Some days i wake up.

Which now that i see it in words, is, quite often, a pleasant surprise. Although, some days, not so pleasant. 

I'm embroiled in a legal issue with a bank. So far the bank is winning, with a little help from the Indian system of jurisprudence.

Whatever the Courts of India are, they are not a forum for the People in which they can air their grievances and expect a speedy resolution from an impartial court. The Court's assumption seems to be that if an individual is present before it, and has a beef against an Institution, e.g. a bank, then it is obvious that the individual is unaware of the sanctity of the Institution, and needs to be educated.

The last time i was talked down to from such a large height was when i was on the carpet in the headmaster's office at the boarding school i attended. And just thinking about it in rational terms makes me realize how relative reason is.

I think i'd much rather ruminate on kindness that costs a lot.

See, i've been watching my very SoCal friend deal with his very rural Andhra housekeeper's 5 year old adorable daughter. That 'adorable' part is as reported by my other desi friends. I'm afraid i'm more Spock-like when it comes to that sort of thing. But back to my SoCal friend, let's call him Ian, for no particular reason.

Now, i should make clear that, uh, Ian - i just figured out why Ian. much easier to type. - Ian, is a good man with children of his own and grandchildren in the offing. More than that he is, i believe, a genuinely kind man just chock full of good intentions. He manifests those qualities in his relationship with young Veena. He has paid for school/day care. He has clothed her and paid for her medical expenses when they occur. He gives her free run of his house and is quite willing to be interrupted by her in pretty much anything that he might be doing. Hell, he carries her home after she has fallen asleep watching the shows that she wants to watch. He also indulges himself by watching the pleasure with which the child responds to his unexpected gifts of knick-knacks, toys, and outfit matching accessories. Not to mention exotic fruits and candies. For exotic read, expensive. He also has a hearing problem that deafens him to the high pitched whine with which children, especially Indian children, have learned to manipulate their laboring elders who sometimes respond in the traditional fashion of parents, especially rural Andhra parents. Namely threats of incredible violence enhanced by sound effects and emotive body language. 

Now, Ian, when he sees that, and in his cannot-speak-the-language-so-let-me-shout-in-english, ,SoCal way of doing things tries to explain to Nagu, the mother, the pedamma actually, that violence breeds fear and not respect. Which, of course, frightens Nagu, what with Ian being the ostensibly angry Fount of Fortune and a generous paycheck and all. Veena is of course witness to that fear and in her understandable childishness uses it.

I don't think Ian has considered what the affect of his visa dependent presence, and predictable departure, (among other things, Ian is not a young, fit man), is having on that family dynamic.

And no, i cannot tell him. Ian does not value my opinion.