In the comfort of the duvet and soft pillows, the cool from the airconditioning running down your neck and the stillness of the night after midnight, it is difficult to contemplate what effort I should be making in sharing that moment of my personal self, which shall eventually form the text of this now, excessively written blog.

That moment of exercise and contemplation has passed by. The required energies that must excite the body have been motivated and the clearing skies have provided that sit out in the sun after months of protection from rain and moisture. I have put myself out to dry and the lawns at Prateeksha, surrounded now by high rises leaving nothing for the neighbors imagination, are fresh from the gallons of rain they have received during these past few months. As the hot sun beats down on the face from the east and climbs rapidly towards the west, hiding itself through faint whiffs of whitish cloud, forcing the shadows from the gulmohar to encroach upon the bunch of papers that adorn my mornings, there is a sense of contentment within.

The intensity of the sun has always induced the body to put it away for a while. The energy drains away and the eyes droop, itching for the master to pronounce that he may have had enough and wishes to move in. But there is a lot to be imbibed and a longer stretch with the Vit D, or the purported vitamin, is undertaken allowing the body to burn into a sweat and the face to have been brought to an even keel with the formality of a tan.

A long duration with the surya devta has not made anyone uncomfortable, but when you do go inside the portals of the house with some promise, the blindness of the eyes that follows, inspires us even more to be with nature. I shall in the morrow, and not regret a moment that may have remotely suggested that I would not.

For a  dinner ‘in town’, a term commonly used by the suburbanites to those that are now confirmed non participants in the procedure, it does no take us too long to get there. The drive over the Sea Link with its fascination lighting has improved the time taken from one end to the other. But what has looked at me in amazement is the changes that are taking place all over and around the city. Large and uncontrollable columns and columns of concrete seemingly touching the skies, dwarf one into insignificance. I am struck by the speed with which these structures begin to occupy all the spare locations and marvel at the construction genius of many such builders. Among the grey and staid concrete there is the striking blue of the advertisement sites, inviting one out of the 110 crore, to become that coveted millionaire and for a senior looking, grey haired, past his prime individual, talking silently the importance of dressing up with the prestigious Reid & Taylor !

But whatever the outcome, there is no denying that this is another city. Its reference as ‘town’ is apt. The streets are cleaner, everything looks a lot more organized, auto rickshaws are banned and people actually obey traffic lights ! Its not Shanghai as promised, but it has its own individuality.

The dinner is full of ‘long after’ friends, that one has been missing, and, in the middle of this up market social there are young ones that have visited the blog ! They are fascinated they say. I am embarrassed I say. The conversation continues into the merits of social sites and many innovations. One such being highheeledconfidential. com, or something close where many such young, bring up issues and topics of interest. I shall visit.

I learn about fishing and its export, for, the host does business with that. Lobster and squid are the favorites that find their way to Europe and the far east from India, particularly Japan. Most of the catch comes from off the coast of Gujarat, if you please. Brought into land through massive large trucks that go straight to packaging units at a factory and then out to the the docks for export by sea. Now onwards is the mating season and it is a considered opinion that the fish be not disturbed.

Ok !! Fine ! procreate please at your will, give us the joy of increasing our export earning !!

Love to you ~

Amitabh Bachchan