Part(7)

We went to a market place on Sunday and it was more crowded than our Chaala bazaar. But one thing I must say is not even a single guy there did anything inappropriate even though all were walking shoulder to shoulder. But in Trivandrum city, I can say that at least a minimum of 2 sickos would have tried to get closer in a crowded place. After a couple of minutes I felt relaxed to walk and came back without feeling like killing someone. We went to a Chinese restaurant called Yo!CHINA for lunch. It was very good. I enjoyed the food a lot and even went for the dissert which I normally don’t do. The brownie cake was hard as a rock! When we came back we saw the Mess Havildar and told him we don’t want anything for dinner but just some fruits. He said ‘But we made south Indian dishes for you, as per the CO’s orders’! He said he is making dosa and idly for dinner!! We said ‘OKAYYYYYYYY, no problem we will have dinner then. We got soft idlies and dosas along with sambar, chammanthy and tomato chutney. I can never express how happy I was to eat all that! So when there was 2 idlies left I kept them and ate them the next morning. It was soooooo soft! I miss our food a lot even though it’s been just couple of weeks. Hot rice with theeyal and chammanthy with an omlet sounds more than yummy, its heavenlyyyyyyyy.


Then two days back another man came and said the next day I have to go for a rehearsal of army wives welfare party and the vehicle will arrive to take me at 11.20. I had no clue of what to expect and got ready the next morning. Even though the room where the rehearsal was happening was just 2 blocks away, they took me in the jeep. Two guys greeted me and they took me inside the hall. The red carpet was there too from the jeep to the hall!!Wow! There were 2 big chairs and a settee in the middle. I was told to sit anywhere at the chairs on both ends, the settee was for the CO’s wife the guest of honor. So I took a seat and looked ahead to see the hall was full of ladies who was standing. I stood up and said Namaste and motioned them all to sit. I didn’t know what else to do or say so I waited. Then one other person came and told me the other two Memsabs arrived and I have to go there to greet them. I went and saw this friendly lady whom I met before and felt relived. Then she introduced me to the audience. I sat there and watched those who were practicing for the program. It was amusing to see that even tea and snacks were served according to the seniority/ranks!! They say this is all part of discipline but for someone coming from a civilian background I felt strange. Both the first and the 2nd CO’s wives were extremely friendly to me. Since the CO’s wife is also living in the same cantonment for the time being, she told me I can go to her house anytime I feel like and don’t be bothered by the protocols. She has a very pleasing personality.