Frankie goes to town .. (or so it seems)

Right ... time for first ‘real’ entry in this blog. Real? Well, I should think so ‘cos this is as close to the ‘real’ as you’re gonna get to Colombo and especially me ... unless you’re gonna come down here and experience it first hand.

Oh … by the way this is not a narrative about the city. Rather, it’s an account of the city’s little and not so little influences on me and how I’m shaped by the city and city by me … as if!

For a person who love a bit of idiosyncratic rumblings and have a mind that can wander far and in between and have the patience to discover the true soul of another being, Colombo is the right kind of place to be. It’s ancient and it’s new. It’s beautiful and it’s horrid. It’s rich and it’s poor. And it’s all of this packed in to an area the size of Manhattan. But however small it is … you’ll never find an end to its charms and vices, all the dark and beautiful secrets that lie around the next corner.

Enough about that already … or I’m gonna loose the suspense here. Let’s start our journey right here, right now, with this conversation:

Boy: H..Hi …. I***?
She: Yes, Who is this? (Rather too quick for the boys liking)
Boy: Umm…I ... I
She: How did you get this number?
Boy: (wincing) Well, umm ... from a friend. You know him? R**** from A*** ??
She: Who??
Boy: He said you know him ... well you must know...
She: Ok anyways … so what?
Boy: Well, I… umm I wanted to know whether you … uh, will be at At*******?
She: Did who ever, who gave you this number told you that?
Boy: Huh? Uh, Yeah …
She: Hmm…maybe I am. What do you want?
Boy: Will you be there today?
She: Yes.
Boy: (evidently flustered) Oh … ah...ok. Hmm… what about Sunday?
She: No. Not Sunday.
Boy: (with relief) Not Sunday??
She: No.
(pause)
She: Sunday, I’m going home.
Boy: Monday?
She: Monday of course. From the morning.
Boy: Will I be able to meet you if I …uh I uh …come on Monday?
She: Hmm…
Boy: At what time?
She: Anytime. Umm… give me a call before you come.
Boy: Ok .. to where?
She: Well, I’m always at …
Boy: At******* ?
She: Yes.
Boy: Ok I***, I’ll call you on Monday then …
She: Ok.
Boy: Oh .. uhh… I*** ummmm….I ah, can I know ..the umm ..the price at At******?
She: It’s 1000 for me and 600 for the hotel. 1600 altogether.
Boy: Oh ...(almost says ‘great!!’) ok ..I’ll call you ..
She: …On Monday then.
Boy: Yeah ..umm bye I***.
She: Bye.