A Strange Meeting

Let me take you to the magical, mystical land of strange encounters where such things actually happen. To me.

Today I chatted with a drunk man.

So I was sitting in Panjim on top of the church steps, doing my own thing, being alone and happy. At peace, more like. A man struggles up to me, pissed drunk (therefore struggles), laden with sunglasses and tourist map. Must've thought I was a tourist, alone, big bag and many things around my neck.

"HELLO!", he booms.

"Hello!", I sing back.

"VHAT you're doing?", he says. (Perhaps the alcohol had led him to think I was far away).

"This", I reply, indicating my french books.

"BHERE you are from?", he inquires, still bellowing.

"Here", I reply, pointing to where I was, but meaning Goa.

"You're studying?", he yells.

"Yes", I reply, passively. (I though I'd made it pretty clear, but the drink seemed to disagree).

I display my book again. "And BHERE?"

Where? How could I say "here" again and expect it to register in his intoxicated mind? So I said the first place that came to mind was "Dhempe Higher Secondary", was the settled upon response. (You are, perhaps, baffled as to why was it be the first place to come to mind).

"VHAT you're doing there?", he thunders at me, still very near.

"Arts", I say, calm as ever (inwardly positively writhing with laughter).

"BAIRY GOOD", he congratulates me. I am pleased. I am then "GOD blessed", by this dear sot, and he moves off.

I resume my french, bewildered, but entertained. A great groggy shadow comes over me. He returns. I look up.

"VHAT's your name?", he hollered.

I hesitate. What could I do? He was too plastered to notice. "Trisha", I invented, wildly, attempting to look like a "Trisha". It works. He leaves, this time for good. Such was our meeting, and such our parting. Such is life, however implausible it may seem.