A truly GOAN couple It is humour that perks up their perpetual romance. Lea and Victor Rangel Ribeiro share their love and laughs with Goa Times
SHRUTI PANDIT Times News network "When Americans say – 'take it easy' – they mean, please don't take it easy, but work as hard as you can," quips Victor Rangel Ribeiro. The ability to see humour in everything is Victor's second nature. "Let me correct that," says wife Lea. "Not an ability, that is his nature!" Been married for 54 years, Lea knows best. "Do you know that she almost did not marry me?" asks Victor. He has proof of his story — a two annas bus ticket from 1951. The back of the ticket carries Lea's signature under an emphatic note 'I will never marry you Victor Ribeiro'. Then what made her marry you? "Me!" is the quick reply. "I knew that she is the girl I wanted to marry when I first saw her at a concert, turning the pages of music for the lead pianist. She intrigued me with her presence. I was observing her and only her the whole concert, blind and deaf to all other sights and sounds," he says. "When I met her next, by chance, I decided to woo her. It was not so easy… but I managed." Victor was in Goa at his ancestral home in Porvorim."I usually visit Goa twice a year." Goa for him is childhood memories and romance. He still goes for walks on the beaches holding Lea's hands watching the sunset and the water change its colour. "We are a romantic couple," he says with a twinkle in his eye. Lea blushes at this remark. "Talk about his romantic streak," Lea reminisces. "First time we went out, it was in a boat with my parents. When I put my hand in the water, this guy promptly does the same, holds my hand and starts caressing it. I was stunned. Didn't know how to react with my parents sitting in the same boat. And Victor was enjoying my discomfort." Their love for each other is obvious. They even chip in for one another during conversations about Victor's life in the US, Mumbai and Goa. "Goa is a blend of cultures. The Saraswats and Catholics, churches and temples have lived together in harmony as nowhere else," says Victor. "If you look at the language, Konkani, that too is influenced by Marathi and Portuguese. And the best part is, all are comfortable with the confluence." "He has three mother tongues!" Lea adds. "Konkani, Portuguese and English." Victor elucidates. "Konkani and Portuguese – local languages – and English because it was spoken at home as we belonged to a certain strata of society. So I grew up trilingual and I consider all three my mother tongues." Victor is a linguist. "And has a story to tell about each language he has learnt," Lea says. "Well… not a story, but a reason," Victor adds. "Tell her about the German," Lea coaxes. Victor recalls, "Once when in Mumbai, I had a fever and was asked to stay put in bed for 14 days. That was taxing for hyper me. So I asked the doctor what was wrong with me." Lea interjects, "Next thing he does, is tells his brother to buy him a Teach Yourself German book!" Victor goes on, "Yes. I was told I had German measles. So I thought learning the language was the best way to use those 14 days creatively." High school teacher, assistant editor, music critic, Victor has done it all when in India. "I have worked at the Times of India when it was still with Bennett and Coleman," he says. "And trust me, those were few of my best working days in India," he adds. Back then, his short stories about Goa and fictional townships were published in the Illustrated Weekly with Mario Miranda's illustrations. Later, they were compiled, with a few additions, as Tivolem, the award winning book. "Goa is full of stories," says Victor. "Some of them, like the honest thief one, are true life stories. I met that thief in my sister's village. He spent the night on a balcao and left in the morning leaving his sheets neatly folded!" Victor admits that wherever he goes, whichever part of the world, he will always be a Goan at heart. "Me too!" adds Lea. And… that they are… true Goans, even after spending half a century in the US.