My plan was to return home from my jog and cook some dinner for myself. But a strange instance, which I have not fully comprehended yet, has rendered it unnecessary for me to cook. And therefore I sit blogging about it instead.
I completed my usual beat around the park and as always, stationed myself next to a particular bench to wind up my routine with a few stretches. The sun was out in full force after many days of rain and bad weather. Given that such good weather is quite seldom in Germany, folks here really know to make hay while the sun shines. So as expected, the park was relatively full today. As I looked around, I noticed a big Turkish family with grandparents, parents and little children making merry on the warm grass not too far from where I stood. Given that the park is usually deserted and cold, the scene itself was quite heart-warming and I threw a few glances at the spirited group.
I was close to completion and about to return home, when one of the ladies from the group started walking towards me with some food on a tissue. She did a lot of talking which I did not understand, gave me the food, put her tongue out and warned me that the food would be spicy and was on her way back to the group. Even before I could realize what was happening, I found myself standing with some Turkish bread and curry (so I assume) in hand. She had me stumped. Especially so considering that it was not India but Germany – where talking to strangers is not really a given! I had no clue if I was expected to join the group, or take it home and eat, or eat it in the park sitting on the bench alone (the idea seemed weird). But since she had not invited me to join them and it did not look too feasible to carry it home since it was already spilling out of the tissue, I decided to sit there and eat. As I started, she was back again – this time offering a cup of ice tea lest I should find the food too spicy. And then she was gone again. The food was tasty though the curry itself tasted like nothing I’ve had before. But as I sat there eating, I just could not figure out what prompted her to do it considering that there were many other people around. These are the only ones I could think of but I guess I will never know the true reason for the free meal!
1. She thought I was a needy person: Possible, considering that I was wearing a T-shirt three sizes too large. Well, most of my T-shirts are in the laundry after my recent travels. Not finding any of my own, I had borrowed one and yeah – it just happened to be a little too big!
2. She thought that I was feeling greedy/hungry and had chosen the bench closest to them (though there were other empty ones) to look at what they were eating. And maybe like some people in India, they also believe that if a hungry person watches while you eat, you will fall ill. Well, she could not have known that I choose that bench every time I am in the park.
(Felt quite embarrassed thinking of these two.)
3. There was more than they could eat and they just did not want to let the food go waste.
4. They were happy and they wanted to share it too and maybe I looked the sort who would be open to trying out something different.
I now believe it to be the fourth! 🙂