One month's reflection.

I left for Goa on 17th. Then I met John, through him Victor, who, in a typically AGoan way, asked me to stay with them. Allie, too, was sweet in accepting a stranger's presence in her home. I had not met Allie until this time. And then I began 'reconnecting'. I was beginning to conclude that Goa has changed. That may even be true if by Goa I'd meant just the physical assets of fields and hills. I did not mean it that way. I meant that Goans along with the landscape had changed. Has it really, and have they? Last night we were in Benaulim (riverside). Great food, really good food!! But... Two 'supporters' of some 'cause' were with us. They were from the big builder's lobby, what with ministers at their beck and call, and all that. They were both Goans, from Salcete. And they warmed up to talk. I wished they had not. One of them had a posh merc. And I did see that he was wearing a Rolex. Rolex? Rs, 2000000.00 on that unworthy wrist? And why not? His undrewear mnust cost a fortune! But then, what about things which matter-at least to me? The other, also a builder, had the background of being in the Konkani language agitation. He was on about that all the while, telling us of tales and noble deeds of his, and how he hit this one and that one. He NEVER got beat. Like Shah Rukh Khan! Man!! Grow up I wanted to say but I did not because he was paying the bill. A bill in a Goan restaurent is huge, by the way. Thing cost here. The more remote you go, it seems, the rates mount up. I shall try not to go to these paces if I can help it. I shall eat at Anandashram in Panjim, or "Bhattager" in Margao. Hell, who has money? I am not a Goan, not quite yet. I could not relate to them. The urrak was good, and so was the food, but the talk? Goa has not changed. I think I have, but not Goa.