Tough Art

Hospitality, I can do. Quite passably. Make no bones about it. I am not rude or anything (Except perhaps to some who are too pesky). When someone comes home, I am capable of welcoming the person with a smile, taking their coat and politely asking if they’d like a drink.

Typically, it goes like this.
Me: Would you like something to drink?
Guest: No. No. It’s ok.
Me: Some coffee or tea or juice perhaps? Water?
Guest: Illa. Paravaala
Me: If you are sure. Do let me know if you change your mind.

Conversation, check. Later, cook or order in. Offer the guest a plate and on the whole make sure he/ she is comfortable. I also sincerely say, “Please feel at home” and mean it. Well, I admit that means they can make their own breakfast when they stay over. Yet, not bad at all; is it?

However, where typical Indian ethos is expected, the whole “typical hospitality” thing whizzes way above my head. Well, true; it is not rocket science… I find it tougher. Science, no problemo! Not too much indeterminacy; follows rules most of the time. Positive means positive, and negative means negative. Not much complexity. But hospitality with Indian overtones? That is a whole new ball game. Finally, only now, after many, many years, am I reflecting on what I’ve seen. Also understand that I am expected to have absorbed all this through observation long ago!