Monster Monsoon!

It was dim and dull when the day got started. It was never bright anyway at any point of time during the day. Since morning I was busy with my bosses in making some estimations and I was totally unaware about what was happening outside. In the afternoon some of our staff approached me saying they wanted to leave early since train services were available only upto ghatkhopar. It was 4 pm. I looked outside, and it was partially dark, like 7:30 in the Mumbai evening.So, I told them to leave. I continued my work. However, one of the staff came back again saying that trains are not moving out from VT, and she had no place to stay. Shes going to central railway lines.

In Mumbai there are three local railway lines. Western lines, Central lines and Harbour lines. All the train started from the South. For central and harbour lines, trains started from victoria Terminus (VT) and for the western lines, train started from churchgate station. During monsoon, when the rain pours, the one that suffers the most is central lines.

I am staying at the western side of the City's suburb, so I used the western line. On hearing that news, I called up my friends asking about Western lines. It seems that the train stopped moving from Churchgate station. Talked to James too. He came to our office Main Building with Cherry, a friend from Hyderabad (She's originally from Shillong). He told me that he got information from his neighbour that his house is flooded and that his books, shoes, mattresses, etc. must be floating inside his house. The situation is bad everywhere. No mobile network, no train service, no place to stay, we're stuck in the South. Its gonna be a long evening.

July 23

Was busy in the office the entire morning till the afternoon. Pu Rinawma called me up and told me that John will be waiting for us at Mizoram House, 'Sun Tower' to carry out some tasks relating to Mumbai Mizo Association (MMA). I called up Zira and Lawmtea. I informed them to be at Sun Tower at 4 PM. Awmawmi called me up around 2 PM saying shes having no class and shes coming over to the office. I was waiting for her in the office. After she reached, we went to SBI ATM and later to Sun Tower. lawmtea could not joined us since he had to go to Vashi to collect his parcel. Zira joined us there. After we were through with the task, we went to 'Hirapana' at Haji Ali and purchased a mobile for Awmawmi. Its Nokia 3220, brand new, with camera (both still and video) and voice recorder. After that we went to 'Crossroad' shopping mall at Haji Ali and we went home after half an hour.

Lian had invited group of friends for dinner and she called me too in the morning. As soon as we reached home. we went to Lian's place after informing her that Awmawmi was accompanying me. Pu Joshua and family, Khual, Mung and other friends were there. It was a delicious dinner. Pork, Naga style. Hot, oily, little spicy with fermented bamboo shoot.

I called up Mom and she told me that she took a Deccan Airlines flight ticket for August 5, 2005. Thats good news. She can travel with Marindiki upto Kolkata.

At night I practised a song for tomorrow's church service. the name of the song is "Ebenezar". Its a popular song in Mizoram. But in Mumbai we have to give extra effort to master such kind of songs. If we do well we may (possibly) sing it at the opening ceremony of Mizoram House on the 30th of this month. It will also depend upon how well I could teach and the response of the participants in the Church.

Weekend

Its midnight now. Its so late now that all the events of the day I was planning to write became yesterdays events...ha ha....in Mizo its called 'ka chanchin sawi tur zawng zawng a thing zo vek alawm - lo chhuang lum mai rawh u'

I'm about to retire to bed now. And there is no longer any sound from 'the birds and the bees'; only a distant sound of a watchman's stick hitting the ground as he took rounds in the colony..tap..tap..tap...Got a call from Awmawmi two hours back. She told me that they were having a party in the evening at the campus and she really enjoyed. We discussed about acquiring a laptop computer. She's coming to my office tomorrow. Mom also called me up. She decided to come to Mumbai. She said that Air Deccan is launching flight service between Aizawl and Kolkata starting from July 25, 2005 and is offering around Rs.1200 for economy class. Thats a really good offer. Asked her if she can come with my sister, Madiki, who is planning to go to Delhi to join Isaac- at least upto Kolkata. Seems like she tried their number during the day and she could not reached them. I was planning to call them after dinner, but it was already 11 pm. So I changed my mind. Maybe tomorrow I'll call them.

I called up Pu Rinawma in the evening. Seems like he was just reaching Mumbai from Mysore. We talked about ceremonial opening of Mizoram House in Mumbai. The long awaited Mizoram House is going to be opened by Mizoram Health & Family Welfare Minister Pu Tlanghmingthanga on July 30, 2005. this is going to be a dream come true for mizo Mumbaikars and the Cancer patients who came all the way from mizoram to TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. To see thae condition of the House and to put some labels in the chairs etc. We might have to visit the venue today. He said he'll call me again to give me the necessary details.

In the evening after the office, on thursday, I went to Ding's quarter at Byculla. His wife Biak and daughter Lily, his sister Biakching and his cousin suanlal were there. His daughter Lily had really grown up. She's 14 months now. Ding showed me some of Lily's videos that he had created. His video output was really clean. Ding is a brilliant person. I joined them for dinner and left his house at around half past nine.

James is still in Ahmedabad. Last night (i.e thursday) after I left Ding's place, I went to his place at Juhu for his guitar and my car which I left the previous night. On my way home I went to meet Lalthana (Mapuia) at Kamal Chhaya, Veera Desai Rd. He was having dinner there. Later, I went to his place at Andheri. He told me that his father, who is presently admitted at Escort Heart Hospital, Delhi is likely to undergo surgery. His father, Pu Sangthuama, is a nice person. He was at Mumbai last year for a brief period.

