Ode to Lata (37 page)

Outside, I find Mr. Klaus looking down at the barren patch, shaking his head, hands planted on his waist.

“We found out what was killing your flowers,” he says without looking up at me.  “That damn lady upstairs has been dumping cleaning detergent in here.”

Taken by surprise, because for once I’m not evil incarnate in his eyes, I stammer,  “Oh, well, that’s completely… not right.”

“No, it certainly isn’t,” he says.  “I’m going to have a talk with her about this.”  He points to the freshly planted shoots in the moist soil.  “Soon we’ll have this part looking as good as the rest.”

“Thank you,” I say and lock my door.  “The garden looks really great.”

“Damien,” he says, nodding his head.  “Damien’s being working really hard on all this.”

“You must be very proud of him then.”

“Yes.  I must say I’m very impressed with him.”

Just when I think a little breakthrough in communication has occurred and I begin to walk away, Mr. Klaus launches into a complaint about the music last night – as if he is unable to let any conversation end on a pleasant note.  But this time, instead of rolling my eyes at him or lashing back, I simply continue walking.  I’m thinking of my name spelt erroneously on the invitation, and I smile to think that there are advantages to an unkempt mailing list.

Sometimes they come back.

Many of the words in this glossary belong to more than one dialect or language, as is typical when cultures assimilate.  Some words, although attributed to a specific language, are only used regionally and remain largely unrecognized in the official directory of the language.  In some cases, regional peoples develop entirely new words or phrases; these have been left unattributed to a specific background. 

Aap ki nazro ne samja pyaar ke kabil mujhe
(HINDI): your eyes have considered me worthy of love; song from Bollywood film
Anpadh;
sung by Lata Mangeshkar. 

Achari
(SWAHILI): any type of relish. 

Aga Khan:
philanthropist and religious leader of the Shi’i Imami Ismaili Muslims; presently the forty-ninth direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad. 

Apsara:
a supernatural female being in Hindu mythology who can take you to your doom is she desires. 

Attars
(URDU): perfumes. 

Au toke hero laafo mar-ni
(KUTCHI): I will give you such a slap/beating 

Banda
(SWAHILI): kiosk or shack. 

Bankra
(KUTCHI): benches. 

Bapa
(KUTCHI): grandpa. 

Bechari
(HINDI): poor thing. 

Be-sharam
(HINDI): shameless. 

Beta
(HINDI): son 

Bhagat
(KUTCHI): devotee 

Bhajias:
potato fritters 

Bhashan
(HINDI): lecture 

Bhuri-Bhuri
(KUTCHI): used to describe someone with light-colored eyes; like saying someone is fair. 

Bohora
Muslim Shi’i sect. 

Booblas
(KUTCHI): slang, boobs. 

Bwana
(SWAHILI): brother. 

Chadis
(HINDI): knickers. 

Chai:
Spiced Indian tea. 

Chapati:
Indian flat what bread similar to a tortilla. 

Char
(KUTCHI): itch. 

Chodu
(KUTCHI): fucker. 

Chokdi
(GUJARATI): girl. 

Chattur kagro goo upar bese
(GUJARATI ADAGE): a picky crow ends up perching on shit in the end. 

Dam maro dam mit jaye gaam
(HINDI): take a puff and your sorrow will be erased; song from Bollywood film,
Hare Rama Hare Krishna
, sung by Asha Bhosle. 

Dhanni
(KUTCHI): husband. 

Dhorias
(KUTCHI): whites. 

Dhorio
(KUTCHI): white male. 

Dhorki
(KUTCHI): white female. 

Diwali:
Hindu celebration; the festival of lights for Ram’s return to Ayodhya after years in exile. 

Doodh-malai:
desert made with milk and cream. 

D’ua
(URDU): prayer. 

Fagia
(SWAHILI): broomstick. 

Gandu
(HINDI): faggot. 

Gangha
(SWAHILI): witchcraft. 

Gand
(KUTCHI): ass. 

Geli-danda:
a game involving a piece of wood, sharpened at both ends, and propelled by the use of a wooden bat; its rules resemble that of cricket. 

Golo
(KUTCHI): black.  

Goras
(HINDI): whites. 

Gujarati:
language of Gujarat, India. 

Ghungroos:
ankle bells. 

Ginans:
religious hymns. 

Halwa:
sweetmeat invented in 1750 by the ruler of Multan after whom it was named. 

Han, han:
yes, yes 

Haram zade
(HINDI): bastard. 

Haya:
okay. 

Hazar Imam:
the present Imam or spiritual leader of the Ismailis. 

Hushyar
(KUTCHI): clever. 

Ismailis:
Shi’i Muslim sect that believes the Prophet Muhammad was succeeded by a uninterrupted chain of Imams. 

Jaise Radha ne mala japi Shyam ki:
just as Radha wove Shyam’s garland; based on Hindu mythology’s love legend of Radha and Krishna; song from the Bollywood film,
Tere Mere Sapne
, sung by Lata Mangeshkar. 

Jamat Khanna
(KUTCHI): mosque or prayer house for the Ismailis. 

