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A conversation
with a houseboat owner |
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A CONVERSATION WITH A HOUSEBOAT OWNER
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The
participants are a tourist, Ashok and, a houseboat owner. A houseboat is
generally owned and managed by a single person, and is leased for lengths of
time varying from an overnight stay to a full summer season's stay. On leasing a
houseboat (often the lease is verbal), the set contextual phrases are as
follows: 
Houseboat owner: Certainly, take a look at it.
It's very beautiful. How many persons are there?
Houseboat owner: For how long do you want to
stay?
(and, the invariable inquiry)
Ashok: What is the charge?
It is after this last inquiry that
the unavoidable bargaining begins.
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Houseboat owner: Greetings, Sahib. Come,
Sahib, stay in the houseboat.
Ashok: Well, I would like to see the
houseboat.
Houseboat owner: Certainly, take a look at
it. It's very beautiful. How many persons are there?
Ashok: I am the only one.
Houseboat owner: For how long do you want
to stay?
Ashok: One week.
Houseboat owner: All right, let's go.
Ashok: How far is the houseboat?
Houseboat owner: Near Dal Gate.
Ashok: How many rooms does it have?
Houseboat owner: Four rooms, two for
sleeping (two bedrooms), one for sitting (one living room), and one for cooking
and dining (and a dinette-kitchen).
Ashok: What is the charge?
Houseboat owner: Just twenty rupees a day.
Ashok: All right, I will look at the
houseboat.
Houseboat owner: Yes, sir, let's go.
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Chapter
3
