Maahi Ve
I thought my blogging days were over. For the past three weeks or more, I have had no desire to blog. I would sometimes start a paragraph and then delete…it’s not happening!!! There has been a lot to blog about but no desire. It’s been a great trip and I’ve loved every moment. Every time I’m here, I seem to be learning more and more about myself and what this practice means to me. I really want to return this October but I don’t think I can make enough. The thought of being away from Mysore for an extended period of time feels like too much to bear. I have only one month to go before we head back and I know that it will fly by quickly. I’ve learned that the more time I spend here, the more I don’t want to leave…this is my home.
Last weekend, Stanley, Bret and I headed to Bangalore to meet up with Vincent. He had left a day ahead of us. I had no intentions of going to Bangalore but Vincent had Lasik Eye Surgery done there last Friday. We wanted to keep him company while he was recovering. He had always wanted to get rid of his eyeglasses so when he heard that another yoga student in Mysore did it and had great results; he was determined to do it too. Within a week he had scheduled his appointment and by Friday at around 4:00PM, he had 20/20 vision. We arrived at the hospital at a little past 4:00PM and he was already waiting for us. He was really happy with the fact the he no longer had to wear eyeglasses and he didn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for the surgery. He said he paid $850, which is a fraction of what he would have paid in the US. I cannot even begin to imagine his joy since I have never had to wear eyeglasses.
From the hospital, we headed to Val’s apartment (Stanley’s close friend) and then helped Vincent settle down. Stanly helped him with the eye drops while the rest of us just kept him company. Later that evening, Stanley, Bret and I headed to the Garuda Mall to do some shopping…Mysore is nothing like Bangalore. There is so much more to buy. I started buying gifts for friends and western food supplies not available in Mysore.
We then headed to Mainland China for some great Chinese food. I love India food but when you’re eating it everyday, you tend to crave for anything non-Indian. Earlier that day we had some amazing Italian food…OMG, to die for…from salad to pasta to dessert…I’m going to feel this in practice on Monday…oh well.
Our first night in Bangalore would have been very pleasant but in the middle of the night the phone started ringing. I was sleeping in the living room so I tried to answer the phone but there was nothing. Ring, ring, ring…where the hell was it coming from. I went to the kitchen to see if there was a phone there…none. After a while I just gave up and turn off the lights. Ring, ring, ring…it’s just wouldn’t stop. Stanley wakes up and comes to the living room. He too tries to answer the phone. We’re both half awake and couldn’t figure out where the ringing was coming from. We checked the different bags and there is was. Bret’s phone was set on alarm for 3:30AM. Thank you Bret, the only time we can sleep in, we have to wake up early. Bret must sleep like a log because he was the only one who didn’t wake up. We were ready to strangle him but because we’re “wannabe yogis”, we went back to bed. We made sure that he didn’t hear the end of it the following day and threaten to kill him if did it again.
The following morning, I accompanied Vincent for his final check-up. He said that the doctor was very proud of his work. Everything had gone well. We then headed to the Forum (another mall) to meet up with Bret and Stanley. I would have wanted to watch a movie but Stanley had already seen the only movies worth watching. We spent most of the time in Landmark, which is a bookstore. After that, we headed to the Park Hotel, which has the best Italian restaurant. It was very posh and the food was very good but for some reason I liked Sunny’s better.
After lunch, Vincent headed back to the apartment while Bret and Stanley accompanied me while I was on a balsamic vinegar hunt. I had promised Mark and Catherine that I would get them some. We went to all the imaginable grocery stores but could not find any. I eventually gave up so we decided to head back to the apartment to rest before dinner.
We decided to go back to Sunny’s for dinner since it’s just across the street from the apartment. The food there is amazing and I highly recommend it. I also talked the owner of the restaurant to sell me a bottle of balsamic vinegar. He warned me that it would be expensive but I got it anyway, oh well…the things we take for granted.
