10:00 a.m. and I was still cooking!
But I had to finish making that special delicacy before leaving. After all, everyone was counting on me for that and I could not disappoint them.
Especially when this particular dish is considered very important during Diwali. I was making 'karanjee'... that too, in true traditional style. Partly, because I like to do things the old fashioned way and partly, because I had no other choice.... my mixer had decided to rebel against the atrocities I was inflicting upon it.
And there I was pounding, grating, roasting, mixing, kneading, beating..... doing everything with my bare hands!
Having done that, I moved on to the next step of neatly stuffing the sweet filling and shaping the karanjees into beautiful crescents.
My goodness! 11:30 a.m.
Thankfully, the children decided to co-operate by keeping out of my way.
What next? What next?!!!!
Yes.... fry, fry, fry!
Whew! Finally over.
12:15 ....... and there the cab was.... standing under my window, merrily honking away.
OK... time to go!
Bags ...........check
Tickets........check
Gifts.......... check
Sweets........check
Children..... check (I did not want one of them to be left behind, 'Home Alone' style)
Oh, I need not have worried. They were inside the cab even before I had finished locking the door.
Next,...... pick up the husband!
Better not forget to do that and leave him stranded on the highway.
But there's no way I could have forgotten him either. He had already called me a few dozen times from office since morning.
He was already standing there, perspiring heavily, when we reached at 1 p.m.
(I think its best to avoid mentioning the little detour I took to pick up my clothes from the tailor)
" Tell him to turn up the AC" I suggested helpfully pointing to the driver. And I met with a cold silence. I barely noticed it. My head was still reeling with mad rush in the morning. Tired that I was, I blissfully drifted off to sleep after a few minutes.
I woke up after some time feeling little refreshed and looked out of the window to find that we were still far away from our destination. I got up pretty soon, I thought and looked at my husband only to find him perspiring even more heavily.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked, a little concerned. And once again, I met with silence ....... even colder this time.
I resigned myself to thinking, "Oh! Men!! Husbands!!! One can never figure them out".... etc. when I happened to glance at the little digital clock next to the cab meter.
Was I seeing things?????????????
2 p.m. !!!!!!!!!!
How could that be? I mean, how.... ?
We had to catch that train at 2:30 p.m. We should have reached the station by now.
"The traffic is crawling", I murmured.
"Stop the car", shouted my husband at the driver suddenly. We were some where close to Dadar station. The driver wasted precious 5 minutes in taking the car on one side and parking it.
"Better not ask him what he is doing", my sensible brain advised my not so sensible mouth.
"Mumbai Central is impossible......We will catch a local train from Dadar to Borivali. Our train has a halt at Borivali", he said.
Those who know the railway system in Mumbai will immediately get the drift. And for those who don't......... I would advise, don't even try getting into it!
Anyway, we were trying to attempt the impossible feat of reaching Borivali station in time to catch the train.
On your marks..... get set...... GO!!!!!!
Yes, we had a good start. Our running would have put the best sprinters to shame. We were inside the station and on the platform in no time at all!
I really have to thank god for giving me such a considerate husband. How very thoughtful of him to take care of the largest bag and biggest child and run full speed, leaving me with only the smaller bag and the younger child to handle. And how very sweeeeet of my little one to decide to help by happily toddling along.
Enough! I grabbed the toddler and hauled her up on my waist to improve our speed. She immediately started her imitation of the siren which she had perfected.
After an endless wait, where seconds seemed to drag on like hours, we managed to board the local train to Borivali. Whew! There was hope now.
Just then, my husband got the message that our train to Baroda had departed from Mumbai Central on time! The Indian Railways was showing exemplary punctuality on the day it was needed the least.
But yes, we made it on time. Good 5 minutes before our train arrived. Rush hour had finally ended and we were finally on our way to Baroda. And I have actually survived to tell this tale.
Once settled, my husband finally found the opportunity he was waiting for. I had to sit through and pretend to listen to a long monologue on the importance of time and time management. Like a good student I heard him out........ managing to nod and say "yes" at correct intervals of time. Also like a good student, I drifted into dream zone every few minutes.
After he had finished delivering his lecture, I said brightly, "But look at the positive side! At least we did not spend an hour getting bored at the station."
Oops! Did I say too much?
