TRUELIES
Ever since a fire engulfed and destroyed this popular Goan eatery, stories of its cause have been flying free and fast. At first, the flames were attributed to the bursting of a gas cylinder in the eatery’s own kitchen, but soon, the restaurant put out a statement denying this and the reason for the fire was believed to be burning embers from a neighbouring lot, which had reached the restaurant. This appeared to be the most plausible explanation for the devastation. However, Goan sources swear that things are not as simple. Especially, as the location of the ravaged eatery happens to be near a newly-opened rival run by a powerful local. “The fact that another iconic restaurant in the same vicinity had to shut down and move elsewhere, as it was denied license, only adds fuel to the rumours of sabotage,” said one Goa insider. “With its shutting down after the fire, the coast is conveniently clear for the new eatery to capture the lucrative seasonal holiday market,” say sources. But of course, these stories of skulduggery and diabolical deceit ought to be taken with a pinch of salt. As does the other story doing the rounds: Of two unidentified men on bikes who were spotted in the locality fanning the flames. Ah Goa and they still call you God’s Own Country. ILLUSTRATION: SHRIKRISHNA PATKAR
It was most likely just some friendly social media banter, but given the high-profile roles both played in the #Metoo storm, it defined the phrase ‘skating on thin ice’. This weekend, venture capital investor Mahesh Murthy, who’d been arrested last year on charges of molesting and stalking a woman, posted something humorous, drawing attention to his absentmindedness, on social media. The sentences: “Had an early flight. Dressed in the dark and left for the airport. Where I noticed this,” were accompanied with a picture of two glaringly-mismatched shoes. Expectedly, the post evoked much response with many chiming in with their own instances of absentmindedness (especially early morning bouts resulting in similar sartorial confusions). One such comment was from writer and filmmaker Vinta Nanda, whose case against actor Alok Nath for an alleged rape 20 years ago has been in the headlines. “Now?” was her cryptic and enigmatic question, at which point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that many aware of each one’s roles in the raging issue held their breath. Murthy replied with tart alacrity: “Vinta Nanda, yes, now”. (One of the charges against him was that he had been unnecessarily flirtatious on social media). Not missing a beat, Nanda quickly clarified: “Mahesh Murthy, I meant now what will you do?”
To which Murthy responded that he would do nothing, since apparently, no one had noticed. “LOL”, noted Nanda and .... everyone went back to what they were doing.