tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58082562422724603382024-02-19T22:45:36.980-08:00SHORT STORIESTarang Pandehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130933744524024661noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808256242272460338.post-79909158842628716252014-02-05T01:39:00.004-08:002014-02-05T01:39:58.171-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394;">COWBOYS ON THE BEACH </span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju came to Goa from Mumbai in the year 2004, looking for a
chilled, laid back life. Having lived in the confined spaces of chawls of
Mumbai made him long for open spaces. The hustle bustle of city life was
getting to his nerves and when an opportunity presented itself for working as a
waiter in a shack called ‘Café Del Venus’ in Palolem beach, Goa, he pounced on
it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The
first time Raju set his eyes on the beautiful crescent shaped beach, he was in
love with it. The waters were emerald blue and the sand as golden as he had
seen in dubbed Hollywood movies. The lifestyle was slow, as if time itself had
decided to take a break and enjoy the tropical sun and sand. His job as a
waiter was quite rewarding, financially as well as in terms of job
satisfaction. His smiling face and ‘can do’ attitude made him popular among the
tourists. The English speaking skills that he had so grudgingly acquired in
high school were now coming handy. He could be easily spotted by his bright
floral shirts and Bermudas. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Very
soon he was transformed from a waiter to the man Friday for all guests. With
his open smiling face, he could bring in new tourists, strike a good deal and
also act as a guide. You need anything, Raju is the man, be it legal or
bordering the illegal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Raju,
your Bloody Mary is not hitting me today, what’s wrong dude.” Sometimes an
American guest would complain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> “ Well
John, your body become too strong for alcohol, you need something solid.” He
would say winking and flexing his imaginary biceps .</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Yeah
and will that something be priced decently.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">“Bestest
price ever, and my guarantee for the kick, if you don’t get it with one puff,
you kick me.” Raju replies reassuringly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">And
presto, John got what he wanted for a small tip to Raju.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Be it confirmation of train tickets or information about the
venue of rave parties, Raju is your man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Sometimes Raju’s boss would wonder as to how tourists who
had just arrived to his shack also knew about Raju’s talents. The truth was
that Raju’s name had become quiet famous due the numerous blogs on Palolem and
its shacks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">This winter, the business for Café del Venus was superb,
with advance booking for the complete season at good rates. To top it up, there
was a group of five beautiful French girls staying during the peak season of
December. Their charming company enticed many single guys to frequent the
shack’s bar and open air lounge. This not only brought in additional profits,
but also established Del Venus as the most happening place in Palolem. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Yesterday night’s weekend party had been such a hit because
of the French girls, one of them bartended and two even did a fire dance! The
party went on till five in the morning, it seemed as if the best crowd of the
beach was here to enjoy at the shack.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Very talented guests by god!” Raju was heard telling
whoever would be interested in listening “ Some dance like Helen, some do the
bartending for free. Boss told me to make their drinks free. And they speak so
sweetly to me. You know the bestest thing about them girls, their English as
bad as me.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> “Oye Raju introduce
us to the girls na please.” One of his audiences would often say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Shut up, they are guests. You mind your own business.” He
would remark and push off for whatever errand he was sent on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Today was Sunday and after last night’s party everybody’s
morning started late in the afternoon. The guests were lazing on the sun beds
after a sumptuous lunch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju was stopped by one of the girls, Ann. “Raju, it’s such
a tres bien (excellent) weather, we feel like playing Volleyball. Can you do
something about it s’il vous plait (Please)?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Of course I will play” he remarked thumping his chest,
misunderstanding the French, “Raju was champion of Dharavi volley ball team, I
play faster than.... who was that? Yes Tiger Woods. You just see.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">And with those confident words he went about to organize a
volley match, leaving Ann wondering about what had just happened. Ann was a
beautiful six feet tall girl with blond hair and a voluptuous figure. Definitely
the prettiest girl on the beach, she was also very soft spoken and gentle in
her manners. It was her routine to go for swimming and kayaking in the morning.
The kayak owner was also mildly surprised at the sudden surge in his kayak
demand by a number of men.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju, meanwhile, was having his finest hour. Procuring volleyball
was uncomplicated; it was sold on a number of shops on the beach. Making a
court was also effortlessly accomplished by using a stick and running it across
to trace out the boundaries. Tricky part was the net. None was available off
the shelf and without the net; a game of volleyball would not be fun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">However, Raju solved that problem also with his trademark
ingenuity. He stuck two bamboos on opposite ends, got hold of a pair of long
ropes, and tied them across the poles to indicate the width of the net. Voila,
they had a volleyball court ready!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Very soon a spirited
game of volley ball ensued, with not only reputation, but more significantly,
chilled beer at stakes. Guests from other shacks also joined in the game, while
some sat on the fringes, being excellent audience cheering their favourite team
heartily. After a few sets, Raju, having proved his mettle, became the referee.
