Sunday, May 17, 2009

Summer Visitors

Knock knock.

"Banni banni! Will you take some coffee?"
"Illa illa, we just had at home and came."
"No no you must! Only one cup."
"Okay okay. Bari half cup please."

At this point the lady of guest troupe deems it appropriate to rise and present the bagful of mangoes in her hand to the lady of the house.

"Here we have brought some mangoes.(Which are available right outside your doorstep and which you are bound to have a quarter of a million of in your house already....But still, we have brought them.)"

Smiles politely.


"Oh! Thanks!"

Smiles politely, grabbing the bag and rushing inside to stash it along with the other mangoes, thinking,
"Oh! Our guests are so thoughful, giving us mangoes. We have so many at home already, which we will never get through before they rot...But still, our guests are such thoughtful people."

5 comments:

Vikram said...

(sorry, typo in the previous one)....
It's an Indian tradition: Refuse, then accept. For once I'd like to see the reaction if people don't insist. Imagine this: "Will you have some tea?" "No, no, I just had some at home" "OK, off you go then"

Unknown said...

Ask Neil and he'll probably tell you both the guests and the hosts bank upon the ancient instinct of gleefully accepting that which is offered, still residing in us long after its uses seem to have worn off by time and technology.

Layfield said...

Actually Gullu, that does happen some times. When people aren't very close.

Vikram said...

I'd think it happens more when people are close, rather than the other way around. Otherwise, courtesy and "civil" conduct gets in the way of true feelings.

Bhargav said...

Ah! Fightings is happenings!