On a holiday in Goa. This afternoon I was sitting at a peaceful sea facing quiet restaurant on a breezy afternoon. After ordering my veg meal and listening to my favourite song list. Content.
Then came in a group of 6 holiday people in their late 60’s and sat at s table next to mine. My ‘excotic’ food platter arrived. An elderly gentleman from that table, smiled in surprise looking at my plate, I smiled back in amusement.
A few minutes later, he looked at me and seemed to be asking me something.. I had to once again take a break from my reverie to respond..
Are you Lucy ? he asked…” – No. I smiled. Wishing I was.
I waited for him to say something more.. he went back to his phone murmuring.. Oh my phone must be picking up someone else network….I smiled.
And went back to my earphones. And trying to enjoy my exotic food in silence
Another Mexican lady came and handed over a pamphlet to the guests about a Halloween party at Varca (a beach nearby) ..
We smiled (more people now making eye contact from the next table) politely, and in shared surprise at Halloween in Goa.
I quickly went back.
Alas.the break wasn’t much.
Where is Varca? He asked. – I had to look at he Map and explain. They asked if it was walkable.. and I responded.. appropriately.
Are you from here, Goa? – Yes and No I said. And went on to explain. My goa roots and Mumbai shoots.
I felt I had to ask, as the polite thing to do where they were from – England they said. Going on to explain how it was called Great Britain – but now the ‘Great’ had disappeared.
Have you been there? – No not yet, I said.
And then…it happened !!
Someone at the table said – “Oh but you speak very good English”
I paused – remembering a deja vu moment – When I had gotten offended at the surprise in the tone, and those exact words – and at that time also had a smart retort.
As I came back to this moment , I heard them telling each other, that English is taught here in schools.
Oh really?. There- the surprise once again.
Deep breaths…
This time I chose – humour with a dash of some kindness. It must be the exotic vegetables I thought, and smiled. Amused at my own joke.
I chose a perspective that was least offending.
After all I was sure I have offered similar good intentioned – praises, not fully aware how they would’ve landed.
I went back to my food and my music….
But I was tasting something else now..
And.. I was present to the hot in my gut that was still subsiding…
And I thought about just how much impact history has on biology and chemistry.
And how the moment of choice was soo fleeting.
And how it did take conscious effort to choose this moment as opposed to the one that neither of us were present in – but yet, present to.
Kindness and humour were a choice. As was humanity.
Relating was like the Glass of Pineapple lemonade.
Tasteless and cold on the top and deep and sweet at the bottom.
Of Course with a knotted straw – One worth holding on to.
Dec 06
