He asked us “Cheeni dalu ya namakh? ” (Should I
add sugar or salt)
Pat came my reply “kuch bhi daalo par rang nahi
daalna!” (add anything, but don’t add in any colour to it)
The person who was making us our nkazóza i.e., the
lemon soda was head to toe covered in different hues. His head was green, left
ear was silver in colour, his hands were golden (the Midas touch ;p) with a
splash of pink here and there! Yup, it was the “holi” day.. (& of course a holiday
too!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdUUnnA2lOheyH0Ry8Kk3st74kkErTQ5jasDlfn-jpYvIU7p06PmjV10-1gL3CP28D3EIu6dv-ysRdozJevcdavQlFDlkDIPdt71KNUZeI8TG45325Ke1xZR1esNy-T0zMEDJd7J6sYBI/s200/lemon+soda.jpg)
He barred his white teeth (which at least
seemed to be white against his brightly coloured face) in a huge grin, as my
hubby answered him “thoda khatta thoda meetha.” (A lil’ salty and a lil’ sweet)
These soda vendors have a very quirky way to concoct
this “speciality” of theirs. Right from opening the soda bottle, to serving it
to their customers, each and every action is unique.
After swiftly squeezing the lemons and adding
the sugar, salt and masalas to the glass, they stir it quick after which comes in,
the carbonated water. They plug the mouth of the bottle with their thumb and slosh
out the soda at a full tilt, till it bubbles over the brim of the glass, then
rests, then again fill it up… till all of the soda from the bottle is used up…
.. and till every bubble has passed its fizzical!!