This is no Leaning Tower, it is Goa's beautiful Mahalsa Hindu Temple at Mardol, Ponda.
Chapter II - Something Understood
"Walking is a pain as you slip and slide and black ice threatens to break your bones," said Kevin. "The highways need to be continuously salted and cleaned to prevent major car pile ups. Driving is a nightmare as sudden snow followed by warm weather, 1 degree is warm there, converts roads into skating rinks. In the room it is difficult getting the right temperatures at night as it is always either too warm or too cold."
"It is harsh, but an entirely new experience for those not used to it and therefore well worth it. I live next door to Roger Federer's home in Valbella, Switzerland," said Lawrence. "Well, I still enjoy walking out in the snow.. .. well, sometimes.. as it might be a long time before I get that opportunity again. I do the ice-skating too,... I was selected for the Winter Olympics once, only to be disqualified later when they found out I was an Indian.."
"Do you play cricket there?.." Sanjeev poked at him.
"No, not at all.. why do you ask?" asked Lawrence.
"Yaar, the 'bouncer' about ice-skating.. ha.. ha.." Sanjeev laughed. Frank looked back at him bamboozled. The whole 'table' laughed. Meanwhile, a waiter came over with a tray of fried squids, rava fried prawns, sliced chops of 'roast pork', 'Issonn fry' and a plate of sliced lemons to 'knock off' the cashew 'feni'.
Mouth-watering eyes surveyed the food, while Lawrence shook his head with a kind of dislike, yet pulled half the slice of king fish ignoring the cocktail sticks.
"Hey Oster, tell us something about New Zealand buddy," said Alipio licking his chops. "What do you live on there.. .. mcdonalds?., pizzas..? kentuckies? Or what?.. And what do you eat for fish, dolphins?"
"We get fish there.. The common ones are blue mackerels, mullets, yellowtail kingfish, etc.. But Oh, I miss the Goan baby sharks and the prophets and the shrimps.. and ofcourse the pork sausages," said Oster.
"Prophets..?? Did you say Prohets? Or pomprets??" I asked.
"Did I say Prophets???" Pomprets man, pomprets..!!!" Oster almost screamed!
"Okay, okay, go on..," I said.
"Staying away in a foreign country follows a definite pattern," said Oster. "First, there is relief at being independent. I am alone and that is liberating. Man, I like that!. No phone calls, or nonsense chatter, nothing. Sometimes I start something new like yoga, reading books, strumming on the guitar or some long lost habit that I really enjoyed once upon a time here in Goa.."
"Hrrrmm.." grunted Alipio gobbling a whole piece of pork, trying to speak in-between the effort.
"Next, there is this new experience," said Oster. "New people, new places to visit, new workplace. It adds to the excitement that comes with being independent. I feel life is all about doing new things, isn't it..?"
"Arre, don't you miss the fresh vegetables from the fields.." thundered the bartender, "..and the evenings at the 'praier', the tiatros and the beat shows, our week long 'casamento' weddings, the feasts and 'pursao' in 'vaddos' and churches, the nonstop rains, the 'sai nustem', urac and feni and the football games?"
"Oh yeah, what I miss there, is football.? Hey Chris, do you attend any of the Serie A games in Rome?" he asked Christopher trying to pass the baton.
"Well, I live in Swindon now.. I used to frequent the San Siro earlier when I was in Italy... supported AC Milan." said Christopher.
"I thought it was Inter Milan who owned San Siro and played there.." I pointed out.
"..Then I stayed in Paris for a year," said Christopher snubbing me, "I never like the French football except for their National team. I was witness to Thiery Henry's controversial goal against Ireland at the Stade de France.. Wow, unforgettable..! In England, I watch the Premier League every weekend.. am a Man United member ...... Old Trafford.. what a studio..!!!"
"Studio.. or Stadium?" Again I was first to raise my point.
Christopher gave me a cold eye but said nothing.
"... what about tickets? How much a match?" I asked fearing for my life!
"It's about 20 pounds or something, that's the minimum.." answered Christopher, "Anyway, I don't know all those finer details, and it varies every studio... I have a season pass.. members get it free, you know...."
We realized there was no point discussing English 'soccer', everyone knew how exceptionally popular it was -- better than our own Goan football. All of us wished to move the subject to something different, something new.. .. something exciting, cryptic and unprecedented!
>>>To be continued: Chapter III - Earning in Dollars
Exclusive at: http://gaspersworld.blogspot.com/
:::The story is dedicated to the 'Class of 90s' friends:::
