Three of Swords-JJBA Part 3

Selfishness

"Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore...and now we're about to cross India..." Joseph said. The group turned to look at him as he started to scratch his face. "But, well, I'm a little worried. My image of India is a place where people only eat curry and you can fall ill at any time." Joseph explained.

"I'm worried that my body may not be able to handle the culture gap." Polnareff added. Scarlet had to agree with both of them.

Avdol chuckled softly. "That assessment is rather distorted. You needn't worry. It's a nice country, where simple people live. I can guarantee it." He reassured them.

The boat shook slightly as they reached their destination, and Scarlet hung onto the wall, slightly leaning against Polnareff to keep her balance. Kakyoin looked at her. She had been seeming to avoid him for most of the ride to India. He started to doubt that he didn't hurt her when he was being controlled.

The boat stopped, and Avdol opened the door to let them out. "Well, we're in Calcutta. Let's go." Joseph, Polnareff and Scarlet peeked out behind him at the foreign land.

As soon as they got out, they were greeted with a crowd of children and adults rushing at them, cars honking in the streets, and the children shouting at them for money.

"Hey, give me a tip!" The children screamed.

"Let me carry that for you!" A man rushed at Polnareff, asking to carry his luggage. Polnareff held it closer to his body.

"Want a tattoo? You're so pretty." An older man said to Kakyoin. Scarlet watched and chuckled slightly to herself. This caught the old man's attention, and he turned to her. "How about you? You're so beautiful, I have one of a rose that would suit you!" She turned away and rolled her eyes, ignoring the man's cries and the small smirk that had appeared on Polnareff's face. He heard what that man said.

"Want some antivenom? It won't hurt your stomach!" A man asked Joseph, holding a small vial in his face.

"I'll show you to a hotel!" Another man yelled.

The group of six were surrounded on all sides by the beggars, each offering different things and some just asking for money. After a few seconds, the beggars started getting pushy. The children tugged at Jotaro's shirt, saying that if he didn't give them a tip, he wouldn't go to heaven. Joseph kept on rejecting the many offers that were given to him, and a kid tried sniffing Polnareff's luggage. There were men and children pulling at Scarlet's clothing, begging her for money. That man offering the tattoos kept pestering her. Someone had even already stolen Kakyoin's wallet!

"Avdol! Is this India?!" Scarlet yelled out and asked the man. He turned to her and smiled.

"See, isn't this a great country?" He said as he laughed. "This is what makes this country so wonderful!"

--

"Here, have this. This is chai. It's delicious." Avdol explained as Joseph stared at the cup in front of him. He grabbed it and took a sip.

"At last, a little peace!" He said after taking multiple sips.

"It's just a matter of getting used to it," Avdol replied. "Once you get used to it, you'll see how wonderful this country is."

"I like this place," Jotaro said suddenly. "It's pretty great."

"Seriously, Jotaro?" Joseph asked, shocked at his grandson's response to India. "You really mean that?"

Before Jotaro could answer, Polnareff sighed deeply, placing his cup of chai back down on its plate. "Talk about culture shock." He said. "I'll like it once I get used to it, huh?" He reached down and grabbed his luggage, standing up. "Well, they say that people adapt to their surroundings." He turned to a waiter. "Where's the john?" The waiter pointed, and Polnareff began to head in that direction.