God sells dal fry woman in red
a true story

[the arrival]

Dec 31st, It was expected … but not from me! The turnout of foreign visitors was too many that I’ve never seen such a multi cultural gathering even in Europe! Luckily this time around we reached in time, met Poorva there & after what seemed like an impossible thing, we finally booked two houses near Calingute for the next two days. Ahh … the family run hotel’s aunty gave her secret home made Goan Fried Chicken which 3 of us finished in no time We couldn’t get a car or bike for a cheap deal this being the *costliest day* in Goa, had to rely on the highly exorbitant prices of Taxis.

[the hunt begins]

unstoppable Saugi fully loaded to reincarnate his ‘unfinished’ Swimsuit edition Goa 2004 album, we went straight to Anjuna beach. Well, crowd was good, bustling with sun tans & a lot of beach games. We couldnt interact with many as I felt almost like an uninvited guest here! (most people dont smile at you, coz they’ve been warned about the thieves, desperate se*ually deprived onlookers, beware!).

Whilst Saugi was busy uploading ‘secret’ pics to his memory card, I was busy thinking … about the ironic fate … as for Poorva, I guess he was behind Saugi to pass on review comments on the snaps! Sun sets & we are off after a great Shark meal at the beach shack. Back to the Hotel, gettin
dressed for the party (as if somebody’s gonna watch us!). Saugi & Poorva on new year resolution to get drunk that night, whilst me was trying not to (for a change, this time!). After a lot of planning, we ended up near Baga Beach Shack Party with Goa’s second best Titos Dance bar just behind the beach. The fight continued whether to hit Titos (which was going for a high of 2000/- for a stag entry) or Beach shack Party. We opted for the latter coz that sounded more authentic … with thousands of people on the beach, where else can you see more fun! (Besides, I have some haunted memories from Titos …)

Night crawled in … pictures being taken, mouth watering sea food (sharks again!), Beer n Vodka; Whiskey and soda on the rocks! Bhangda with Pop, dhoom machade & musafir seems to be the hottest tracks of the season… (geee, I wish I had been to the Titos for better music …)

[midnight blues]

Splendid fireworks all around, people throwing up …

Round No 4 – its gettin tighter now., I didnt like the smell of booze that day somehow wasted my first 2 drinks to the sea. Saugi seems to be enjoying to the fullest though with his shirt of track…aha … Forgot to mention one of the most haunting memories which will be forever. I’m sure Saugi & Poorva are swearing & I can see their future frights unfolde into heights of scepticism!!!

Okkkk … what is it? Well, while we were partying on the beach, came across this amazing Indian aunty, the woman in red dress. The first impressions were … very impresive indeed! Her style, grace and presence was just too much for the half drunked souls to handle ! I was observing as well ….

Whats funny was she was with this sad looking, ponchy ponchy guy who has no right to share the platform with her, in fact he was her husband (supposedly, the way he was holding her hands & telling her to stop dancing, actually he was too embarassed !). In due course, she left the place often for a walk along the beach & come back – all of us wondering why she left her ‘amul baby’ hubby .

“Must be the Loo” – I said.

Later we went to take in a sneek preview of the rushes for Titos where there were thousand pouring in & here comes the *one paisa only* moment of truth – a sight unprecedented by any expectations, limitations, a visual so rare that it needs a story to be told !

saugi – “Abe .. kuch dikhayi deraha hai kya .. wahan dekh??”

poorva (almost out) – “Kahan yaar .. kahan … Damn! .. hey priyatam, do you see something”

me (looking everywhere) – “Where…. ?”

Eyes locked in awe, in shame .. in agony & despair … sometimes truth is so horrible that you forget to lie ….

The woman in red … in the middle of the beach …. Near the corner store, was almost stripping, kissing & God forgive me, about to have *** with yet another loser of it’s kind (Why do smart women pick such men?). It was so shameless, being India, obviously everybody’s eyes was on them..

But what most people dont know is that …. She’s left her husband back door & opened a balcony in a no man’s land!!!

Welcome to India, 2005 … Arre bhai … yeh hai apni modern bharatiya naari
shareer ek rang … anek. Ab har jab mein naya rang*

We later dragged ourselves shore (aka hotel room). Poorva was not feeling well, swearing not
to drink again (me was thinking ahh … Ive heard it before). Saugi, still topless showing
his miniature belly … we were on the bed in no time. I think I was doing OK.

* copyright by Nokia 2600

[inertia, 1st Jan]

Got up pretty early .. had a quick breakfast (no eggs, thanks to Saugi!!!). Plan was to
take some good photographs along the coastline & see a couple of more beaches. Arambol
seemed to be the most favourite. Hired bikes & set across to Arambol. The new roads
that were laid from Anjuna to Arambol were great.

