Running out of the subway, I ran into the bus-stand and not seeing the bus, asked the African gentleman "42?".
"Gone".
"Oh no".
I turn and enter into a couple nested shells of thought.
"I too miss... bus..." smiling African gentleman "I look at schedule of 29 and go for a walk. hihi...".
"Bad luck!" I am happy to have someone who is interested in a conversation.
Instead of names, countries of origin are exchanged. His eyes light up when I say "I am from India".
"Me from Benin!"
Some light conversation ensues. Later in the bus he enters into couple of shells(probably searching for what he knows on India) and says " You know... Gandhi?". From the question, I guessed, he doesn't expect me to personally know Gandhi, nor to impersonally not know Gandhi, he is just saying he knows of Gandhi. I put in some comment on South Africa, hoping he would find it relevant.
He turned out to be staying in the same builing as myself and during the brief walk from the bus stop to the apartment he says "India has the Bomb.. ha.. Atomic Bomb?".
Me "Ya ya. You think it's good?".
"Yes. America has... I hope you understand what I say?"
"Yes, you mean so it's good for one of us third-world countries to have it too?"
"YES! YES!" broad smile.
Interesting this thought of the Indian Bomb and third world camaraderie.
I say a couple of more bad things about the Bomb, and later, since he had to pass my apartment, I say "Come in" hoping he would not(bachelor's room you see).
"Some time later" and he leaves. Time was 11:50PM.(A native French speaker saying the three words - Some, Time, Later could mean anything.)
Sounds of vaccum cleaner from my room at midnight and my attempts to keep the name of India "clean" amidst the third-world camaraderie. Tuesday, April 09, 2002
