> > Gabe asked Santosh if he was Halur Rasho and Santosh said no. Another year, another New Year’s resolution. Make it two. One to keep as healthy as possible, the other to find out the real Halur Rasho. The New Year was brought in with much fanfare in Goa today (except in Moira where it is celebrated on January 2). All the excitement got me going and I decided to keep one New Year’s resolution and exercise for an hour. This amounts to a 58 minute ride from Siolim to Arambol and back, which leaves 2 minutes of real exercise and a 10-yard brisk walk on the beach.
I set off on a two-wheeler around 8am. To get the feel of a Goan MLA, I decided not to wear a helmet on the way to Arambol, change my mind, and wear a helmet on the way back. Hedge your bets, that's the politician’s policy. Little did I realize I would be able to keep both resolutions today. Walking in front of me (actually staggering and inebriated) was “the pseudonym” of current interest on Goanet. “Hello” I said. “Halur” was the reply, speech clearly slurred. “Relaxing here or in a rush to get somewhere?” I inquired. “Rasho” came the alcohol-laden prompt reply, clearly indicating haste. Good heavens! I have met Halur Rasho, dressed in a T-shirt with a picture of John Kerry and an anti-Iraq war sign emblazoned on the front with real name below that. Oops, I just introduced the American election and the Iraq war on Goanet, both closed topics. Much as I would like to disclose the real name of the person as shown on the T-shirt, I am bound now to honor the current closed topic and say nothing more. Perhaps with poor wit and lousy satire I will try and reveal the real name of Halur Rasho in another email. So now you know the truth. Regards, George P.S. I have not revealed the gender of Halur Rasho so do not jump to conclusions. I have also not said if this person is a Goan Catholic or a non-Goan Hindu or a migrant worker taking jobs Goans don’t want, or an IFFI free-loading delegate from the Bay of Bengal. I do not wish to offend anyone or introduce controversy.
