Dosais and idlis(31)

   

         A bagful of trinkets are given to us. We wrap each one of them separately with strips of paper so that their shapes are not discernible. This is for the lucky dip.

          There is to be a dosa stall under Amma. Loads of batter is ground. 

           Did I tell you about Sqn. Ldr. Ganesan ,Appa's friend from Trichy. They met again when Appa was in the Ladakh region.On off days Appa would collect leaves for his Himalayan leaf collection album ,while his friend would be wooing and wedding a Sikkimese girl. Now that family with 2 boys are here in Shillong. We visit them. I am expecting an exotic lady in exotic dress who would serve us some exotic dish. There she is, a Sikkimese Mami grinding for the next days idli breakfast. 

           Dosa is an exotic dish here anyway. After school we rush to the fair grounds .Our school teachers and friends are all there .We have given a good sales pitch. Too heavy in fact. We have to send away most as the batter is over , promising more the next day. People try their luck with the dip. It is all in fun for a good cause, were they expecting gold ornaments?

                Amma gets to display her cauliflowers to ohs and ahs . That is enough for her.  We of course bask in all the reflected glory. What is that music on the system? Hindi movie songs? If you think so ,you are out of sync with the prevailing tastes.Here it is western classical or pop. We too are bitten by the bug. You cannot imagine what a struggle it is to wrench radio time for' listeners choice' which is  a line up of English pop .To Appa it is all kattu kaththal. Loud noise. How are we to discuss the ratings of  the songs  knowledgeably at school the next day. Like  everyone all over India we too listen to Binaca/ Cibaca Geet Mala . Again with strictures about not  listening to news.

                  Naturally with their  interest in music the boys would like to learn playing on the guitar. They have to satisfy themselves later in life. The whole world is going in for bell bottoms. The younger two would like a pair each. What? Girls' dress? A skewed sense of fashion indeed. Anyhow I get the bells!. They have to wait it out.Nothing can be done with a parent who is inflexible and does not believe in the generation gap.

                  Meghalaya is declared an autonomous state. It comprises of  the Khasi and jaintia hills and the Garo hills. It may look like a composite whole but you  have to pass through Guwahati every time you  travel from Shillong to the Garo hills. Capt. Williamson Sangma of the APHLC and who is also miss Irene Sangma's ( my English teacher) uncle becomes an important person.   Seenu leaves for REC Trichy.Appa gets transferred to Tura capital of Garo hills. Tura is very near the east Pakistan border on three sides. The rest of us stay back in Shillong.