December 2008 Hi! If you’ve known Dharini for more than 2 years, you might have read my tales about travelling through UK with Dharini. Well 2.5 years on, D found her way to Ahmedabad, the heart of Gujjuland, finding herself amidst all the Gujju food she loves to eat and I run away from. Dharini on a Gastronomical Tour Dharini’s call to my Mom before she gets here: “Aunty, I’d like to eat Undhiyu! I remember how it tasted the last time you made it and I have been trying to find that here but just haven’t been able to find Undhiyu as nice as the one that you make” Dharini’s words to my Mom, after Undhiyu, Bhakhri, Samosa Bun and several other Gujju delicacies: “Aunty my Mom is convinced I have gained 2 kilos on this trip!!!” (As if that’s humanly possible!!!!) Dharini on Moobs If you haven’t heard of this, moobs for Dharini are male boobs. And of course, she doesn’t shy from talking about them in publicly inappropriate places. Namely, my friend’s apartment in reference to the moobs of a dude sitting next to her which she wondered why he needed to cover. In the past though, she had indulged in comparisons. The men around Dharini, beware – she might be staring at your chest next! (Yes, she is a self-proclaimed feminist!) Dharini and her feathered friends Pigeons make Dharini happy. No seriously, they do. She starts smiling with a glint in her eyes when she sees one on her windowsill. At work, when bored with nothing quite entertaining to do, Dharini stares at pigeons. So when we came across a flock at C G Road, Dharini had to stop to feed them. Here’s the thing though, she decided to walk right into the flock, scaring them shitless and causing them to fly away before they realized she came bearing goodies. And she decided she needed to feed them herself. So there she was, picturesque and pretty, stepping out of a Victorian novel, being a gracious lady feeding one rather scrawny and greedy pigeon off her palm. While KK prayed she didn’t over feed them and end up having them crap over her newly straightened hair. Dharini thanks God for a blocked nose “Dharini, this guy has really cheap perfumes” “Thank God I have a blocked nose” “No I mean they sell really cheap perfumes” “Yeah, I’m glad I can’t smell it” “No, I mean they sell Gucci, Hugo and others at half price” “Huh?” “I mean they sell branded perfumes very cheap” “Ooooooooohhhhhhh…..” *tubelight* We’re debating whether this is a Yaminism or a Dharinism. Of course, then Dharini still crosses the roads like she owns them, still laughs her open laughs with no care in the world, still smiles to light up a forlorn sky, still listens patiently to silly rants before she discusses the seriousness of her own affairs… and she still lets me sleep in rather than berate me for falling asleep. Yes Dharini, you have the keys to that pretty little place in Greece, you are welcome to barge in whenever you like in New York – God knows I miss your stories involving slightly confused and paranoid men, writers with abysmal grammatical errors, journos on steroids, alcohol induced dancing at bar tables and silly little faux pas involving moobs – usually more than a pair. Most of all, I miss your ordering me to plunge head first, to be unafraid to fall because you have all the faith that I will stand up right no matter what. Love you and come and visit me in NYC soon! A link to Dharini's description of the trip is at http://www.xanga.com/armaana | 
