Time for dinner!!!

I looked up to her with surprise; she winked at me with a naughty smile. And in the next micro second, her lips touched my right cheek. “Love you my hero.” she whispered and pulled my cheek hard, really hard. I was relishing the moment when again Sir Lemo without turning back said “Hurry up children, I am hungry!”

We looked at each other with despair and she said, “I told you, he has a record.” And we both started laughing.

“Ok listen Gurpreet, Foodera is just few steps away, around that corner. I need to talk to you so after dinner don’t go back to your room. Meet me just outside the gate. I will come once my friends have left.”

“Sure, I will wait for you.” I said with a smile as we entered another small gate, similar to the one used for entering and leaving this place through slides.

What I saw in front of my eyes made my jaws drop, eyes pop and heart stop. I had read this in stories and seen it in movies but for the first time experienced it. The place was similar to the one where we had our rooms but the preparation for dinner was like that of a King’s palace. A large rectangle table full of only two things as far as I could see - fruits and meat. No bread or rice. I could not recognize the fruits by their shape, though the fruit I had by climbing the tree was also there…mix of guava and strawberry. The meat seemed roasted, no sauce or gravy. I could not make out if it was lamb, chicken or pork or maybe of some other animal found only on Nasa! No plates or glasses could be seen but each seat had a water pipe next to it, popping out of the ground.

The table had wooden stools all around it, did not count it but must be 110. Angel was on my right and Sir Lemo on my left. I turned my head toward Sir Lemo and said, “That is impressive but I hope they have arranged an extra stool for me to sit. We are now a group of 111 people you see.” I smiled at him and he smiled back, looking quite pleased.

“We have not only arranged an extra stool, but managed a special one for you.” He said happily. He was happy because of two reasons; firstly his team had done well in their preparation for dinner, at least in the presentation, don’t know about the taste. And secondly he had seen and felt that I was becoming a part of their group, whether be it me dressing up like them, counting myself in their group or connecting well with Angel. I only assumed these as the reason for his happiness, he did not tell me personally about them.

I followed Sir Lemo towards our left. On the way he told me that the people here fill their stomach first and then the actual get-together starts.

“I dint get you Sir.” I said

“I mean, first we have dinner during which we don’t talk and then we spend a good time interacting and meeting with each other.” Sir Lemo said explaining me the norm here.

He continued, “It is also recommended that the interaction after dinner should be done while strolling and not sitting at one place, it helps in digestion.’

“I’ll keep that in mind.” I said as I followed him.

He reached his seat, at the center of the breadth of the rectangle table. The stool had carving done on it. He asked me to sit on his right. My seat was same as his but since it was new, it looked better.  I looked around and all the other stools were simple, just plane without any carving. I asked Sir Lemo if any other stool had carving on it?

“No, my boy. Earlier it was only mine and now it’s yours too. Only for the head of group.” He said proudly.

“Thank you for that special treatment but when did I become the head here? Are you retiring?” I asked inquisitively with raised eyebrows.

He turned his head in a flash towards me with his eyes staring hard at me. I thought he did not like the retirement question. Then he whispered to me,

“Don’t you think you ask too many questions? Its time for the prayer so keep quiet.”

Everyone stood up and Sir Lemo started the prayer with everyone repeating after him,

“Dear God, We thank you for this dinner. Please keep us in good health.”

“Now you all may proceed with the dinner.”

As soon as the announcement was done, everyone started just gobbling up. Chicken, lamb, pork whatever they could get their hand on. It was like they only get the food once in a day. No one was talking, just busy in their food. They were moving around though, to taste different things. No one was touching the fruit as of now. Maybe after the meal, fruit was eaten to help in digestion. Sir Lemo too had gone and sat somewhere else. His mouth was full still he was pushing more and more inside. I was missing Angel, could not see her. Anyways, I picked up a piece of meat from the table. It was looking crispy, well roasted over charcoal. I dug my teeth deep into and bit of a piece. It was hard and dry, it was awful. I immediately spit it onto the floor. I wiped my mouth and looked up to about 30-40 faces sitting near me staring at me in awe.

“I am sorry but just could not eat it.” I tried to apologize.

At that very moment, Angel came running in. She asked me to drink some water from the pipe. She then addressed the staring faces, “Please forgive him, he is new here. Doesn’t know about it. It wont be repeated. I apologize on his behalf.” She was almost begging.

By that time Sir Lemo came up with a piece of steak in his hand, munching away. “Angel please take care of him and others please continue with your dinner.” And he went off to enjoy his food.

Angel then pulled an empty stool and sat beside me. “Are you fine now? Need more water?” She asked with a concerned look.

“I am fine now. But the chicken here is quite hard to bite I must say.” I told her as I examined the piece from where I had taken the bite.

“It is not chicken if it was hard. It must be rhino meat or bear meat.” She said casually.

My eyes just popped out! I was about to puke! Rhino meat? Meat of that fat bulky ugly piece of mass? Oh God, is that what they eat here? 

Will I be able to eat or better 'gobble up' this meat as they do? Will I have to survive only on fruits here?