The game had certainly become the highlight of the beach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">This was the typical pleasures of sea beach holidays, that
tourists from India and all over the world come to Goa for. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">All those who have
been to Goa, specially with girlfriends or wives, will have definitively have a
number of beautiful memories, but also some ugly ones of rowdy Indian tourists,
specially from the neighboring state. They are a sight to behold. Fat middle
aged men, wearing their white vests, boxer under wears, and generally a cowboy
hat on top. If with their wives, they would be attired in a sari or wrist
length suits and also the trademark cowboy hat. Most of these gentry would
either stay away from the sea or at best in the shallow corners, since a sport
like swimming has never interested them. The men would have a camera that they
would be focusing on women sunbathing and ogle at them to such an extent that
it would make them uncomfortable. Unfortunately Sunday attracts hordes of such
irritating people to palolem, due to its proximity to the state.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So by four in afternoon, the makeshift volleyball court was
surrounded by six of these local cowboys, recording the girls playing, on their
mobiles and taking awkward pictures without consent. Most of the well behaved
and mild mannered tourists started moving away, disgusted by their presence. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“See Murthy that girl is almost in her undies.” One
particular specimen said loudly, nudging his fat friend with handlebar
mustaches and pointing towards Ann.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Hey hello, Im Venkat, one photo with me eh?” another said
walking in middle of the game trying to grab one of the girl’s hand for a
handshake.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Disturbed by these events the girls started moving towards
the shack. Seeing them retreating, one of the guys tried to grab Ann’s hand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju intervened “ Hello, let her go. You have no manners,
she is a guest. What will she think of us Indians.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The group surrounded Raju and started pushing him around. Raju
was roughed up by them and even abused, but he stood his ground till he was
sure that the girls had reached the safety of the shacks. He then ran off to
the kitchen of the shack and huddled there, feeling insulted and miserable.
Raju knew there was no point trying to fight the group. They were the
stereotypical bullies whose strength lay only in their numbers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">He buried his
head in his palm and started sobbing, feeling ashamed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulders; he looked up to
see Ann smiling at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“You are a very brave man Raju. Only a real man can stand up
to six bullies alone for the respect of women. Tue es mon hero.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“But they got away. And I know they will do the same next
Sunday and the next. I wish I was strong enough to fight all of them, you know
like Salman bhai.” He lamented.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Don’t worry, wash your face and come out to the beach in about
half an hour, ok. And I’m sure who ever Monsieur Salman is, he would be still
proud to know of your courage.” She smiled and walked away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju did as he was told and went to the beach. He was
horrified to see Ann frolicking in the sea in her tiniest bikini and the six
guerillas following her. What baffled him was that she was even smiling at them
and fluttering eye lids at the one who had manhandled him. For a moment he even
wondered if the wrong message had been conveyed in her English French
translation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Meanwhile Ann was giggling and moving further into the sea.
The six of them, mesmerized as they were, followed as if hypnotized, now
shouting even louder and splashing water. They seemed to be out of their senses
with lust. In their minds, their wildest dreams were coming true; finally a
‘Gori’ (fair) babe had realized their worth and seen through all that hair and
fat. Leading the pack was their Alpha Male Venkat, who, it seems wanted to make
sure that he would be the first to grab Ann.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Ann kept moving deeper and was now slowly using her hands
and legs to keep herself afloat. All the while she kept smiling and giggling at
them, even motioning them to come closer, while she kept moving away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The men now started moving even more frantically towards her
when suddenly the ground beneath their feet literally gave way. They had
unwittingly entered the deep area of the beach with strong currents. Sheer terror
was plainly visible on their faces and together as one they turned towards the
beach and were horrified to see how far they had ventured far into the
sea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">They panicked and started thrashing towards the shore. In
their terror they tried to swim against the current and were further swept
deeper towards the sea. With every passing minute the tide was also rising,
further adding to their troubles.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Their catcalls suddenly transformed into desperate cries for
help, which were drowned by the sea. No one seemed to take notice of their
plight, for all casual observers, they might still have been horsing round. Ann,
however, was totally at ease, swimming confidently and it seemed, enjoying
their discomfort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The gang of six, on the other hand, were in a matter of
minutes, in dire condition. They had started gulping salt water and their wild strokes
