First Date First Show

A Blog begun years ago as a stroll on the Funny Side of Serious Street, highlighting India's problems. Revived by adding memories of old Bombay, including excerpts from Dreams of One Country.

FIRST DATE FIRST SHOW

Excerpted episode from Dreams of One Country - 1

 (An old Bombay Scene)

Collegians packed the Sterling’s lobby. Norman waited, suspecting more deception. When Cy ran up the steps he heard in the caverns of his mind music akin to 20^th Century Fox’s triumphant trumpets announcing the Next Attraction. At this first outing he was a rank amateur. His arm muscles twitched at the lightest touch on the armrest. Distractions surrounded them. Paper bags popping to celebrate screen clinches. Wisecracks. And the love calls of a pair of human koels - the male’s rising “ku-oo, ku-ooo, ku-ooo” in a melancholic crescendo; the female replying “keeek-keeek-keeek” and breaking into a flirtatious shriek – had the student crowd in splits. In the foyer at the Interval Norman glared at louts ogling Cy with glutinous eyes. She had three meat patties in quick time. He ordered three more. Chimes invited them in. Irma la Douce began.

‘I doubt you’re getting your money’s worth,’ said Cy. She smiled into screen glow.

He was admiring her profile. ‘I am.’

‘Of the movie, yaar.’

‘In any case,’ he reminded her, ‘you spent for the tickets.’

‘Not me. My boss. Ra (for Rakesh). He had an unexpected board meeting. So I…’

So Norman shut up. In the taxi going back, his lips itched to kiss her. They stopped at her Cuffe Parade office. In a last chance gamble he clutched her arm. Cy – not too politely - withdrew her precious limb. They stepped out into a mellow January sun.

‘Bye, Norman,’ she said. ‘I think you’re funnier than Shirley Maclaine.’

‘Cynthia, wait! Will I see you at the Ecs (the restaurant where he was a crooner in the band) soon?’

‘That depends.’ She stepped away.

‘On what?’ he called out.

‘Your imagination.’ She ran past the glass doors, out of sight.

Cynthia Lawson left him quivering. Back to Ra, he grouched. Great executive god in his carpeted shrine!

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Tail Lights

India Cinemascopic

My novel Dreams of One Country - for download on I-phone, pad or computer from Amazon.com - is a moving panorama of young dreams and ideas inspiring India's people to come together as Ek Desh (One Country) and build a truly modern nation.

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Old Bombay Whizz Tour

 A Blog begun years ago as a stroll on the Funny Side of Serious Street, highlighting India's problems. Revived by adding memories of old Bombay, including excerpts from Dreams of One Country.


                                               
Old Bombay Whizz Tour

This homecoming to Funny Lines returns to the past. So many memories of old Bombay – like the cinemascope scenes of thousands of commuters crisscrossing the city in any contraption that moved on wheels to defy the All-India Railway Strike and the Ganpati spectacle on Chowpatty beach – are part of Dreams of One Country. As in life, my novel is funny in parts, sad in parts.

The story is purposeful. Taking off from a heart-hugging love story set in years-ago Bombay, it tracks the only way India can lift herself from 135th out of 185 countries in HDI (Human Development Index) rating and rise to join the world’s most developed led by Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.S. Denmark has never launched a space probe. Quietly, this north European country pursues her objective of using every resource to enhance the people’s quality of life. Denmark is one of the few countries that offer free quality healthcare and education (school and university) to all citizens.

1. India Illuminiscopic:
Check out Dreams of One Country on Amazon.com. If the novel's Revolutionary Theme - the March to a NewIndia - appeals to you, you can download it on any device: I phones, pads or computers. In the 21st Century story youth lead India's people to unite as Ek Desh (One Country), to strive together and build an enlightened and truly modern nation

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