Planes are too fast. Like anonymous capsules that spin you into a warp. And suddenly you are breathing a new air.how does one prepare for this ?  Rustam is surprised that ppl are brown and speak the same language that he speaks at home. Fortunately too overawed to ask questions; existential or otherwise . I am surprised at the poster  inciting travellers from Nigeria, Syria, Somalia and Pakistan to vaccinate themselves with the polio vaccine.  A bit too pretentious for what I know to be a dismal health system.
Hired car. Trying vainly to recognize Kolkata at 2 am.  Through constructions, shadows and posters of politicians: Smug,fat and smiling. Till I realize that one can’t recognize a city without the people who make it. A sudden lake ( yes there are lakes in this metropolis) and   the  big fat moon that still looks like  a spoon. THank goodness for Dylan. Restores faith in all kind of things.