The previous night I stayed over at James' place at Juhu Geetanjali Apartments since he was having high fever and food poisoning. I went straight to office the next morning and he too left for Ahmedabad in the evening. Hope he's fine.

I also got a call from Arun. He is presently at Ooty. He told me that his father passed away on Monday (July 18). Thats a very sad news indeed. He also told me that his mother already passed away in 2000. I could feel the pain he passed through as he explained the situation to me. I remember when my father passed away in August 2002, the news reached me at night. His funeral was already over, when I heard about it. I went home in two days. Folks said that I was handling the situation nicely. I was maintaining composure greeting friends and relatives visiting our home. To tell the truth, that was the most shattering moment of my life. It would be such a joy if we can live together forever with the people who are really close to our heart. I prayed for Arun. May his dear father rest in peace.

July 18

Isaac called me up today. He reached Del on saturday, last week. He told me Madiki will also come down to Delhi. He's likely to go to S.A on october this year. Its nice to hear from him again after so many days. Gave him Awmawmi's Institute phone number. Wonder if he could get through.

Called up home. Mom went for committee, brother went for song practice. Talked to Aunt.

Busy Weekend!

Its already half past two in the morning and I am still sitting in front of the window (windows 98!). Yesterday morning, I hurriedly left the house for office not knowing at all what doing things in such a hurried manner chould bring! When I reached the office, I tried my best to clear things on my table- any pending work, if any-as soon as possible. Because, right after lunch I had to attend a 2 hour lecture, and after that I wanted to leave straight for home. There were so much things to do for tomorrow. Monthly Newsletter of our Association has to come out tomorrow and, being one of the editors, I have to keep it ready in printed forms, at least 25 copies, by tomorrow morning. At tomorrow's Mizo church service I am supposed to lead the service and the Sunday school. I have to prepare myself by reading the Bible and the lesson book. I have to give Secretary's report too....More, wash my car,cooking, cleaning etc. etc...all time consuming things :)

The lecture was over and I was on the way to Churchgate station when in my mind I was allocating time for these activities. Then suddenly, something prompted me to check my bag for keys. Office drawer keys were there. I searched again. My house's door key was not there! That means I would not be able to enter my house, and worse I could end up spending the night at the house of some friends.If that is the case, I would not at all be in a position to accomplish these activities. And alas, tommorrow would be a disaster!!!

Without giving a second thought, I changed 'the course' and went straight toward VT Station. Awmawmi is keeping a key with her and I can take the key from her. But if shes not there..and she's likely to be not there because its weekend and she's very likely to go to movies to have a break from their hectic daily schedules...

When I reached, I saw her room mate and her friends. Awmawmi was not in the room. One of her friends went to look for her in the library-it was allready closed. Dining Hall (they called it DH) - shes not there...I was sure she went to movies...It was around 6..If I waited for 2/3 hours she might turned up, atleast to have dinner in the hostel DH. I was sitting at the hotel's visitors lounge and I started reading newspaper. After 20 minutes, she suddenly turned up. She didn't go to movies, but she went to Beauty Parlour in stead.I knew very well that I had little time to spare. But since I haven't explore their campus so far, we started doing that..meeting her new friends, boys and girls, mens hostel, girls hostel, basketball court, gym, classes, library, pmir building, etc...She also showed me Actress Karishma Kapoor's bungalow, which is just next to their campus. They shared the same boundary wall....not bad!

I joined them for dinner there in the DH. I met Siam and Dominic (Manipur Naga), both from MSW...They were new to Mumbai. So we invited them to come to my house after dinner. Dominic has important appointment the next day, so he declined. Siam joined us. When we eventually reached home, it was already late. And I knew I had to sit late. But, I am happy that, thanks to my sister, I could again enter my home sweet home!

Solo!

Its early in the morning now. I am reading some materials for tomorrow's meeting. Since my sister Awmawmi moved to TISS' hostel last sunday, I am alone in the house again, just like my early days (of working) in Mumbai. James, Valtea and I went to TISS to drop her after the church service. The hostel allotted to her was Lady Hostel no.1. It was a multi seater. So, she's having five room mates. And the beds were all two tiers.She got the upper bed, right in the middle of the room. The hostel was just beside the institute's library and is not far from the class. An ideal place for a scholar.She called me up several times since then. Tonight, she called up again and she's coming tomorrow to collect some of her belongings.

The day we dropped her to the hostel, I too went to our training institute and stayed the night there instead of going home . The next day onward I was having three days training on Research Methodologes.I stayed three nights there. The training was useful and the food was good. It was a cool break from daily hectic life. Now, I am back in the office.

Today, I met James.I heard from him that his brother valtea got hostel admission at Hyderabad Central university (HCU).It was good news. valtea had recently cleared entrance examination for MA in Philosophy at HCU. James, on hearing that good news, made a strong statement. If he is not getting hostel admission there, he should come back to Mumbai and study here. But, fortunately Valtea got his hostel admission too. Bad news for James:) Staying all alone at home once again.