Crystal

"Un polae pennodu ulakai rasikka vendum" is a line from the Tamil movie melody. Well, roughly translated it means, "I want to admire the world with a woman like you..." I imagined my husband thought like this when he took me on a vacation to the USA. Oh, sweet…dream on..!

However, I met a man who relished the world with his sweetheart.

I went rampaging through the Northern states of America just before Gustav hit the lower coast last summer. It was a carefree, greener package tour on bus. To my greatest pleasure it was cozy and let me sleep like a drunken frog as pointed out by company.

When I boarded the bus in Toronto, an old, very old Chinese couple standing in the isle bowed to me one after another letting me pass. I bowed back, lost balance and crash landed into my seat. Sometimes, for no apparent reasons, we like some people instantly and it happened.

As the bus gathered momentum, our guide Sam announced, "Ok so, we have 10 hours’ drive before we stop at Massachusetts and he listed the program and added "Ok so, you can ask me any doubt, any time on this trip.." and regretted it later as I asked him gazillion questions including "Should I drink, coffee or tea, Sam?" And he, true to his words replied 'tea' in Cantonese spirit.

This is not exactly about my bloopers in the trip but mainly about the old birds.

Our first main stop was at Harvard University. This has never even appeared in my weirdest dreams...plus, when I stepped in, a swish of knowledge hit my goosebumps which made me shiver in delight. I rubbed the shoe of John Harvard, with a prayer to sprinkle some wisdom at least in my next birth. As I was entranced in the rubbing, the old guy approached me...after the introductory bow he gestured to click them.

When I was about to ‘say cheese’, he stealthily put his arm around his woman and smiled. Wow! Now, that was a perfect shot. The sparks were still intense. I gave it a corny title in my mind, 'honeymooning after 70'.

Our guide, with his yellow flag was vanishing in the distance. So huffing, I ran in that direction.

The next morning was mist washed and the sun rose gleefully before our journey, I walked to a couch in the lobby of 'Doubletree' to wait for the bus. Then I looked across and saw the old man and the lady seated. She wriggled out from his close contact and bowed and I bowed. Then he bowed. When my husband reached the spot the whole action repeated. I was reminded of  this scene from the movie 'Vettam'. Gosh!

At our fast lunch stop, the old man was facing me adding generous dollops of sauce on their fries. He had what we call character lines with a tint of mischief. The lady looked few creases younger and with smooth smile lines. He smiled at me, after a short bow break and added more sauce. Oh yes, go on...you need all those preservatives! I waited patiently.

I was alone admiring the sun drenched landscape as I ventured to find our bus after lunch. As I rubbed my husband on the wrong side, he let me find my way, which I accepted nonchalantly. Then I saw the couple. She had a problem leg and he was holding her arm guiding down the steps. Ahhhh, this is a relationship that has endured through thick and thin. Through aches and pains…I know, sunset years have their own lack luster side...people fade and slowly become invisible. Even their families do not miss them for a day or two. I wanted to acknowledge their existence…at least for all the bows.

I joined them. Soon we had an animated conversation, in Cantonese and sign language. The atmosphere was decidedly lighthearted.

I was giggling all the time because I could not understand a word. He asked me something and I noticed the lady chiding and realized it was something mischievous. So I retorted, ‘you eat snake?’ in Indian sign language. He looked at my hand, waved good bye and walked away. Psst! that was a wrong question to act out. I stood rooted there till Sam called from the other side. Oops…we were almost lost.

                    

The following day in New York, we were let loose in Time square to enjoy the sights and actions for 3 hours. When we got back tired after posing with all the wax celebrities and buying junk, the main thought was our next stop...FOOD!.

Sam announced quite confused." Ok so, we may have to wait for half hour...the old man called me ...they walked far away to somewhere on 17th street. I asked him to take a taxi and reach us". We waited with a group of restless children and then he gave us the update. "He says, the lady is lost in the crowd and he is trying to find her. Ok so, we are going for our dinner".

“No, Sam, how can we leave them behind? "We have to find them".

"It’s late we cannot wait, he laughed dryly." I have asked him to come to the hotel”.

“No, do something. Listen, they cannot even speak the language”.

“They will come”.

In the meantime some kids were letting off the steam. All were not as sympathetic as I wished. So half heartedly we moved.

A member in my company propounded this theory. ‘Look, Sam mentioned about illegal immigrants. Maybe, they came with us and got down and melted into the crowd never to surface. It’s all preplanned'. Enticing story…but I was not convinced. I did not go for food…not because it was a sea food buffet, but I had a knot in the pit of my stomach.

At the hotel they were still not in. So a co-passenger volunteered to go back and find them as he had lived in Mumbai and can find a lost person in a crowd. No doubt.

We went to our rooms. . I lay awake; with disturbed thoughts, worried that life may never be normal again. It was a night filled with roller coaster of emotions and a general terror.

My morning coffee brought the news that they were found. First the Mumbai guy located the old man, and then approached the police who used everything in their power and found the lady after a 2 hour search in the big apple. My admiration for the NYPD rocketed to the top of the tallest building. When I looked at them, she had a coy smile which proclaimed that to be loved is wonderful and he looked like he had the whole world at his feet.

During the rest of the journey they were under our strict vigil. As we get in and out, we checked on them constantly. They sort of unified all of us; they could not even steal glances without an onlooker. Fine, they had their privacy in the hotel suite. Perhaps, they don’t even sleep with their teeth anymore.

And finally, when we departed on the fourth day there were great cheers to see them off. Most of us gave them a standing ovation and I was in the front row. They touched my hand in earnest good bye and got down. Sam hopped in after helping them with the bags.
I quipped, "Great husband and nice wife, Sam".

He laughed dryly and added, ‘not wife, his girlfriend’.

AMBADA KALLA!