-"Paa'ji Satsrikal. Yeh meri ghari tut gi hai. Te innu theek kar doge?"
-"Haan haan, thodda wait karan tussi, main abhi kardiyasi"
After 5 mins.
My watch's band is fixed, the battery is changed and it is set to the proper time.
-"Kitna bana mera"
-"Waise to pin ka $ 5 aur Battery ka $ 8 lagta hai, par aap jitna dena hai do"
-"Paa'ji aap yeh credit card lo mera aur jitna theek lage kaat lo."
Now get this; all this is happening inside the Cortana Mall here in Baton Rouge. A little bit of India right here bang in the heart of the Southern United States. I can't express how happy I was.
Case in point; motels deep in the USA are nowadays referred to as "Patel Motels", that is because our "Gujju bhais" have taken over the responsibility of running motels and inns by the interstates. And they are thriving.
We recently went on a trip to the Smokey mountains. On the way we stopped at a local grocery that was run by another Gujrati brother. We were just looking to use the loo, because our bladders were practically overflowing. But he offered us free hot coffee since it was raining outside. In Chattanooga "the scenic city", we stayed at the Knights Inn, Ringgold Road which was owned by another Indian family. We had messed up on our schedule and had to postpone the booking, which was done in a jiffy without any extra charge.
Am I glad there are so many Indians in the USA. I am glad, I am happy and I am proud.
And Paa'ji just took $5.63 off my credit card, which I guess would cover the cost price. Thank You Paa'ji.
