Lucknow Boy

by Guest Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:27 pm

This is on my reading list:

http://books.hindustantimes.com/2011/11/ed-over-heels/

Enjoyed reading the extracts from the book.

by Marathadi-Saamiyaar Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:35 pm

you mean the first line and the last line in that book review ?

you mean Excerpts?

by Guest Wed Nov 09, 2011 2:53 pm

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:you mean the first line and the last line in that book review ?

you mean Excerpts?

no, i read the entire article. (Vinod Mehta, Outlook editor and the writer of this book, is one of my favourite Indian journalists.) i liked, in particular these lines:

Easily, my gravest folly in the eight years I lived in Britain was my
conduct towards Inge (name changed), an agreeable and striking girl
from Switzerland. She was among the one or two steady girlfriends I had.
Inge was middle class, Catholic, her father owned a small speciality
restaurant and her English was pretty good even before she landed in
England. She genuinely cared for me and in different circumstances, I
might have considered settling down with her. Contraception was a hit
and-miss precaution in those days. The inevitable happened. Inge got
pregnant.
We had a long conversation in which we agreed on a course of action.
It would have to be a backstreet abortion (the half a bottle of gin and
hot bath treatment had not worked) since the official kind was illegal. I
located an address in Soho where the job could be done. It was going to
cost fifty quid, a huge amount for me. I rustled up the money. And then
Inge threw a bombshell: she had strong religious objections reinforced
by her parents and her priest.

I explained I was 21 years old with no prospects, and hardly able to
fend for myself. How was I going to support a wife and child? There was a
suggestion that I could go to Switzerland and work in her father’s
restaurant. Me, a cook? Or a waiter? Eventually, I succeeded in
convincing Inge that any long-term future with me had disaster written
all over it… But first she wanted to go home for a week to see her
parents. I saw her off at Victoria Station.

A week passed, two weeks passed, a month passed, no Inge. Finally, I
got a letter saying she had discussed the matter with her parents and
her priest. She would have the baby; being Catholics the idea of
abortion was anathema to her people. Letters went to and fro but she
appeared resolute. In the end, I had to tell her if she was insistent,
she would be on her own.

That is the last I heard from her.

The priest took over. After a Christian appeal to my conscience
failed, matters turned unpleasant. I was threatened with a paternity
suit. A summons was served. One of Inge’s friends was still an au pair
in Surrey. I begged her to talk to Inge. There was no way, given my
situation, that I could marry her. Inge didn’t write to me directly but
through her friend she sent a message: she understood my position. But
she was going to have the baby.

Some months later, the same friend told me that I had become the
father of a girl. She was absolutely gorgeous. I received a picture. The
gorgeous bit was true. Unfortunately, no one told me what name had been
given to her, and I received no subsequent photograph or communication
from Switzerland.

My daughter must be in her mid-40s now, probably a mother, which
makes me a grandfather. I have no idea where she lives, what she does,
what she thinks of me. I have often tried to imagine her and in this
reverie I have prayed that perhaps through some happy accident our paths
might cross. It hasn’t happened yet.

I have been married twice, but no children. The only child I have is a
stranger to me and lives in a faraway land. I don’t have many regrets
in life and generally I have not been a ‘bastard’ with women. On this
occasion, I was. I don’t expect to be forgiven.

by chameli Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:05 pm

rashmun,

is this vinod mehta's story ? real life ? sad it is

perhaps he can still hunt his daughter down .not too difficult these days

by Guest Wed Nov 09, 2011 3:18 pm

chameli wrote:rashmun,

is this vinod mehta's story ? real life ? sad it is

perhaps he can still hunt his daughter down .not too difficult these days

yes, vinod mehta's autobiography.

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:25 am

chameli wrote:
perhaps he can still hunt his daughter down .not too difficult these days

on the contrary, it must have been very easy for his daughter to track him down -- just a mouse click. yet she's made no attempt to contact him. i mean the message is clear: do not disturb.

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 8:56 am

What a jerk this Vinod Mehta fella is! i don't feel bad for him that he doesn't have kids from both his marriages.

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:01 am

How come he had no kids from 2 marriages? How come he isn't doubting this Inge person?

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:05 am

Tracy Whitney wrote:How come he had no kids from 2 marriages? How come he isn't doubting this Inge person?

LOL, Trace! You have a valid point though.

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:11 am

LOL! i'm beginning to think this inge is a made up story by vinod mehta to attract readers.

by Guest Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:20 am

In all probability, u could be right, Huze. The guy could be just making up a juicy story to attract the readers.

by chameli Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:08 pm

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:
chameli wrote:
perhaps he can still hunt his daughter down .not too difficult these days

on the contrary, it must have been very easy for his daughter to track him down -- just a mouse click. yet she's made no attempt to contact him. i mean the message is clear: do not disturb.

we are just surmising .the daughter may not be keen to meet him but if he is wanting to ...he could track her down and see for himself

all is not lost yet

I dont think he would show such emotions just for the heck of it

come on ladies Rolling Eyes

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