Ride on Time

Chapter 19

For some reason, Shri's family didn't seem all that keen on the kabuki performance and ended up talking in low voices instead of paying attention.
"Scary lah..." Shruti remarked when the kabuki performance started. "Like ghost movie only..."
"I know, but this is their culture," Shri pointed out. "In Indian also got like that, what."
"Yeah, but the Indian one they don't make scary face all like that," Shruti pointed out. "No masks, just acting, dialogue, and music. That's all."
"She's got a point," Shridhar agreed.
"Where got point?" Shri countered. "She got go see live meh?"
"Whatever lah," Shridhar snorted, shrugging. "Let's just watch. We came to Japan already, at least let's learn about their culture while we're here."
"They make that scary face to scare evil spirits off, it seems," Shri explained. "That's why they do like that."
"What ah?" Suganthi asked, not quite hearing. Shri explained to her again, a little louder, and she understood. "Oh... like that..."
"Misao said we should've came last month during the Gion Matsuri," Shri sighed. "She said it was very grand, especially this year."
"La... why she never tell earlier?" Shruti complained.
"Shruti, last month we didn't even know her," Suganthi pointed out. She suddenly gasped when she remembered something. "Mohan! Can we go see your girlfriend ah? Never meet her properly also..."
Shri frowned thoughtfully but nodded. "Can... but she at work now lah, Ma."
"Never mind, let's go and see her," Suganthi grinned. "At least better than this, right?"
"That's kinda disrespectful, but I guess going to see Misao is better," Shri chuckled. "We can go after this, but I think must call booking first."

