| Pink on the outside and shiny white on the inside, | | | | aftermath of her happiness. We pulled all the |
| the little olive-shaped radishes glistened in the bowl | | | | windows of the carriage open and walked as far |
| that the laoban's (boss's) wife placed before me. I | | | | away as we could from her when the second |
| dithered for a moment before I picked one and | | | | burp followed and then a third...She couldn't stop |
| placed it gingerly into my mouth.Radishes have | | | | burping and all we could do was choke...and since |
| always brought back bad memories and for years | | | | that memorable day radishes have been a strict |
| I haven't touched anything that included them. I | | | | no-no for me and my brother. My sister fell prey |
| mean, I wouldn't touch any food that had the | | | | to its seductive charm some time ago but still |
| faintest hint of radish.I must have been ten and I | | | | desists from letting herself go after it, choosing to |
| was on a train with my younger brother and | | | | restrict herself to a small share.Brother and I |
| sister on our way back home from school in | | | | have been unrelenting in our resolve to keep far |
| Jaipur in western India. Our mother's aunt was on | | | | away from anything radish.But, today, I fell prey |
| the train with us. Each time the train stopped at a | | | | to its olive-shaped, pink-hued avatar in far-away |
| station she would buy something from the | | | | China. I must have had a bit more than my |
| hawkers - fruits, tea, the odd snacks and | | | | mother's aunt did that fateful day on a train from |
| radishes. We sniggered each time she got off, her | | | | Jaipur. And, I am burping, too...but, thankfully, there |
| ample derriere on her short frame swinging wildly | | | | are no children around to kill me with a disgusted |
| from the exercise, a picture that her sweetest | | | | look nor is there any one else who will learn from |
| smile cannot erase from our joint memories - in | | | | me never to indulge in the pleasures of |
| part because of itself and in part because of the | | | | radish-flesh. I wonder if the air around me smells |
| radishes.She bought a bunch of squeaky white, | | | | as poisoned as it did on that train...i wonder if |
| nearly foot long, juicy-looking radishes. And, | | | | Chinese radish is as sweet to smell as it is to |
| before that train started from the station, she | | | | taste...Rajesh Kanoi (Jack) is a published writer, |
| had buried her teeth into the juicy flesh of one. | | | | now living and working in China. Many of his |
| The three of us politely declined her offer, | | | | short-stories, poems and articles have been |
| preferring more interesting food than those | | | | published, including a book of short-stories, 'From |
| radishes.Minutes later she let go a very satisfied | | | | China With Love' (Lipstick Publishing). |
| burp and we all gasped, almost choking in the | | | | |