Cruising Around with Local Girls

The party starts early in the evening, with a Hindu DJ named Ravi setting the tone. Goa once again proves that beach life and nightlife are closely intertwined.

There, I meet two Indian medical students. One of them, Anut, tells me she is in her fifth year. “I study all the time,” she says. “There’s no time for anything else.” In India, she explains, constant studying — and later constant working — is essential. Otherwise, you simply don’t get anywhere.

Our conversation drifts to relationships and conservatism in India. Anut says it largely depends on the family. Interestingly, the wealthier the family, the more strictly traditional norms tend to be followed. She tells me that her parents had arranged a marriage for her — but she firmly said she would not marry that man. Surprisingly, her parents accepted her decision.

At the same time, she shares a darker story: recently, a white university professor and a very wealthy Indian student had developed a romantic relationship. The professor was forced to leave the country. The girl was first placed under house arrest. Then her mother committed suicide — and the daughter was accused of causing her mother’s death and taken to court. The weight of family honor can be enormous.

Later that evening, Anut invites me to join her for a ride. We hop on her small but fairly new Suzuki scooter and head toward Baga Beach, a far more urbanized and tourist-heavy area compared to laid-back Anjuna.

We walk along the beach, lined with restaurants and persistent vendors constantly trying to sell something. Anut doesn’t even notice that her friend has called her twenty times. It turns out her friend is standing outside their hotel, wanting to join us.

Soon, the three of us are riding back toward Anjuna. (And no — I am not driving. It’s just left-side traffic.) We stop at a beach club hosting a retro-themed party and stay for about an hour.

Eventually, they drop me off back at my place. The next day, they take a bus back to Pune, the student city near Mumbai, to continue their demanding medical studies.