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Published: November 26th 2010
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Yesterday my colleague Lourdes and I went to Habeeb's place to have dinner. Habeeb is a man who lives in Vedanthangal. He's about 45 years old and he is married and has a beautiful daughter. He has a shop. He doesn't have many things in his shop, and we thought that maybe it was another kind of shop.... (some joints behind the cookies?). Well... probably, because he is a business man!! And Lourdes is a business woman so... you can imagine me in the middle, like an umpire on a tennis court! And now I am sure of this. Not joints – but many other things!
It’s very funny!
It started some weeks ago with beer. We are in the middle of nowhere and it's difficult to find an apple here, so imagine one beer!! It seems impossible at the beginning but if you investigate a little you will meet Habeeb during your search. Yes, he can find some beers for you, but don't tell anybody, it's a secret! You should ask for the beer almost one week before (you will need to repeat the order to him three or four times, as he has many thoughts in his
head!). When (finally) it is THE day, you should go to the shop very slowly, looking around you and trying to seem invisible. If there is somebody in the shop you should wait, wait and wait (10 minutes? 15? who knows?) and after that you can ask (softly) for your beer. He will feel nervous and will start moving very quickly looking for a black plastic bag to put the bottle into. After that you should pay and go home very quickly, so that nobody can see you!!
What an odyssey to buy some beer, right?? But, at least, we can get it!!! That was our first secret business with Habeeb. It was only the beginning. Yesterday during dinner we (specially Lourdes) started again:
The second secret business is better than one beer, it's food!! Oh man, I'm fed up with rice and dosa in Fatima's place! Can anybody cook anything else for us?? Or maybe some better rice please? Yesterday we found the man: Habeeb!! We asked him if it was possible and he said ok, but it is a secret again because Fatima will be very very angry if she knows about this! She's angry with Habeeb because she thinks that he sells beer (really?? I don't think so...!). OK! You will see the result of our second business in my picasa pictures, I will put on weight!
Maybe the third business was the best! Do you know that we are handwashing our clothes? And we don't have any place to do this properly, so we do it in the bathroom (the same place where we shower and wash up the dishes ...). And can you imagine what happens when it doesn't stop raining and we can't hang the washing out and you have to keep the clothes inside the water for three or four days? Bad smell dude, very bad smell. And what happens with the spots in your T-shirt? They never disappear! We can give our clothes to Fatima's daughter and she will try to wash them. But she will only try....OK, bad job.... But do you know what? Habeeb has a washing machine!! (Don't tell this to Fatima's daughter! Secret, secret!)
The fourth business is pretty easy: he has a shop but nothing inside (cool!) but if we need something he will buy it especially for us and we will re-buy it from him. Not bad! Maybe something basic like bread or fruit.
The fifth business is for my boss, not really important.... Habeeb is building the first floor in his house and he will prepare some rooms for tourists. My boss is interested because he wants to offer some trips in South India and he needs some guest house or something.... Anyway....
I told you this is a business... of course we should pay for it all. What to do?
Surviving in Vedanthangal could be pretty expensive!"
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Xurri
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Mooooolt interessant............. des d que fas negocis amb en Habib estic molt més tranquila!!!!!!!! una bona cerveseta, sense tindre que preocupar-te per la roba i segura de tindre un bon sopar!!! jajajajaja això és genial!!!!! un ptnasssguapa!