The air is heavy

Central Park in June. I was running, they were cycling.

We have a new strongman as Prime Minister in India, one who speaks audibly and acts visibly and the Dutch exacted a punishing revenge on the Spaniards in the World Cup. Life as viewed from the two countries around which my life principally orbits, India and The Netherlands, makes sense, however briefly.

The air all day has been unbearably heavy, humidity close to 90%. The monsoon is expected within 48 hours. As the evening wears on it hits with a few sharp jolts of heavy showers. The real deluge will hit within a few days, washing down our dirt if not our sins.


The kids are off for the 'summer' aka monsoon and much relieved. Mira is resurfacing after months of exam preparation, Tarini is mentally digesting the last of the year's school girl tussles. We had breakfast at Mondi's today, our comfort zone, catching up on a Sunday morning.

There is an unrealistic explosion of hope following the election of Narendra Modi, hope that is sure to be tempered if not dashed. Our streets will be clean and safe. Businesses will grow and flourish. Jobs will materialize for all of the 10 million youngsters unleashed onto the job market annually. Our borders will be safer. Neighbours and foreign powers will respect us. Decisions will be made and implemented.


The news channels report of daily assaults on women in rural India, one more gruesome than the other. Border skirmishes continue between India and Pakistan. The Prime Minister warns of tough choices ahead in the months and years to come and it's clear that these won't just be financial or economic. Safety for the common woman and man is still far off.

Last weekend
I’m on board a Emirates flight from NYC to Dubai. A man standing at the bar in the Airbus 380 says loudly to a South Asian man next to him, “Mumbai is disgusting. I need to go to India for two weeks of work and I am NOT looking forward to it.” That’s my imperfect, vibrant, resilient, accommodating Mumbai he’s talking about. Want to bet on a city that will be around in full force 100 years from now? Bet on Bombay, amchi Mumbai.

Bet on India. The right to Governance will win. The air is heavy with expectation.

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