K. V. two long weeks later according to the Chief. (Magnificent smiling
gallantry from the time equivalent to the Troubadours.) Gone quart past three
on another hot afternoon, busted sandal strap making it hotter. Thiru a couple
of days ago reported back after a first visit, commenting on the typical
middle-class South Indian form. The kind of place where the money-making
imperative was not ruling and absolute; not entirely. The speechless head-loll of
the waiters taking orders without any pen or paper was noted. (Better class
places in India with those aids invariably got the order wrong, Thiru said.) It
was something of a surprise to hear the characterization. Occasionally one
found working boys here from the construction industry; a couple of foremen
have been struck, and oil industry men. The gold, rings and watches, ought to
have indicated the matter more clearly. Eating with the fingers, manner and
behaviour, had masked the reality. In Singapore the construction workers cooked
in the dorms or their illegal shelters—heavy 25 kg. sacks of rice and tins of
cooking oil lugged in the gutters of Geylang Road nightly. Even S$3.50 meals
and S$1.80 masala chai definitely pitched the place into the middle bracket,
no two ways about it. One recalled Yanasagaran complaining about the latter and
abashed at being treated the former. Still, places like Woodlands around in Upper Dickson and Aravinds out behind the temple were something else with their epic
wall paintings, cuckoo clocks and place mats. Butter-milk just the shot here
against the heat—the Chief had once complimented on the wise choice one other
hot afternoon. Who would have thought green chilli and coriander leaf? Dark
balding fellow opposite with dyed goatee and mullet very much the aspect of one
of our Aboriginal ex-football stars dispensed with the physical regime. A
definite worker, as confirmed by the Ang Moh Kio Council tee when he went to
wash his hands. Some of the older sari wrapped widows and spoilt kids ought to
have made the matter abundantly clear, together with the whitening creams.
Almost entirely full-house, four vacant chairs across the room. Numerous
hopefuls had turned on their heels after an initial survey from the first
corner.
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