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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. |
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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