Maamu ko oxigun chad gaya." Second man: “Arre mian, maloom hai oxigun kisko chadta hai?" First man: “Tumhi bataa doh." Second man: “Oxigun raakeet ko chadta hai." First man: “Iskaa matlab?" Second man: “Samajh lo maamu ki upar rawaangi ki teyaari hai, raakeet ki tarah." I heard this conversation while running one morning in Bhopal.
Here’s the gist of it: Your uncle is now on oxygen; oxygen is put in rockets, to power them upwards; so, this is preparation for uncle’s departure heavenward.
Gallows humour has helped Bhopal cope with its tragedies, before and after 1984.The city is under siege, like all others. Funeral pyres do not cease burning; graves cannot be dug fast enough.