November 2004
Manila, Philippines
Somerset Salcedo, Room # 9, 11Th Floor
Ben, Denise, Paiel and I are sitting at the round dining table that seats four. Ben is making babushka's for all of us. We are all cheerful and extremely high. Denise is too drunk to realize the door bell rang.
Me: "Denise! Get the door."
The chair makes a screeching sound on the wooden floor. After half a minute he stumbles back into the room.
Kat and Cathy follow. I have seen them at work, but we have not been introduced.
Kat is tall and has an athletic built. Cathy is chubby and simply over weight.
Me: "Hi. How are you doing?"
Kat: "Marvelous! Thank you. How about you? I have seen you two @ work."
Me: "Yup. So have we. I am Tanya and this is Paiel."
Paiel: "Hi."
Kat: "Hey. I am Katherine Meredith and this is Cathy."
We exchange pleasantries with Cathy.
Ben: "What can I get you Love?" To Kat and Cathy.
Cathy: "Anything wet will do. I am exhausted! We have been shopping all day."
Kat: "I'll have a San Mig Light."
Ben goes into the kitchen and comes back with 4 chilled beers. Denise is plonked on the sofa and is head banging to some UK pop number.
I look at Kat keenly as Ben opens the beer pints for both of them.
Me: To Kat, "You look different somehow."
Kat and Cathy giggle. Kat pats her hair and says, "New hair do. Do you reckon it looks nice?"
Before I can say anything, Ben says enthusiastically, "Of course! You look lovely."
She has cut her hair real short and it's burgundy.
Me: "You look different. But nice. I think your hair style will grow on people in time."
Both Kat and Cathy laugh out loud. Ben joins in. Paiel and I look at them quizzically. Kat gets up and goes into the guest bedroom. I ask Cathy, "What was that for?"
Cathy: "You'll see."
Kat returns minus the short red hair. Her hair is back to being black. long and flowy again.
Me: "Aaaah! A wig! How nice."
Kat: "How English! You favorite word is 'nice' I reckon."
Cathy: "Must be the British Influence since the colonization."
Kat: "What Colonization Love?"
Ben: "India was colonized by the British almost 50 years ago."
Paiel: "Actually more."
Kat: "Where is India on the Map?"
All of us burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Ben: "Sweetheart, have you watched India play Cricket against Australia?"
Kat: "I don't watch Cricket. But I do know that India plays against Auz."
Me: "Wow!"
Cathy: "Lets discuss India over dinner, shall we? I am ready to eat a Kangaroo!"
Denise: "That ain't legal Love!"
Cathy: "Pity isn't it? Lets go to Green Belt for dinner. Will you two join us?"
Paiel: "I think I'll tuck in now."
Me: "I'll come along. Let me go down to my apartment and change. I'll see you guys in the lobby in fifteen."
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Kat follows me back to my apartment. I grab a short denim skirt from the wardrobe and a top to go with it. I dash for the washroom to change.
I get back after changing and critically analyzing myself in the full length mirror to find Kat holding the 'Hajmola' bottle in her palm and reading its composition at the back.
Me: "I take one tab after every meal. Its supposed to be a digestive. Wanna try?"
She does and makes a face.
Kat: "Eeeeeoooo...Too spicy for my taste. Indians have a sharp tongue I reckon."
Me: "Quite! You'll get to know exactly how sharp over dinner." I say it with a smile and a wink.
She grins back at me.
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We exit the bedroom. I find Gauri, Shilpi, Vara and Rohit keeping Paiel company in the sitting room.
Vara: "Where are you off to?"
Me: "Green Belt for dinner."
Gauri: "We are planning to watch Bridget Jone's Dairy 2."
Me: "Enjoy! Paiel I'll be back late. You tuck in. I am taking my key with me. Ciao!"
We leave.
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To be continued...
