Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 08, 2010:
Her face a mask of concentration, the young girl's nimble fingers slide a sharp blade through the flesh of a watermelon, slicing out slivers of fruit.
Kim Boi is a senior vegetable carver at Thai restaurant Benjarong, and spends most of her day, crouching on a platform, carving vegetables and fruits into different shapes to decorate the dishes.
"I always thought I would be a nurse or join the police force.
I had to come all the way here as my family was facing a financial crisis," says the 24-year-old from Manipur, her eyes still on the watermelon which is being shaped into a rose.
Kim came to Chennai in 2007, leaving her parents and young siblings behind.
"I was 21 when I left Manipur.
I used to teach at a missionary school in my village, Tui Tenz Mun.
The school just had two teachers.
I taught general knowledge and our language, Vaiphei," she says.
It's been 3 years since Kim left her home.
She lives with her sister in Chennai who works as a hostess at the same restaurant.
"I miss Manipur a lot.
I find it hard to communicate with people here.
Though I have picked little Tamil, Manipur and Chennai are total opposites," she giggles.
Kim is a perfectionist.
Customers often stop to watch as she meticulously and dextrously sculpts vegetables and fruits into roses, flowers and leaves, and arranges them on plates.
Her responsibilities include preparing mian khum', a traditional Thai appetiser.
"Benjarong sent me to Kolkata and Bangalore to train people.
You know, they think I am good," she adds with a broad smile.
She holds God responsible for her success.
"I had no idea I would be doing this.
I always wanted to do something for society.
Then suddenly, I come all the way to Chennai and I am a senior vegetable carver.
Who else do you blame it on?" she says, chuckling.
"Though my goals as a child were different, I am happy with my life now," she says, as the chunk of watermelon is transformed into a rose.