1

just as marked on a signboard in front of the very modest
" ganesh restaurant . veg / non veg " . mister patel and his young
helper were surprised when the white skinned foreign woman entered
and took a seat with her back to the dingy yellow tiled front counter

mister patel wiped his hands on his apron and briskly walked to the
woman ' s table . he nodded his head and with a questioning
smile said " yes ? " . the woman replied " the thali . the 5 rupee thali "
a large green daypack with plastic water bottle sat against her chair

clapping his hands towards the helper he shouted " thali . best rice
give my sambal and dal ! " . turning to the woman mister patel
asked " madam . what is your country ? " she smiled " california
i am california born " . mr patel exclaimed " oh california ! a great
country . a far away country ! " . he rushed to the kitchen and took
the thali tray from his helper . after adding extra basmati and spicy
okra he returned to woman and placed the dishes before her

she thanked him and began to mix the rice and sambal with her
right hand . mister patel lingered for a moment then returned to
the counter and watched her attentively . when she finished he
promptly brought her a cashew lassi . " for you madam . no charge ! "

the woman thanked him " my name is leigh delgado . the thali was lovely "
she reached into her shirt pocket and gave mister patel a business card
he carefully read its black lettering " leigh delgado : california born "
the woman finished her lassi and handed mister patel 5 ruprees
he refused " madam ! no charge " . after putting it on the table
for the helper she picked up the daypack and left the restaurant

mister patel looked at the card and nodded his head " leigh delgado
california born " . surely an important california born woman he thought
what a story for the family and neighbors that night

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" thali . best rice give my sambal and dal ! "

Do you not mean sambar and dal ?