Indian Illness

Mistakes

This is only embarassing now I've told someone!

I was on holiday in India, and had just arrived in a town in the Himalayas. All the guest houses were full, but I met a lovely family who offered me a room. They put me in one of their own bedrooms, and said they could move me in the morning when some other guests had left. I went to sleep early - very tired after a long journey. Some time before dawn I awoke feeling sick, my belly and bowels were churning - and getting worse by the second. I felt the urgent need to get to a toilet, so stood up but quickly realised I had no control. I was about to poop and nothing could hold it back. In desperation I grabbed a large metal bowl from a shelf and emptied my guts into it. Then I put it back on the shelf, and passed out.

Early in the morning a boy knocked on the door and came in, "Please excuse me" he said. I was delerious and had forgotten where I was let alone the bowl full of poop. The boy went over to the cupboard and I suddenly remembered what had happened - but I didnt know what to say. Fortunately he didn't notice (despite the very bad smell), but now that it was light I could see it - a beautiful beaten copper bowl - the largest in a set - obviously the family's finest. Meanwhile the boy closed the cupboard shelves, padlocked them, then left the room. He was obviously worried that I might damage them or even perhaps steal them.

I couldnt bring myself to explain what had happened, and made excuses to leave the next day.

It has been bugging me for over ten years now. I often wonder how long it was before they opened the cupboard, and what they must have thought of me. So if you read this you know who you are, and I really am very sorry (and embarrassed).