nkazóza by the roadside!

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!)

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!!