We frequent a juice shop, and there is a lady who works there—nice, good-looking, and charming. She always speaks kindly with my wife, greets me, and shows affection to my son. The drinks are always consistent and good, so we have no complaints, thankfully.
This Ganesh Chaturthi, my 6-year-old son and I were seated at one of the Ganesh pandals while my wife had gone to collect prasads for us. My son and I spotted the juice shop lady, well-dressed, who had come with her husband and two small daughters. Her glance fell on me, and she immediately turned her face away. Well, being Indian, I am accustomed to this behavior. Most Indian women behave differently depending on their husband’s presence or absence. They don’t want to make their husbands feel awkward by revealing that they interact with other men outside their marriage. I didn’t smile or greet her either—I didn’t want to embarrass her in front of her husband.
We were seated too prominently, and this time her eyes met my son’s. My son immediately raised his hand and waved at her. Again, she turned her face and pretended to be busy talking to her husband and managing her two children.
“Appa, I waved at that aunty, but she didn’t wave back,” said my son.
“Well, son, she is embarrassed in front of her husband, so just ignore it,” I replied.
My son smiled and got busy with his iPad.
Yesterday, we went to the same juice shop—my wife, my son, and I. She was in her usual mood: happy, giggling, and nicely dressed. She spoke to my wife and greeted both me and my son. Out of the blue, I confronted her, “We saw you the other day.” Instead of asking when or where, she immediately replied, “Where were you standing?” She was clever enough not to ask, “Where were you sitting?” Only five people had chairs that day.
“And my son waved at you. He got upset that you didn’t wave back,” I said.
“Oh, sorry dear, I didn’t see you that day,” she said to my son.
We had our juice, paid the bill, and walked to the car. On the way back, I asked my son, “Did you realise that the woman lied to us?” He said, “No.” She had seen us the other day, avoided us, and then lied today to cover it up. He said, “Ohhh, okay.”
“So, what lesson did you learn today?” I asked.
“That women lie?” he asked.
“Of course, they do. Not only women, every human being lies. It is up to you to find that out. If you do, you are intelligent,” I replied.
We drove back home.