Extremes and then extremes...

Today was our last day at Vasant Kunj and we headed off early in the morning for our weekly meeting. Which quite frankly I have concluded at this point could easily be completed via teleconference. Was nothing that demanded an actual meeting. Then we went off for our site visit at SAHARA's Women's Rehab site where battered women as well as those who are drug addicts are provided w/services. We met up w/the coordinators and also spent quite some time talking w/the ladies. All of whom introduced themselves and told us a little about themselves. Everything from women shattered by domestic violence to street drug users...each w/their own story. One of the girls was 23 y/o and a drug user who had gotten pregnant from a drug dealer. She had arrived at the women's center unaware she was pregnant (she thought her stomach was growing from eating) until the women at the center told her she WAS pregnant---and that too five months pregnant. She wanted to get it aborted but that was not possible so she was sent home to her mother---in the slums near Jama Masjid. She delivered at home w/the help of a dai---untrained nurse midwife (no medical expertise/resources whatsoever). She has the MOST adorable son---who had experienced drug withdrawal because she had injected drugs throughout her pregnancy. Another one of the girls was married but had been the victim of domestic violence and had been left at her parent's place by her husband. From there through referrals she found herself at the center seeking help. She is hoping to possibly leave the center in due time and work as a beautician as well as make good use of her sewing skills---both of which she obtained at the center. Many more stories...each one unique...and each one equally touching. We then had lunch w/them (which was delicious---tasted like ghar ka khaana) and headed off to SAHARA's Men's Rehab. We spent some time there watching one of the sessions...and thereafter Farah and Paul joined into a game of ping pong w/the clients. Brave and talented souls both are.

Post site visits we headed off to the PVR at Saket (PVR is like the AMC of India). But pre-movie (which we never actually saw) we had dinner at Pizza Hut (must add Farah did her thing and had Subway lol). Then went to the theater only to find NONE of the timings were do-able. So instead we went to the Baristas nearby and hung out. It is just amazing to me the extremes that we live in or more so the people here live in. Throughout the day at the site visits it is like being in one world (with so much need....so much pain...) and then we head off to these places which are an altogether different world (where there is so much money...and style...and such an upscale lifestyle). Farah made a great point while we sat in Baristas...India really has changed. I see more now then ever bfr that this is anything but the India I grew up hearing about. I think the extremes have reached an altogether new level---u sit in the Baristas and sip away your 55 Rs. Latte or whatever while right outside you have kids walking around begging for money. Which may I add is a sad situation for more then one reason. Sure many of these kids DO need the money but it has almost become a business in itself. Some of these kids are exploited etc and some have just decided to make a life out of it. They decline any offer for other types of help (e.g. to be admitted to a school) and wld rather make a living begging for money. Clearly there is NO one person or group to blame. It would be in just to blame those who are begging but it would be equally wrong to simply point fingers at those sitting in the Baristas or Coffee Day. In fact that entire complex was something---there was PVR Theaters, Pizza Hut, Ruby Tuesday's, Benigan's, Baristas, Coffee Day, Nescafe as well as other stuff that I must be forgetting!!! Half of that does not even sound like we are in India does it??? Enough of my rambling. Left the area after a brief and very entertaining session watching an audition for SaReGaMaPa (a musical show on Zee like Indian Idol for the uninitiated)...and Farah was asked to participate but she let the golden opportunity pass :(:(:( I was SAD. They also came forward to ask to comment on one of the participants and I had my two seconds of fame which I totally blew by speaking like one who has never learned grammar as Farah so rightly pointed out later. They had actually approached Emma first but she just hid behind Farah ;););)

We just finished packing and will head off to Jaipur tomm morning...