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| Cafe Ganesh, Panjim |
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| Bhagat provision store, Panjim |
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| Matchmaking in Cafe Ganesh. |
- Brian Mendonca
7.45
I step into Cafe Ganesh
Its warm interiors
beckoning me
on an august day.
Undo with patal bhaji
serves as my breakfast.
Bhagat opens
to receive grain.
No mirchi in the morning
'Nikala nahin.'
At the table in front of me
a Goan matchmaker sits
showing photos of lads
to a father for his daughter.
Short (43?), with a French beard
his voice is intense.
'Dubai' 'Miramar'
slide off his lips.
At 8 he rises and rushes off
to another table
hoping he will strike a match
with another dad.
I step out
Bhagat has downed its shutters.
I don't need an umbrella,
'They are all bloody hypocrites.'
(Cafe Ganesh
Panjim, Goa
5 August 2025)
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