A Camp Fire and High Tech

I leave the office, go down the stairs, past the receptionist and pass the security. I stand on the sidewalk to Gandhi Bazaar Road. Going out in the street, leaving the tree behind me. I observe the traffic coming from the right. Cars, buses, motorcycles and autorickshaws. An uneven flow of traffic. 

  

Two cars pass. The gap is there. I stay in eye contact with the driver of an autorickshaw and go with a steady pace to the centerstripes. I turn and observe the traffic coming from the left. Its a clear path and I quickly cross the lane. I enter the sidewalk. Passing an ATM with double security and a streetwendor where they sell butterfried corn. I pass the local bar and enter the optician. 

Lenses are ordered. No eye examination. No documentation. I just tell them what I want and then I get it. No bureaucracy over here, just order. The price si  about 260, – NOK for 30 pairs of lenses. Afterwards, I check the prices for a pair of glasses. Depending on what kind of frame I going to choose, as can a pair of glasses cost about 300 to 500, – NOK. I take notes. I’m shopping and I’m collecting offers. 

Out on the sidewalk, the process is reversed. This time, 10 meters further up in the street. Evaluating traffic from the right, I look for the gap, staying in eye contact with the vehicle approaching. I make a magic gesture, as Mandrake would have put it, and go on with a even speed. Ignoring all the hoots and honks. Hence the traffic from the left. I find and maintain the eyecontact of the approaching veichle, I do the magical gesture and keep a steady walk. Viola, I’m on the other side of the street. 

I go towards the office and check the stores on my side of the roan. On a open slot, 2 houses from the office, a house is on the rise. In the courtyard stands an Indian woman. She has a child placed on the hip. Another child is crying and is holding her leg. She stirs in a pot. The pot is boiling over the campfire. Behind her, I can see the shed that she most unlikely sleeps in. It’s all taken inn, during the span of 3-4 seconds. I just go on.   

When I blink I have passed the security and are way beyond the reception. On my way up to the office, I reason over this. I’m on my way to a hightech office, with all our computers and gadgets. 30 meters away from here, a mother coos her dinner over a camp fire. Simultaneously.