As I stood waiting for a train, something I've done often during my trip to England, I fancied something warm! After my year of hot Indian weather, this Great British weather is, not so great. So, what's more heart and soul warming than hot chocolate? I followed my chocolate addiction and cold hands to the nearest coffee shop and asked for a small hot chocolate.
The barista picked up a large cup and started making my hot chocolate. "Oh, no, sorry, I wanted a small hot chocolate". The barista, an Indian guy, carried on. "Um...", I didn't really know what to say after that, I only had enough money for a small hot chocolate in my purse. It was a bit awkward, I was worried he didn't understand me. I could see the stack of small cups so it wasn't that they had run out of those. Oh dear, what's going on!
"Don't worry Bhabhi, it's free because you're my Bhabhi", the barista said with a huge smile. He had noticed my mangalsutra and the small touch of sindoor in my hair. After saying "thank you" and "are you sure?" several times and giving him a high five (I don't know where the high five came from, I am not a regular high fiver), I enjoyed my hot chocolate and caught my train.
Only hours before, my friend and I were eating dessert in a restaurant and the waiter, who wasn't Indian, told me he liked my sindoor and asked how long I've been married. This all happened in multicultural London, my sindoor is often met with confusion in the part of England I am from. People usually think I have a head injury!
(Bhabhi means 'elder brother's wife')
