Mr. Sagar Laroya, Lt. Col Indian Navy (Ret'd)

This is the name of our landlord as it appears on the brass nameplate at the entrance to his lovely garden.  Each morning he put out birdseed and lingers in the garden, sometimes wandering into the  street to talk to neighbors.  There are several elderly men who take walks in their salmar kalmeez and others who jog in the park.  Sagar (he asked us to call him by his first name) invites us for salty lime or sweet lime soda, and he tells us everything we need to know.  His house guest, Profesor Kajima, an economist researching transport and communication her, also joins.  Sagar  told us he just barely survived the Partition of 1947.  His parents had both died when he was young and he was leaving the Punjab with his uncle by convoy, heading to Delhi, when their truck broke down and blocked the following vehicles.  Those ahead continued, and where the road forked around Lahore, they went north.  Later, when the truck was repaired they proceeded south around Lahore.  When they reached the meeting place, no one was there. The convoy had been attacked and every man, woman and child was killed - over 2,000 people.  Sagar's uncle eventually built this house, in 1952, when the place was still jungle.  His wife died 22 years ago from cancer, and today he volunteers his time at hospitals giving comfort to the dying. He is an elegant, articulate gentleman, and I've wiled several interesting hours listening to his stories.