Up Close amp; Then Some

Kem cho? Maja ma? How was the vacation? Believe you were taking a flight back on the 23rd. I flew in to NY on that afternoon, same airport, same time. Fancy that! The world is indeed a small place.

I flew Alitalia. Just as we were boarding, an employee came and whisked away my boarding card. I freaked. Was I being off-loaded or was I to sit in the loo 8216;cos I probably had the cheapest ticket?! Weell, what do you know, I was upgrade to Magnifique class. Just like that. Was it my obvious charm or my efficient travel agent Sunita Malik?

Anyway, the flight itself was quite an experience. Met up with a gaggle of noisy, incoherent with excitement, pretty Italianos. Turned out their incoherence had to do with a lack in English Vocab. One of them spoke fairly OK, so she played interpreter. They were taking a school trip to NY. I amused them with stories of my first trip to Italy. Nineteen, backpacking with a girlfriend, and the ensuing disasters.We had to live by our wits, 8216;cos we ran out of money. Later, the young chick came to me and whispered dramatically, quot;Whas it like to be wiz woman?quot; Did she mean what I thought? Wiz woman indeed. quot;I never try it, but las year I stay wiz sree three boyfriends

.quot; And she, just 17! Now why would she choose me to inquire about the birds and birds? I can hardly say birds and bees, can I?

quot;You said you travill wiz girlfriend in Italy. Lezbian no?quot; English sure is a funny language.

After several such verbally challenging encounters, I decided to keep my trap shut and slept. Reaching NY, I elbowed my way, like a well-trained desi, to the top of the immigration line. Why is it that every time one is in line to see an Immigration amp; Customs official, one8217;s heart thumps sumpi8217;n crazy? Is it so for all passport holders? As he stamped my passport, the officer said, quot;Bet your boyfriend is American.quot;

quot;You lose. He is Indian,quot; was my piqued retort.

It puzzled me. What a strange thingto say. James Kent said these officers flirt like mad with passengers. Really, rot and nonsense! I got no such feeling. Maybe it8217;s 8216;cos of all those yearly entries to the US in my passport. So he assumed8230; Ah well! How do I explain my attraction to the US? And the fact that it8217;s cheaper for me to holiday here than in India, thanx to my well-heeled, generous family and friends here!

The first three days in Manhatten were crazy. I didn8217;t brave the jet-lag of a miles 8216;n miles long journey to hang out with a bunch of Bambaiyas. It was driving me nuts. I even ate in a sardar8217;s dhaba! Terrible, terrible food. I told them I didn8217;t want to be in Little India. Thank you.

Seriously though, it was nice to catch up with the bunch. Remember Jayesh Gandhi and Uday Benegal? Star musicians of Indus Creed aka Rock Machine fame? This gutsy twosome have set base in NY, determined to take a shot at the music scene here. To their credit, their demo has been well received. Some radio stations have opted to playit. Their music is different now. More fusion. Isn8217;t it amazing how hard desis work at achieving outside their country? Is it because they feel that if they have what it takes, there is a better chance? No influence, no bullshit. Just talent and perseverence. Right now they are recording. Let8217;s hope they get lucky.

Ever visit that hot club SOB8217;sSounds Of Brazil? Love that nifty short form. On day two, went to SOB8217;s to a gig of yet another Bambaiya friend and musician. Shreekanth Sriram has made it really big in UK and Europe. This was his first West8217; west tour 8212; US and Canada. He has teamed up with a UK DJ Badmarsh, and a tabla player Arif, so young and talented it breaks your heart. There8217;s also a temperaMental diva who sings. Mental is the title that comes to mind, not her name. The gig was kick-ass8217;! Amazingly fresh, new sound. Rolling Stone, the most respected mag, on the music scene rated them way UP THERE. In LA, they were quot;pick of the weekquot;. Successful tour. Check out hisalbums Dancing Drums and Drum the Bass. And he plays a mean tabla, keyboards, flute to die for and gawd alone knows what else. And he is actually a Bass player, a formidible one. Nitin, how can one person be blessed with so much talent? Plus, I swear, Shri must be the most attractive man ever, with white hair. He doesn8217;t dye it and he is only 31.

Hey my hand is hurting with all this writing so I8217;ll sign off for now. Next time I8217;ll write about my trip to the New Orleans Jazz fest. And my boat ride in the swamps of the Bayou. Jealous? Eat your heart out, I8217;ll even send pictures.

Love Anu

PS: Kiss Bombay hello for me.

Anuradha Tandon is a script writer and film-maker.