were now slowing down from lack of strength and technique. They were maybe in
seven feet deep water, but that one-one and half feet of gap may very well have
the mariana trench for them. Slowly, their heads seemed to disappear for longer
durations under water and their eyes started glazing with resignation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju, in the meanwhile undid the rope tied to the volleyball
poles, shouting raising an alarm simultaneously and threw it across the sea to
the group. Two of them grabbed the rope and were pulled ashore, three more were
rescued by the life guards, but Mr Venkat, the Casanova, was too far away for
help. His struggle against the sea was ending and finally he was drowning in
the muddy salt waters. Those at the beach watched helplessly as they could do
nothing for him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">At that moment, Ann came from behind him and caught hold of
him. She put his arm over her shoulders to keep his head above water and with
her free arm, carrying out strong, sturdy strokes got him ashore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> At the beach all of
them lay prone, puking salt water and coughing pitifully. It took them sometime
to regain their composure. It was very clear that they were badly shaken by
their near death experience. The group </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">was shivering and when Raju came to them
handing hot cups of coffee, they couldn't meet his eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“I’m never coming next to the sea again.”Murthy sobbed, and
others nodded.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Raju stood there, smiling, staring at the pathetic figures
of these bullies, who had just an hour ago swaggered down the beach as if they
owned it. He was quiet sure, that these ‘Cowboys’ would not have the face now
to come down the beach and display their boisterousness. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">“Next time you want to bother a girl in the sea, make sure
she is not the European open water swimming champion, yes?” Ann said to Venkat
and then turning to Raju she smiled and continued “Monsieur Salman would be
very proud of you.”</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></div>
</div>
Tarang Pandehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130933744524024661noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808256242272460338.post-69961634672333082212014-02-05T01:30:00.003-08:002014-02-05T01:30:39.468-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"> <b><u>IT'S A STEAL</u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;"> “You break my heart Vavrin”. These words woke me from my
afternoon siesta under the balmy shade of a coconut tree in Pallolem beach,
Goa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I opened my eyes hoping to
see Vavrin get dumped by a beautiful European blond. Sadly, it was just a local
salesgirl pestering him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I guess it was the
salesgirl’s Russian accent, with a dash of American flavour that caused the delusion.
Isn’t it the same story at every beach of Goa? The
locals, in their weird accented broken English and plenty of hand gesturing, annoying
the tourists with their over-priced wares. There was nothing new here, except
for Vavrin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">If you take a look at
Vavrin, you’ll see a young guy in boxers with an obscenely expansive tattoo on
his muscled biceps. The type, who could easily browbeat a salesgirl away! What
chances did the girl have, dressed in a conservative nylon saree, with her head
covered, in front of the strapping jock? Aren’t tattooed guys supposed to be
bullies who know how to get things done their way? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Now, don’t think I am one of
those people who judge a tattoed person. Just that I had a bone to pick with Vavrin. Look at him right now, pretending that I don’t exist, as if he didn’t
do me a wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“But see…this lovely work…it
is art… Vavrin, a real sandalwood elephant!” The salesgirl continued. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Curiosity got the better of
me and I ordered a chilled Kings bear to enjoy my dekko at the elephant. Had
Veerapan, the feared smuggler of yore, seen the ‘sandlewood’ elephant, he would
be tearing off his moustaches in his grave. Granted, there was an iota of
sandalwood in it, but the tusks were definitely not of ivory, instead they were
made of some dirty bone. I can bet that yellow of the bone was more likely as a
result of a dip in ‘chai ka paani’ than its claim of being an antique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">The creator had done
injustice to the magnificent beast. Far from paying anything for the piece of
junk, I would have charged something from the salesgirl just to keep it in my
house. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Since I like you Vavrin, as
we are now friends, I will part with it for just 2000 rupees”, she announced
and I almost choked on my Barley water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“I don’t know 2000 sounds
steep for this elephant,” he said hesitantly for fear of hurting the feelings
of the salesgirl. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Okay, where are you from Vavian?
What’s your full name?”She asked sweetly, suddenly changing the topic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Vavrin Kolinsky, I ‘am from
Prague.” He replied proudly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“<i>Aigo</i>, what an impressive name, I ‘am sure you come from family of
kings. Don’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Well my mother used to
claim that her third cousin’s uncle’s step mother was married to a....” he stammered
unsure of himself, but the salesgirl cut him short.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Aaaha, I could see it in
your eyes that you <b>are</b> a Maharaja.”
