Tuesday, May 13

I have come for another appointment with Archana for what I believe will prove my penultimate visit in my ever-lengthening quest to get a crown to replace a tooth that ran away. I sit and wait because Rajeev brought me here too early. I used some of the time to do some grocery shopping at Zeal Supermarket and now I look around the waiting room, cooled by an effective fan but waiting.

When I get home it seems quite obvious that Shanti wants to go out for a long walk. Every time I make a move towards the front door she literally jumps up and down.

Okay, I say, let’s go, and we do. I carry her lead and she runs ahead and waits, or drops behind and catches up. I had planned to get bananas at the kiosk by the temple and I do, but she wants to go further. We end up at Leo restaurant, after a short run into the sea, and I decide to eat there.

As it turns out we will both share dal fry, aloo gobi, and garlic naan. I will have most of it but Shanti will have as much as she can get. Fortunately we sit alone in the restaurant and the staff will find it all mildly amusing.