In spite of all evidence to the contrary, I am indeed working very hard here in India. Yesterday I finished the first draft of a detailed 45 page technical report. Quite honestly I’ve been working like a dog (though in a great deal of denial about this fact since there is so much I want to see and do here and it is still an adventure walking home every night!). Beginning on Thursday, once it came to my attention thanks to the elegant, curious visiting Australian, Sally, I began fantasizing about Verma’s. That would be my carrot. I would get some beauty treatment to restore my soul after countless hours slaving on my report. (On leishmainaisis—aka kala azar, an extremely debilitating vector borne neglected tropical disease that affects a billion poor people worldwide. Come on! You knew I was a do-gooder, a hedonistic do-gooder, but a do-gooder nonetheless.) Shortly after lunch on Friday, Sally dragged me to Verma’s Beauty Salon, established 1958, to make an appointment for after work. Not only was I going to get a beauty treatment, but I was going to insure that I had my work done in a timely fashion!
So inspired was I by this carrot, that I finished an hour early and paced the floor in anticipation of the Verma treat. Now I could have got a basic facial for the low, low price of 300 rupees (about US $6)—and I’m sure that would have been fine. But no, I decided to splurge a little and go whole hog. I got the Lotus Special Facial and Massage and for the next hour and a half I had various and sundry oils and unguents squirted on me or delivered by the breadknifeful by a very talented woman who I chose to believe was Verma herself. HEAVEN!! And all for $14. I’m pretty sure I’m going to become a regular at Verma’s.
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