She flattered. “Now tell me, will not an elephant from mysterious India look
great and beautiful on your centre table in Prague?” She said pointing at the
horizon with an enthusiasm that more expressive than her English.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Amm, I guess… it would?”He
replied, sounding confused now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“So what are just two thousand
rupees for Vavrin Kolinsky? Look at the big picture”, she urged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Ok, I will take it.” He
finally sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I couldn’t believe my eyes,
rather my ears. I know that I should have stormed the deal and save poor
Kolinsky from the jaws of the evil salesgirl. If not for the ‘Atithi Devo Bhav’
crap, then at least for the great game we played together last evening. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I had met Vavian at a game
of Pool I was playing at the Shack ‘Papillion’. The most incredible thing had
happened to me; I had, for the first time in my life actually hooked up with a
European girl. Her name was Estelle, the most flawless beauty I had ever laid
my eyes upon, with blond hair and silky voice; I could already envisage
our children. I had been wooing her for the past three days, trying to impress
her with my kayaking, followed by guitar, singing skills and so on. Finally,
I won her attention by pretending to be a Yoga instructor. I even taught her a
few basic Yoga Asans my grandfather had forcibly taught me in my school days. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Things were looking good
between us and she had already hinted that we would be heading to my shack
after this last game of Pool.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Enter Vavrin Kolinsky, a
professional snooker player and a not so amateur Casanova. Very soon he had
beaten me in the game of pool and talked charmed to his room. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">So, I summarised that
revenge, is indeed a dish best served cold, by a sweet talking femme fatale in
nylon saree. So I sat back to enjoy the sight of him being conned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Let Varian learn an
important lesson today: It’s very easy to steal a European girl, but not so
easy to save oneself from our Indian chics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“And how about this original,
silver emerald bracelet, from the famous mines of Panaji not more than a hundred kilometres
from here!” She said, producing another fake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">What audacity! The Panaji
mines were closed 35 years ago, after 500 years of extensive mining.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Amm, nice but I really have
to go now, you see my flight is leaving in next two hours and it takes an hour
to drive down to the airport with the slightly unruly traffic.” He waved,
starting to get up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Slightly unruly! I repeated
to myself, understatement of the century. The traffic here is worse than
Timbuktu. Last night Varian had announced, “You guys don’t need X-Box,
surviving traffic here gives you enough adrenaline rush.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">This didn’t seem to deter
the girl. She caught his waving hand, and began reading it carefully, “You have
got good lines. You know your future is written on your hands. Your future
Vavrin, depends on a girl. You have found her. There is a girl you love. Isn’t
there?” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">At Vavrin’s age if there
isn’t a girl, be sure there is a boy. But she had Vavrin’s attention now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Look here Vavrin, just see
how pleased your girlfriend would be when you give her this rare emerald bracelet.
You think any girl can say no to that? She would fall for you like this.” She
said snapping her fingers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Repeat a lie a hundred
times and it becomes truth”, these words from Gobbles, the propaganda minister
of Hitler rang in my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“It will cost you a measly eight thousand rupees because we smuggle the emeralds from the mines otherwise it will cost
you 80,000 in a jewellers shop.” She ranted on, dangling the bracelet in front
of his eyes the whole time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Wow,eight thousand.I ‘am not
sure...” he hesitated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I was sure now. The picture
is crystal clear. This devil has a blue eyed girl friend tucked away in
Prague. My poor Estelle was just an exotic flavour who completed his visit to
the ‘Land of Kamasutra’. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">Good, this girl’s ripping
him. You go girl!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Money is not everything
Vavrin. Think how foolish you will feel if you lose the affections of your lady
love <b>and</b> luck for a pitiful sum of eight thousand. What will eight thousand mean to you then, huh Varian huh?” She said dramatically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I don’t know whether it was
the irritating persistence of the girl, or her genuine sales talent that he
finally nodded his approval and asked her to pack the stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“You will not regret your
decision Mr Vavrin Kolinsky. It is a real steal for just ten thousand, mind you.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Okay, can I pay in my
country’s currency? It’s equivalent to Euros.” He assured her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Ok. Let’s see at the
present rate, which would be 149.76 Euros, so let’s make it an even 150?” She
reasoned innocently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I felt as if I was watching
a lamb getting slaughtered and god, it felt so good. I didn't let the fact that
the frame of the bracelet looked like real silver, come in the way of my joy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Here 150 Korunas.” He
thanked her, picked up his ‘steal’ and boarded a taxi for the airport. “It’s a
steal Vavrin”, she shouted behind him waving till he went out of sight. Then
she pranced away, looking for her next prey.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">I smiled and drifted back to
my nap. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">In the evening, I went to a
cyber cafe to check my mails. It was a typical Goan cyber cafe cum phone booth
cum travel agency cum currency exchange centre.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">As I opened the door I heard
a heated argument and saw the very same salesgirl exit in a daze. I walked up
to the shopkeeper and enquired the cause of commotion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">“Some smart-allec taught her
a lesson.” He laughed. “Paid her in Korunas, you know currency of erstwhile
Czechoslovakia. Since the country split in two in 1991, the Korunas are
worthless, maybe after a hundred years some philatelist might be interested,
but as of now, good as scrap.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;">And yes, while she was
leaving the shop she was mumbling “it’s a steal, it’s a steal.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span lang="EN-IN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">Tarang Pande</span></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Tarang Pandehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11130933744524024661noreply@blogger.com0