Shri entered the phone booth and booked another reservation under his name at the Ryōtei Okiya. Then, they took a taxi and went straight there.
"Ah yes, the same place," Shridhar nodded and got out of the car. "She play the uduku or something, right?"
"Tsuzumi, but yeah you're right," Shri nodded. "The two looks quite similar but the sound is very different."
They entered the Ryōtei and were led to a room.
"Hopefully it's Misao again," Shruti grinned.
"Oh, yeah, I didn't think of that..." Shri groaned. "But I did mention that she was my friend."
"Okay lah," Suganthi shrugged. "Maybe they ask her to entertain us."
They entered the shoji doorway and sat down at the chabudai. All of them besides Shruti sat cross-legged since they weren't really used to kneeling while eating. Shruti wasn't really used to seiza too and just folded her legs beside her instead of under her.
A waitress in a kimono appeared and bowed, handing them the menu cards.
"Sakura will be here in a minute," the waitress said. "She insisted on entertaining you."
"Eh, you said her name Misau, right?" Shridhar said as soon as the girl left, puzzled. "This girl telling Sakura?"
"It's her, just that she use the name Sakura when working," Shri explained. "Also, it's Misa-o."
"Miso?" Shridhar smirked.
"Mi sa o," Shri repeated more slowly.
"Misai?" Shridhar grinned.
"Mi..."
"Mi?"
"Sa..."
"Sa?"
"O..."
"O."
"Mi sa o."
"Mi so," Shridhar messed up again.
"Aiya, you one more," Shri sighed and turned back to the menu. "You purposely acting like you cannot pronounce her name. Simply only."
Someone cleared their throat and all of them looked up to see a geisha girl standing in front of them, her red lips forming a gentle smile on her pale face.
"Sakura!" Shri casually called, bowing slightly.
Misao smiled and bowed deeply. "Hi, Shri. It's good to see you again with your family. Have you guys decided what you guys wanna eat yet?"
"Her English quite good ah..." Suganthi remarked in a low voice.
"Yeah..." Shridhar nodded.
"Umm... how about udon?" Shri suggested. "I've never really tried it."
"Yeah, same," Shruti agreed. "Can lah. What's that, anyway?"
"It's one type of mee like that," Shri said. "Like Mee Soup."
"Oh..." Shruti nodded. "Can lah."
"But what's in the soup?" Suganthi asked. She turned to Misao who patiently waited. "What's in the soup, girl? No beef, right?"
"Ah, yes," Misao nodded politely. "Mostly fish and seafood. You guys are okay with chicken and pork, right?"
"Yes," all of them agreed.
"Curry udon, miso udon, or kake udon?" Misao asked. "We have yaki udon too."
She went on to explain the difference and they all ended up ordering Curry udon.
"And dessert?" Misao asked.
"I think I'll take anmitsu like the last time," Shri said. "What about you guys?"
"Just take lah," Shridhar shrugged. "I don't even know what else got."
So they all agreed on Anmitsu for dessert and green tea to drink. Misao left to give the order to a waitress and returned with her tsuzumi to perform.
"And I will now entertain you while you eat," Misao bowed and began.
They watched as she started playing a song, kneeling on the tatami with the drum perched against her right shoulder. The beat started slowing down and the Malaysians thought she was done but just then, she started singing a slow traditional Japanese song.
"I... can you understand what she singing ah, Mohan?" Shridhar asked. Shri simply shook his head. "Ask her lah. She can speak English, what."
Shri nodded understandingly and turned to Misao, waiting for her to complete her song. She finally did and gave a deep bow, reminding them of the way they bowed to god in temples but not as deeply, and looked at them with a smile.
"Misao, one question," Shri asked.
"I'm Sakura at work, Shri," Misao chuckled, putting her drum down beside her. "Anyway, what would you like to know?"
He opened his mouth to ask her but their food arrived before he could. Misao got up and waited for the waitresses to leave before speaking with Shri again.
"What was it that you wanted to ask, Shri?" Misao asked politely.
"Oh," Shri remembered his question. "Can we get a translation for the song you just sang? My dad's a little curious on what it means."
Shridhar looked at him with wide eyes, surprised that he practically snitched on him. Shri just smirked back at him, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"Sure," Misao smiled.
She started telling them what the song meant, a story of a long ago samurai that was well-loved by everyone, even the Shogun himself.
"Excuse me as I will bring my shamisen," Misao bowed and briefly left, only to return with her instrument.
She knelt in front of them again and started playing.
"Hey, I didn't know you could play the shamisen too," Shri said in surprise when she finished.
"I can play a lot more, Shri," Misao smiled. "By the way, I hope you're enjoying your food."
"Of course we are," Suganthi smiled. "This... what was this called, Mohan?"
"Curry udon," Shri quickly said said.
"Ah yes, this udon, is really good," Suganthi smiled again. "The curry's a bit sweet, but it's really good."
"Thank you, Madam," Misao smiled, bowing to her. "The curry is supposed to be sweet because unlike Indian curry, Japanese curry is a lot milder since... not all Japanese people favours spicy food."
"I understand," Suganthi nodded. "Every culture has its own identity. By the way, have you tried Indian curry?"
"Oh yes, I have," Misao smiled, getting up. "It was kinda spicy but I liked it. Though I had to down three cups of cold milk after that."
"Now that's kinda sad..." Shridhar chimed in. "You shouldn't take something that you aren't used to, girl."
"Pa, let her lah," Shruti piped up. "She like, she eat lah. You also don't really like sweet curry but you still eat, right?"
Misao smiled at her defensive comment.
"Look at her, she changed sides so fast," Shridhar sighed in Tamil.
"Let her, that's what you get for saying such a thing," Suganthi smirked, also speaking in Tamil. "Let the girl eat whatever she wants. She didn't mind the spicy food herself, why do you have to say stuff like that? At least she likes our food, right?"
Shri turned to Misao and smiled sheepishly. "Where's our dessert?"
"They usually send it a little late since they want the customers to finish the main course first," Misao explained. "You guys done?"
The waitress eventually came in with their Anmitsu and left bowing.
"Now I will perform a traditional fan dance," Misao bowed respectfully before beginning.
They continued eating their meal, silently watching as she performed.

Translations!
-La is different from lah. La is like Aww man
-mee is basically noodles. I think the word is derived from the Chinese language. Mee is the thick moist noodles, like ramen or soba while mihun is the thin, dry kind of noodles that's mostly served in soup but can also be served fried.
-you one more. I'm not really sure how to explain this, but it's kinda the direct translation of ini lagi seorang from Malay, basically means this is another one person. Kinda used to express annoyance when someone gives a bad idea for something or keeps messing something up. I don't know how else to explain this, but it's kinda used in Tamil too.