I interacted with a young Indian girl today. She asked me where I was from. I said from Mumbai but originally from Mangalore. I usually say the last bit because it gives more context of my heritage, though I have grown up in Mumbai. Mumbai is a city where people from all regions have settled—but we still speak our regional languages, have regional foods, etc. Turns out she was from Bangalore. Most Indians I have bumped into here have been from the north, so I was pleasantly surprised. She asked me if I had been to Bangalore, and I could actually say I have. Then she said, I had always heard that women from Mangalore and Coorg are beautiful. I was surprised at that, I half smiled, half laughed. Then she again reiterated, women from Mangalore and Coorg are very pretty. I blushed am sure... and giggled a bit probably... hehe... and said that she was good at flattering. One second I was my usual serious self and the next one I was grinning like an idiot. I heard myself saying she could pop in anytime if she wanted a chat! Kind of made me think about the fact... that in spite of my stated aversion and immunity to flattery... I wasn't all that immune? Or maybe not everyone knows what exact buttons to press to get me eating out of their hands ;)