INNOCENTO!


22 December, 1988.

This date is to reckon with, for it brought me into the arms of my mother, recuperating in a now forlorn Mishra Nursing home, Kalimpong. The life outside was chaotic, for an ongoing agitation had made living a compulsion and death not a sudden happening, but an event penned down by the brutal hands of murderers and protesters. Yes, I had arrived into a small little hamlet, that still holds its position in being my faithful home-town.

Having led almost 22 years of my life here, there are some quirky and fun facts I'd like to share about this picturesque town.

1) There is a single cinema hall here ironically named NOVELTY. Ironic for it specialises in screening movies that are bygones. But the best part is that rich poor, haughty humble, all gather to see the same film, seated on similar seats, repeating the same dialogue when the electricity buzzes of mid-way!
 2) A social cause may not gather as much crowd as a small road side fight does. And trust me its immaterial knowing the reason for the same. Larger the crowd, more the adrenalin rush!!
3)A Josephite ( students from St Joseph's Convent) should categorically fall for a Sasonian ( St Augustine's School). A Girl's high school pass out should fall for a passout from S.U.M.I and the rest, well what's co-ed institutions for???
4) Before you even get to know that there is a love affair brewing in your family, the neighbours have already spiced up fabricated tales about the couple eloping, the girl having multiple affairs before finally settling for  most of the time a non existent fellow.
5)An ATM here is the best fictitious employee of the year! Yes, who follows office timings more ardently than the ATM's here??? ;)
6) A fake Nike or a fake Reebok, gives you as much pleasure as a real one would have done! Yes, humility reigns supreme.
7)Its guaranteed that a shopping spree across the main road, is bound to make you encounter the same friend/stranger/cousin you met a while back in 10th mile and yes trust me you're gonna meet the same person again in lower 10th mile.
8) Hungry and got a meagre Rs 20 in your pocket? Worry not, with local noodles as cheap as Rs 5 a plate, to momos as expensive ( marred by recession and with lots of pun) as Rs 10 a plate, atleast 80% of your hunger is bound to satiate.
9)Every family barring the non nepalese and non bhutanese has an avid singer who can melt your heart by strumming the strings of his/her guitar which is a compulsory articraft adorning the house.
10) A free electricity supply, backed by never ending water crisis, zillion shops selling the same clothes backed by dearth of a branded store, never ending momo stalls/restaurants backed by the easily avoidable absence of a single branded eatery, you have arrived here. 'Here' we people chose to carry our hearts on our sleeves and greet you with a smile that can go a long way in making your otherwise dull day, a day well spent :)

Cheerio