A Time to Kill.....

When I moved into Hyderabad in 2005, I decided to follow my mother's example. So, I got up at 6 sharp, only to discover that the milk man comes in at 6.30, the water is pumped at 7, the sweeper comes at half past eight and shops open only at 10.

Unlike Chennai, which is abuzz at 6 in the morning, the land of the Nawabs creaks its bones at 7 A.M in summer, and much later in winter. No dawn walkers here. Anyone who walks at an unholy hour like 6 is assumed to be sleep-walking or suffering from insomnia, or worse - a chain snatcher.

I soon learnt that when your carpenter or electrician tells you, "Podhdhuna Ochesaamu" (Will come early in the morning"), he is making a tentative schedule to drop in at around 10 - 11 A.M any time that week - or that fortnight!

Similarly, we found that any invitation we receive for any function, is silent as regards time.

"At what time is the function?"

"7, 7.30.."

"7 or 7.30?"

"That's right!"

"???"

There is also another way of answering this trick question:

"At what time is the function?"
"7-ish"

- You will notice that this answer gives you a buffer of nearly an hour!


The worst part is, this attitude seems to have rubbed itself off on the bird-life here as well.
There is a dove family that is residing beneath the A.C in our bedroom window.
The parents tuck the little ones in to bed at 9 p.m, after which, you will not hear a twig snap beneath their claws.

The family sleeps fitfully throughout the night, right through the morning prayers from the mosque at 5.00 A.M (a recorded voice),the milkman's ring at 6.30 and the sweeper's ring at half-past eight. By the time the mama- dove pulls off the straws and peeps through the A.C and declares that its such a fine morning,it is close to 9 A.M.

If that's the early bird, then the less that is said of the worm the better!