While dipping my wooden chopstick in a heavy load of sticky rice, I heard a mumbling voice in front of me. It was a lady, quite a beauty of her age. She smiled at me and with a gesticulation asked, "that must be yummy !" I didn't know what to say, as I had not even scooped a chopstick of that amazingly soy-sauced garnished general Tso's chicken with rice from Noodle-Doodle from the corner of my office.
With a hesitating gaze, I threw a strange smile at her. She seemed a nice lady- but I couldn't tell from her mere appearance and friendly gesture. However, sometimes, you can just feel it. My sister recognize a person within a couple of minutes: I am not that gifted as her. My eyes lie to many occasions, to my surprise. She, in fact, let me sit in front of her table, as I humbly asked her a permission prior.
She seemed to be a woman of around sixty to sixty five years of age- oval faced, very elegantly cut hair, gray haired, bluish-green eyed, nice lips, very toned skin of her age and medium built. Every time she tried to say something, she has this fascinating smile on her face that lit the conversation between her and I. Above all, he seemed to me a wealthy lady, well maintained and beautiful.
I did answer on her second attempt to find out how was the food, as I had munched and devoured at least three sccops of that Chinese on my platter. I said, " it is ok." We both then smiled. Then again, there was this silence between her and I for few minutes. I was glancing on some of the unfinished graphs on my table, here and there, while munching rice. I did not look at her, but I was sure she must be eager to talk to me. I am not comfortable with a stranger, and especially not in a cafeteria. While trying to reach my cranberry juice, I glared at her. I again saw her smiling face eagerly saying how insensitive of me avoiding such a graceful lady infront of me. With another smile, I drank the juice.
"Where are you from?" Now I knew her curiosities. Rather than curiosities, I felt the garrulousness, and I don't mind as long as it does not invade my personal matters. Trying not to be a rude, this time I joined her on conversation. "Please guess !" I replied to boost her curiosity. I will give you three chances. With a strange look, she gave one by one those her wild guesses. "Ok, I will give you the biggest hint, as you seems to be a nice and a beautiful lady. It lies between two giant nations- India and China." She was then in complete muddle. I did not mean to make her think so hard. She seemed lost…. With a few minutes of pause, I thought she will hit the jackpot. But it did not surprise me to know the geography skill of her.
Trying not to embarrass her, I broke the ice of that complete uncomfortable silence –"not many people here are familiar with this tiny Himalayan nation in the remote part of the world. As a size of a state of Arkansas, I can imagine how my country, Nepal, is engulfed between two asian giants." "That is the one…" she uttered triumphantly. I knew you were from asia, because of your peculiar accent, but not quite as a Hindi accent, but quite similar. Your features, though, betrayed me for quite a while.
"I like Indians and India (quite a fascinating remark!). I have been to China several times. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur (she thought it is a name of a country), Singapore, Japan….. She sure must be a rich lady to travel during her anniversaries, birthday, vacation to those exotic places. To my surprise, she went to her 50 th wedding anniversary to India, just to visit Taj Mahal. I then told her, "you must be so lucky to visit such a romantic place as Taj Mahal with your husband." She give me a funny look. Her husband was busy on filming his documentary in New Delhi, during that time, so she went alone there. How irony!!! Then I diverted the topic to food. "Do you like spicy food?" "Are you kidding me, I love those mouth watering curries," her glittering eyes were sure not lying.
Then all of a sudden, she diverted me to something unusual topic. I like the cool and calmness of Asians, and especially Indians (just to impress me???). They seems so poised, calm and so meditated all the time. She kept on praising more… Perhaps, it has to do with culture. Also, look at you, you seems so gentle, so quiet, so poised, so humble, soft spoken and etc. I couldn't stop thinking, you don't know me lady. "Sometimes eyes lie," I just told myself in silence. With an appreciation, I thank her. She told me quite a story of her trip to those exotic places she had been. I just listened to her as an obedient student listening to his pupil. Her eyes were glittering while describing her trips and experiences with Stonehedge, Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Pyramids, Plains of Mongolia, Wooden Boat on the River of Bangkok, Scottish Highlands, Pubs of Dublin, Safari in Africa, Machupichu and Exotic Fiji islands.
I was so lost on her description that I did not realize when did my lunch box was empty without so much struggle with those chopsticks.
She hated the city all her life, though she had no escape of it. That's the reason she told me that she had been living in suburbs for more than fifty years. She is now 78 years of age and next week, her husband and she are moving to Florida, Jacksonville, for good. "I don't understand, why people have to rush so much in city. Rush to go to office, rush to go to home- rush for what?" – she became emotional. I can understand her feeling, as I have been feeling the same for the past four years onwards. She then lighten the situation of this met-life style. Once she was commuting from uptown to downtown, and that day, instead of taking local, she took an express train. A very young gentleman then jubiliantly tell her, I am so lucky today, I saved this and this much of time because of getting my express line right on time, and I saved so and so much time today. Then with her winning smile, she told that gentleman, "what you gonna do with your such a saving." I saw a mixed emotion on her those experienced eyes, I don't know how to respond, so I was mute for a while till I was awakened by her soft-spoken voice. What is your name? We exchanged our names- she said I have a lovely name- without knowing what does that mean.
After seeing hour and minute hands on my watch, I said to her it was nice meeting with you Marie Ann. With her gentle voice, she replied, "same here and thanks for being so nice to me. You were a good listener, and not many people do these days, and especially not the young ones." We then parted, and on the way to my cubicle, I just visualized her winning smile on some corner of my mind hoping to meet another Marie Ann next day on my lunch table…….. Hopefully!!!
Aagantuk
April 21, 2006
