Join the CommunityHe raised his left hand to his head, with the fist closed except for the index finger pointing heavenwards as if to declare me out (as the umpire does in a cricket match). But he himself was ‘out’ of his wits, pissed drunk , reeking of country liquor he said ” I have been to Bombay. I have lived there”
“There! He starts.” said the women at the counter of small highway roadside shack that sold various brands of colas, coconut water, cigarettes and other such items. I had stopped here on a sunny afternoon of my ride to gulp a drink.
“I have been to Mumbai. I have been to lots of places although I born in this small village of Andhra Pradesh” He said once again.
“Good! You should travel more” I said chuckling. A small crowd consisting of kids, neighbouring shop owners and few village folk had surrounded me. As it so often happens when they see a guy with all geared up with luggage and protective armours on himself.
“Yes. I have been to a lots. I have been to Mumbai, Delhi, Madras…aa…aa” he struggled to recollect in his inebriated state
“Bangalore!” some one in the crowd supplied.
“Yes Bangalore..no…I have not been to Bangalore..I won’t fake..you guys think am drunk???” He snapped at others.
The kids giggled, some of them biting their fingers.
“These guys are making fun of me. But may my tongue fall off if I lie, I have been to lots of places”
“Of course. There is not pointing in drinking so much if you cannot go places” said the women.
I kept my laughter just in check to prevent the coconut water gushing out of my nose .
In the meanwhile the drunk was busy chasing away the kids making fun of him. But obviously he was too slow and too out of balance for the nimble footed village kids
“Rascals! Wait till I get my hands on you. Rascals!” He shouted and then made his way back to me.”Kids these days do not have respect for the elders of the village” he lamented and walked off somewhere.
“Yeah Right! Who’s gonna respect a drunk who gets home and tries to beat his wife and ends up having to sleep outside the house. Bloody Drunk” said another guy in a white vest and a lungi of the gaudiest colour I ever saw.
“Beware, he may return again and may throw you a salaam (salute) and ask you for money. Do not give him any please. Poor woman! His wife. ” The woman said as I handed her the money for the coconut I relished on this hot summer afternoon.
“Yes. I’ll take care. Thank you. It was nice talking to all of you” I said to everybody referring to the conversation I was having with them before the drunk butted in.
I starting putting on my helmet and gloves and as predicted by the coconut selling women the drunk returned. “I have been everywhere. Where was I? Mumbai, Madras, Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin, Vijaywada” He rattled of a few other cities and hit a left handed salaam and then held out his palm indicating for me to give him some money.
“Yes! You have to travel a lot more” I shook his hands and left smiling about getting to hear Travel Tales of a Talli
Talli - A hindi word meaning “on a high” (after consuming some intoxicants)
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Written by Venkat Ganesh
Topics: Experiences, Travelling