scribblings

Since many weeks, one has been having lunch all by oneself. On multiple occasions, one chooses to sit in the tables meant for 2 people instead of the bigger 6 people tables, just to reduce the probability of someone else using the other seat(s). The reasons being many. There is a dearth for a suitable gang for one to tag along, the kind of food served in the canteen isn't to one's liking, the 'aroma' is beyond one's tolerance limits and so on and so on. A practice to eat when one feels hungry is also of primary importance.

This afternoon, one was having a solitary lunch. A simple fair of a couple pieces of wheat flour based Indian bread with a tomato based accompaniment and a couple of slices of toasted brown bread. As one was munching, a certain acquaintance from office walks up to one's table and states "enna saar, chappati ellam saapidareenga. north indian aagiteengala" (what sir? you are eating chapathi and all. have you become a north indian?) and walks away.

Left one puzzled. One wanted to go to his table and question him if he is of Irish domicile, since he eating a dish made from potatoes, if he has plans to be identified as a South American, since there is a sufficient dash of chillies in his meal, if he has taken a residence in Jakarta, since he most probably had idly for breakfast on atleast one occasion amongst the past half-a-dozen mornings and some further similar questions.

Well, does it really matter!