampering. Chai was at Mum and Pops and then a quick mini-reunion in the building with childhood building buds. Walked across to the neighbouring building, deciding to act like kids all over again and scream out friends' names from under their houses, only to realise we were standing under the wrong house :)
Dinner was a farewell for Raga-Roy at Snehi-Atit's where both of us, (Maasi's) read out stories to li'll Ira while trying to catch the IIFA awards. Bitching over how old Aishwarya Rai looks, to actual standing ovations when Amitabh recited Kabhi Kabhi in an impromptu 'antakshari', the evening could not have got any better. Dinner ended close to midnight with two sweet 'paans' and bringing the parents home for a stay over, Sunday night!
Week 5 in pictures is here:
Until Week 6 ends, you take care and be good while I snack on the 6 pm samosa - chai!
Love,
Shweyta
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