[sun n sand]

Heaven was beckoning…. as soon as we reached the beach,

“Goa Beaches – Blue Waters, Palm Trees, Coconuts around, Golden sands” ..,

was defintely true for Arambol beach. Fantastic beach!!! I’ve seen many beaches in the UK, Europe but I’ve not seen one that comes close to this one in sand color ! Saugi had a great time with the camera whilst Poorva & me took occasional dips in the Ocean. Mmmm.. feels good.

The next 4 hours was spent, relaxin, sun bathing (not me!!) & strolling up n down the coast.Yet another great meal, this time around I tried Israili food in the shack.We packed our
bags towards Anjuna again.

On the way I gave a lift to two very interesting people. One beggar (Well almost!) & another who lost her way from Spain!(hehe ..). While I was doing ‘triples’ .. there was an interesting conversation amongst us. This guy comes all the way from Italy with hardly any cash in his hand, hasnt’ had food for 2 days, slept on beaches in Goa & now is on his way to party on Club Cabana on Anjuna (apparently Club Cabana was throwin in free drinks that night). As for the espaniol girl, dont know what she saw in this guy (they apparently met in Goa) but she was cute. Ahh .. why do I encounter all spanish girls in my life .The best part is she doesnt know Italian, he knows no spanish & neither know full english! But they still talk!
I dropped them@anjuna… Whilst I was speaking to this girl, I see the guy missing

Where is he? Apparently he’s so hungry, he got himself some dal fry (no rice) to eat.
Generations to come will scarcely see …. that a man of pasta n pizza has chosen dal fry without rice.

I met her other spanish friends there, they invited me to party with them, but then I just
realised, I aint got my purse & saugi & poorva already were waiting @ Saturday Night Bazaar

Got no option but to opt out

[the bazaar]

Reached the bazaar, thought it was just another typical flea market, but to our scaling imaginations, this place rocks!!! So many people… so many shops … so many unique items & the interesting part is the shops are owned by these Goan Asylum seekers. They sell everything inc GOD (more on that later). We were lost in the huge world, tens of thousands probably were flowing in… bargaining going on in full swing .., I managed to pick 10 cds of Lounge Music (*.Buddha Bar Collection) yippee!! Poorva got some lamps & kurta’s & so did Saugi.

We were lost. I had to go back to the hotel room near Calingute at 10:30 to figure out they were waiting for me.

Ahh .. coming to “Selling God ..”, saw this shop in the bazaar, where postcards of *all Hindu Gods*
were put displayed in the shop. I see this phorener coming in the shop (probably with high doses of
charas & grass)

phorener – “I want krisna … yeah krisna (cool dude)”

shopkeeper (phorener again, in a skimpy dress) – “here, check out these few Lord Krishna photu”

phorener (selects a few) – “Cool, I like em, have more of ‘these’ kinda krisnas?”

me (enters the scene) – “Hey those are an amazing collection of Gods. Can I take a snap?”

shopkeeper – “No, pl don’t mind …”

me (in the mind) – “ teri &*%&, come to my country sell God as cool dude & don’t allow me to take pictures?”

There are some things that money cant buy, but still … God sells

[longing to go, 02 Jan]. After a great sleep the previous night we decided to call it a simple lazy day. Went to Panjim, Dona Paula beach (by bus). didnt do much, but as usual what do you expect when 3 software engineers sit together? see nothing but distant future … one hypothetic, the other voyeuristic … & the third … ahh it only existed in dreams. Bitc* about the future ….the mindless job, the tasteless life .. (ahh.. whoz having a holiday in Goa!)

Life for a while seems non existent …

Hello .. lunch time … it was time for the taste buds to get pleased. Went to Miramar beach near Panjim & had our last meal in Goa – Prawn curry with Local Rice & by this time we are back to reality… (it happens all the time, don’t worry, we Indians only talk don’t DO)

[the memory remains..]
On our way back went to the Church … & headed to the city …still bitc*ing about the promising, no strings attached future … & yeah .. this time around we have a new topic in the offering, the woman in red! For once we are shattered, so bad that the memory of the red dress aunty still haunts, beleaguered … like a sweet poison ready to be stepped into your unforgiven lives….

saugi already decided to marry a housewife (preferably 7th phel)
myself gave up the thought of marriage for the next few years …. until i see no red
poorva … hmmm… he can see the woman in red waiting for him in disguise
(somebody’s getting married this year you see !!)

————————————————————
Check out the photos here -

http://photos.yahoo.com/mpriyatam

Album – 2005 Goa New Year (first album)

Episodes of Impalpable Confessions …