MADE IN NIRVANA
Chapter 2
A red mark on the forehead
The heat was intense when they walked out of the Tourist Camp. They stopped at the edge of the wide two-lane road looking for a bus stop, but there were none. Perhaps a scooter-taxi would arrive, or a rickshaw. They saw a cart pulled by an ox approaching, led by a man dressed in white and wearing a white turban. Maria put out her hand to slow him down and as soon as he drew near, she asked him: "You go to Old Delhi?" The man pulled the ox's reins and stopped the cart. She asked him again if he went to Old Delhi. The man shook his head from right to left, rocking it as if he had a spring in his neck; the movement seemed to be saying no, but at the same time he was smiling at her.
Franca opened the map of Delhi and showed it to the man, who looked at it blankly, as if he didn't see it. He rocked his head again and motioned with his hand to sit on the cart. Strange! With his head he was saying no, but with the facial expression and his body language he seemed to be saying yes. It reminded her of one of those toy dogs that people put on the back shelf of their car and nod their heads with every movement.
Franca was exasperated: "Yeah, right! What the hell is he doing?" and started to walk away.
Since the man didn't move, Maria asked him again: "Old Delhi? Four rupees, okay?"
And yet again, there came the nodding and a calm smile. But this time, indicating toward the cart, the man also said three words: "Sit, Madam, sit!"..................................
Franca opened the map of Delhi and showed it to the man, who looked at it blankly, as if he didn't see it. He rocked his head again and motioned with his hand to sit on the cart. Strange! With his head he was saying no, but with the facial expression and his body language he seemed to be saying yes. It reminded her of one of those toy dogs that people put on the back shelf of their car and nod their heads with every movement.
Franca was exasperated: "Yeah, right! What the hell is he doing?" and started to walk away.
Since the man didn't move, Maria asked him again: "Old Delhi? Four rupees, okay?"
And yet again, there came the nodding and a calm smile. But this time, indicating toward the cart, the man also said three words: "Sit, Madam, sit!"..................................
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