Gift List

everytime i get a first salary, i like to get little souvenirs for my loved ones. i have had the honour of having more than one first salaries so far, but my parents are one step ahead. they always have the same response. yahan sab kuch milta hai. we get everything we want here. right from the shirts i gifted dad that he would criticise for the wrong collar shape or the cheap price tag, to the big jewelled earring that was too heavy for my mom's ear lobes. to the french manicure kit that i got for didi which she says would be too tedious to use. my brother is "too proud" (his words) to ask me for anything except when it comes to a beatles t-shirt or a butter chicken treat. to mehul, who always asks for "a gift-wrapped me". but i am getting better at this. i have decided to give them memories rather than useful gifts. that they can't buy in the supermarket. and now comes the best part. i still technically spend the money on myself for buying that camera, but its the best gift i can give them. photographs.

its true that london has amazing things. things of convenience. but its more in the system rather than an item that you can gift to someone in india. starting with the transport system that helps you stop nagging with auto rickshaw fellows, dish washing, laundry machine monsters, or even well-behaved professional house help that helps you stop nagging with the classic indian maid. the one who would have to take leaves when her husband beats her up, or she has to make arrangements for the endless list of family and festivals. grocery although not fresh, but still the range available and easy to use when you don't have your mom at home. the forgotten assumed guarantee of electricity, water, gas and internet. cold weather and absence of dust that doesn't make you feel dirty and smelly when you come from outside. food doesn't go bad if left out overnight, there is not problem of not being able to store milk because you don't have a fridge like back in koregaon park. pedestrian is king of the street, never mind a super swanky porsche carrera racing towards you. and the sheer range of body care products, bodyshop - foot odour removing cream, cocoa butter cream and what not. its better in london, in barcelona i first used the shower gel thinking it was body lotion. :)

but coming back from the digression, these are things that are more about the life here, the life of convenience. what has been built over ages of fighting the harsh weather conditions, and bringing a discipline into people's lives to help them succeed. so for now i just focus all my gift funds on getting that awesome camera and sending back amazing pictures home. world here i come.