The following morning, we headed to a bakery, which was recommended to us by Valerie. She wanted Stanley to get her some bagels and other kinds of bread. I found another bottle of balsamic vinegar and decided to get it. I never knew that balsamic vinegar could be such a rare and valuable commodity. I ended up getting some bagels too and some food for the train.
At around 10AM, we head to the train station to catch the 11AM Shatabdi Express back to Mysore. It must be destiny because only in my wildest dreams did we expect to bump into Sharmila (Guruji’s granddaughter and Sharath’s sister) at the train station. She was headed to Mysore too. We ended up hanging out and talking to her. We met her husband who bought the ticket and dropped her off. She was really happy to have company in the train. We told her husband that we would be her bodyguards and he just laughed.
In the train, she told us all kinds of stories about Guruji, the family, her life and her shala in Bangalore. She even told us to visit her in Bangalore when we’re there. We also found out the Vincent’s eye hospital was only 5 blocks from where she lived. At one point, we mentioned to her that we enjoyed watching Bollywood movies. Her face lit up and was excited to know that. She was also surprised and happy to know the number of movies we’ve watched.
Vincent has wanted to do a Bollywood dance number for Guruji’s birthday but has been too afraid to ask Sharath. It must be destiny because Sharmila told us that Guruji loves Bollywood movies. Vincent looked at me and I just told him, “Go for it.” He asked Sharmila if Guruji would appreciate a Bollywood dance number from the students. She had a big smile and said, “Yes!!!” without hesitation. There’s no backing out now Vincent.
When we got to the train station, Sharath and Shradaa came to pick her up. Sharath said that two people could ride in the car with them so Stanley and I decided to take a rickshaw. Sharmila insisted that we could all squeeze in the Honda CRV. I don’t think Sharath wanted us to squeeze in his new car but we did. The first thing Sharmila told Sharath when we were in the car was that we watched a lot of Bollywood movies and that Vincent wanted to do a Bollywood dance number for Guruji’s birthday. Sharath was all over that. The next thing he did was he put a Bollywood CD and we all started singing “It The Time To Disco” from the movie “Kal Ho Na Ho”. Sharath knew all the lyrics while the rest of us knew about half of it and the chorus. It was really strange and fun to be singing on the top of our voices in his car. Vincent and I are shameless when it comes to singing. We don’t have good voices but that has never stopped us. Sharath on the other hand can sing. It was a short but fun ride back to the shala. When we got there, Sharath said he would copy whatever Bollywood music we wanted.
This morning after practice, I paid my respects to Guruji. As I was walking out the door, I saw Sharmila from across the floor so I put my hands together, did a slight bow and smiled. She saw me, walked across the floor and met up with me in the lobby. She first thanked us for keeping her company on the train. I told her it was our pleasure and that we enjoyed talking to her. She said that she was heading back to Bangalore later in the morning and that she already told her mom about the Bollywood dance number. She said, “you tell Vincent that’s it’s OK to start preparing” I thanked her and told her that I would see her in Mysore for Guruji’s birthday.
I spoke to Vincent outside the shala and relayed Sharmila’s message to him. Now Sharath and Saraswati know so there’s no backing out now. Vincent has been a little hesitant about doing it but it’s too late. I’ve been a little hesitant about doing the dance too because I was born with two left feet. I have the heart a dancer but that’s where it end…physically it just isn’t there. Vincent has performed a lot of dances in his lifetime and said that he would take us under his wings. I had bought some good quality coffee as a gift for Guruji’s birthday but I think that being part of this dance is a better to gift to give. I can easily buy Guruji coffee but to put the effort to learn to dance and perform on his birthday would be priceless.
Later that morning we had our first practice. We showed everybody interested the film clip from where the music and dance was taken from. The song is called “Maahi Ve” which means “my love” and is taken from the movie “Kal Ho Na Ho”. Vincent and Stanley helped us get through the basic moves. The women in the group instantly loved it. As expected I was terrible and shameless but that has never stopped me…practice, practice, practice…all is coming.