Sirop de Vanille

The faint humming of the heating system begins and I can smell the changes in the air – it smells warmer… not as crisp… not as fresh… slightly dusty and then I accept the change and let the warmth comfort me. Razai and heaters smelled almost the same… nicer :)Sutta and tea in the balcony. Tobacco and chai. Lipton Chai Blend – cloves, pepper, cinnamon, ginger… mmmmmm… halfway through the chai I close my eyes and smile to myself – I can smell wet earth and feel the rain on my face. I think of Delhi Monsoons – dust storms and the heat followed by the thundering rain! The damp earth, the heady warm aroma of quenched thirst followed by the smell of Maa’s cooking… pakodas fried till just right with spicey coriander and mint chutney! Served with piping hot overcooked overbrewed exceptionally awesome and sweet chai!I take in a deep breath of the rain drenched air and turn towards my room – my sutta over. She walks towards me with a bowl of rendang chicken curry and forces me to eat – I snap back to reality – my small room, a kitchen that smells of different countries every night and people – lots of them – Hugo, Elizabeth Arden, not worth mentioning, too disgusting to mention – Delhi far far away… a faint whiff of coconut oil and we are back in business! Maa massaging my hair with coconut oil and calming me down before important exams! My brother clicking pictures of me with oily hair to embarrass me!Friends – Dressing up – borrowed gloss and deos, just ironed fab India cotton… a spray of Davidoff………. an amazing blend of Kings and navy cut! Kingfisher and Smirnoff! Chicken Malai Tikka Roll from Rajinder! And Hot chocolate fudge from Nirulas! Mint and the smell of leaves (from rubbing our hands with them to get rid of the smell of smoke).Partying on the terrace – SMOG in winters! Pretty Delhi in Autumn… dry and cool and beautiful… smelling of tiny bonfires lit by watchmen and dew on dried leaves…The smell of a freshly showered boy (Fa) and a lazy girl smelling of sleep (all the above mentioned smells and more!)…And then just as suddenly as it had started – my reminiscing – me losing myself in this nebulous reverie – just as abruptly I stop. I snuggle in my blanket that now smells of lavender and doze off… no thoughts of Delhi… Delhi is far far away…