Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Heartbeats lead to my many homes


Like Google Earth the idea zooms in from way up high. Western hemisphere, North America, Canada, Western Ontario, Greater Toronto, Markham or Downtown Toronto. Finally at street level, the idea finds me: 5 feet tall, in my 4th decade, woman, Indian by birth, Canadian by passport.

And here I am, walking with people in the dark of the night to enjoy something I had heard about but had not ventured out to explore until this year, 2012.

No more waiting, no more 'next year maybe' thoughts. It is now and I am leaving: with you or without you, I say. My son comes with me, his father does not. Strolling is not something everyone has time for.

I hide behind the permission of the Academy and say that it is for a school project. I do my mothering work and then cajole my son to go with me as leaving him all alone that entire night with his busy father is asking for trouble. Food is a hook and it works. Adventure is another, and that works too: in my favour.

"Are we safe" he wants to know. "I know what I am doing, I am a Mumbai girl" I declare and I see him settle into a comfortable zone. I take refuge in the 'street cred' earned in another urban space, popularised in North American consciousness through films and Bollywood stereotypes.

"I know this bus route", he declares, more confident as we approach the bus stop. My TTC warrior is following in the footsteps of an illustrious sister who has left for greater heights into another urban space, knows about tickets and transfers.

Yonge Street and he is a little boy again, 10 years ago. He recalls those times when he had to sit on my lap then to be able to look out of the window. Now I scramble to the window as he is taller than I am and can block my view. Time flies.

My son has realised that he does not need a male protector to get him to a place far away from his suburban home and back. His mother is enough. More than enough.


Amin, A (2007): Rethinking the urban social, City, 11:1, 100-114

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