Kaunda suits:
a two-piece men’s suit named after Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s former president. 

Khabar ayi neh
(KUTCHI): you know, right? 

Keemat
(HINDI): value. 

Khatar-naakh
(HINDI): dangerous. 

Khima chapatis:
Mombasa cuisine; pan-fried bread stuffed with eggs and spiced ground beef. 

Khoji
(KUTCHI): female Ismaili. 

Khudda
(KUTCHI/URDU): God. 

Kitenges:
traditional and colorful African clothing made of cotton. 

Kutchi:
language from Kutch region in Gujarat state of India. 

Kutri sali
(KUTCHI): damn bitch. 

Lunchamos
(SPANISH): let’s lunch. 

Mabuyus:
morsels of baobab fruit that are cooked in sugar and dyed red. 

Machar-dani
(KUTCHI): mosquito net. 

Maghenis
(KUTCHI): guests. 

Maghrab/maghrib
(URDU): dusk. 

Makonde:
an African people who lived in the Savannah highlands of East Africa. 

Malayas
(SWAHILI): prostitutes. 

Mama kuba
(SWAHILI): matriarch or grandmother. 

Manzil
(HINDI): destination. 

Marungi:
an African plant eaten raw; a stimulant. 

Mataji
(HINDI): mother. 

Matha-kuti
(KUTCHI): fuss; headache. 

Mein azaad hoon
(HINDI): I am free. 

Meri beti kitni akalmand hai
(HINDI): my daughter is so intelligent. 

Mi culo esta ardiendo
(SPANISH): my ass is burning. 

Mishkake
(SWAHILI): barbecued meat. 

Mithais:
Indian desert.

Monthar:
Indian sweetmeat. 

Mowla
(URDU): Lord. 

Mujrah:
traditional Indian dance popularized by the courtesans. 

Muindis
(SWAHILI): Indians. 

Mukhi
(KUTCHI): the chief (male) religious priest in the Ismaili community. 

Mungu
(SWAHILI): God. 

Mzungus
(SWAHILI): whites. 

Na Jaane Kya Hua Jo Tune Chu Liya
(HINDI): I don’t what happened now that you’ve touched me; song from Bollywood film
Dard
, sung by Lata Mangeshkar. 

Nandhi:
food auction after evening prayers, the proceeds of which go to the Ismaili community. 

Nankhatais:
butter cookies. 

Paisa:
money. 

Pakeezah
(URDU): title of a Bollywood film; also means pure.  

Paki
(KUTCHI): complete or firm. 

Panchaat
(KUTCHI): gossip. 

Parorie:
prayer from 3:30 AM to 5:30 AM for Ismailis. 

Pata nahin kahan se ajate hain
(HINDI): I don’t know where they come from. 

Piya tu aab to aaja
(HINDI): lover, please come to me now; song from Bollywood film,
Caravan,
sung by Asha Bhosle. 

Pumbafus
(SWAHILI): stupid. 

Rani Mata
(HINDI): queen mother. 

Rasra:
traditional Gujarati folk dance. 

Sadhris
(KUTCHI): mats. 

Sagaai:
engagement. 

Satado:
dedicating a week’s worth of prayers to a specific calamity or cause in the Ismaili community. 

Sati
(HINDI): ancient Hindu practice where a widow immolates herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.  

Shairis
(HINDI): poems. 

Sheesha ho ya dil ho, akhir toot jata hai
(HINDI): whether it’s a heart or a glass, eventually it breaks; song from Bollywood film
Ashaa.
sung by Lata Mangeshkar. 

Shogas
(KUTCHI): faggots. 

Silsila
(HINDI): title of a Bollywood film; also means chain of events. 

Taqat
(KUTCHI): seat or throne of God. 

Tasbih
(URDU): rosary. 

Taturi
(KUTCHI): penis. 

Thapar
(HINDI): slap. 

Tun mari waat sambhar
(GUJARATI): listen to what I’m saying. 

Uhuru
(SWAHILI): independence.  

Umbwas
(SWAHILI): dogs. 

Utsav
(SANSKRIT): festival.  

Vashiah
(HINDI): prostitute. 

Wah-wah
(HINDI): praise, bravo. 

Yaar
(HINDI): friend. 

Yeh duniya, yeh mehfil, mere kaam ki nahin
(HINDI): this world, this gathering is of no use to me; song from Bollywood film,
Heer Ranjha,
sung by Mohammed Rafi. 

Yeh kya jage hain, doston
(HINDI): what is this place, friends? Song from Bollywood film,
Umrao Jaan
, sung by Asha Bhosle.

This book,
Ode to Lata
, is a work of fiction.  Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2011 by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Author, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

Cover Design: Warner Alas

Photo: Sachin Bhatt (Ali) from the feature film,
The Ode
based on
Ode to Lata.
Photo by Ghalib Shiraz Dhalla.

A version of this book was first published as
Ode to Lata
(2002) by Really Great Books.

HE MARKED THE END of even a fleeting affair with a ritual of personal destruction.  Some punish plastic, others gorge on food to fill the infinite void left by love, the hope of it, but he needed to raze something, to actually remove something from him, his realm.