| A month has passed! A long and what would have | | | | blinking like lights, and she would sing in her own |
| been an insufferable month but for my computer | | | | sweet, not-so-melodious voice, a voice that, |
| in my apartment in this unfriendliest of places | | | | nonetheless, was music to my lonely ears. In this |
| called Huainan in the Anhui province of the People's | | | | unfriendliest of places, I had my very friendly |
| Republic of China. Don't get me wrong. China is | | | | darling - my computer!But my darling is aging. |
| generally a very friendly place, especially to | | | | She's already something like sixty (oops, six, I |
| foreigners - at least at a superficial level. And, | | | | should say!) and she's been with a few others. |
| who has the time or need to probe deeper? But | | | | But, she never says anything about them, never |
| Huainan? Huainan's another story! It was among | | | | makes me feel less loved and never compares |
| the world's ten-most crime-infested cities and it | | | | my skills against theirs. So, when I am with her, I |
| held on to its position for a long time until the | | | | think she's mine, and only mine!My darling's a little |
| powers-that-be stepped in, cleaned up their act, | | | | slow! I thouch her once, press, you-know-where |
| and the streets of hoodlums.When I first arrived | | | | and then I have to wait while she hums and |
| here, my students advised caution. 'Don't go to | | | | sends the right message to her bird-brain that her |
| Caijiagang alone,' they said. Caijiagang is one of | | | | lover is ready for her. I wait patiently. No point |
| Huainan's unfriendlier-still neighbourhoods and one | | | | rushing her, I know. That might anger her and |
| where the hangover from the criminal past lingers | | | | cause her to lose interest. Oh, my darling! But, I |
| on. 'Don't go out alone at night' and 'don't get into | | | | know what I need to do to keep her in good |
| any argument with any strangers,' were other | | | | humour. Wait, and then, when she's ready, start! |
| recommendations. I did it all and, thankfully, still | | | | Easy!I am a simple bloke and know little about |
| survived. Well, maybe Huainan is not as unfriendly | | | | what goes on in my darling's little peabrain and my |
| as to cause me physical injury but it's unfriendly | | | | sweetheart realizes that. I never force too many |
| enough to leave emotional scars. Well, not really | | | | tasks on her and she reciprocates by doing the |
| emotional emotional!Anyway, in this unfriendliest of | | | | simple things I need her to do - though |
| places, with all my acquaintances having left for | | | | sometimes, she does them rather slowly. But, |
| their homes, leaving the vast university campus | | | | then, some things in life must not be rushed. |
| practically to me alone, I had little choice but to | | | | Some things in life must be relished and enjoyed |
| stay cloistered in my apartment. My broken rib | | | | at a relaxed leisurely pace.Hey Darlin', Compy, I |
| didn't help matters either. But, my darling | | | | luv Ya!Rajesh Kanoi (Jack) is a published writer, |
| computer waited for me every single day. She | | | | now living and working in China. Many of his |
| waited whenever I left her to go out for a stroll, | | | | short-stories, poems and articles have been |
| a meal or whatever else. And, when I would | | | | published, including a book of short-stories, 'From |
| return and touch her, she would smile, her eyes | | | | China With Love' (Lipstick Publishing). |