Just found this post in my archives hidden amongst the many drafts... Sep 4,2011 is the date I wrote this, coming back from India! :) On to the post now...
Yes I am still alive - Alive with a mosaic of emotions engulfing me every single day. As I realized I need to write something simply because it has been long since I wrote a post and as I read old archives, it occurred to me that the blog was becoming more and more about me and me only. So I decided to write something that just took me by force during my India trip and that was not necessarily about me. That said, my India trip is something I can't miss writing about, so that should come very soon, God willing.
He: 8 :30 -kku school-ku poven, 3 manikku veetukku vandhuttu odane inga vandhuruven. Engamma sundal panni vechirukkum. Enga akka oruthi irukka, avalum naanum inga vippom.
Mom: Oru naalaikku evlo rooba kedaikkum?
I don't know if i should smile or laugh aloud! :)
Yes I am still alive - Alive with a mosaic of emotions engulfing me every single day. As I realized I need to write something simply because it has been long since I wrote a post and as I read old archives, it occurred to me that the blog was becoming more and more about me and me only. So I decided to write something that just took me by force during my India trip and that was not necessarily about me. That said, my India trip is something I can't miss writing about, so that should come very soon, God willing.
So after waiting for almost a week for that moment, I went to Marina, probably one of those places that makes me a totally different person. A place that has witnessed many of the most defining moments of my life, and as you can see, I can go on and on about it. The first thought that occurred to me as I set my bare foot on the sands of the beach - yes, I spent a fortune for Miami, something I had been dreaming of for quite sometime, I planned it so well that it would be on New year's eve when the whole city erupts partying and yes, I had one of the most rocking days of my life there. But Miami grossly lacks that weird little something that Marina has, and my heart skips a beat here. This is probably the only beach in the world where people wear a saree to, where you can take an 80 year old and a 3 year old at the same time and still manage to have some fun.
So as we were chitchatting over home-packed food and mangas from the beach, there came this tiny little boy around 7-8 years old, selling the iconic sundal. He said 'sundal vaangikonga ka' (please buy boiled chickpeas). My mom being this huge supporter of children's education being a teacher herself, asked him if he goes to school. He said he was going to the nearby corporation school and that was kind of obvious coz he was still in his school uniform. Here is how the conversation goes - pardon me, all the people who don't understand Tamil.
Mom: So which class are you in?
He: 2nd standard.
Mom: Which school do you go to?
He : The corporation school near___ place.
Mom: Ozhunga school-ku dhinam poviya? (do u go to school regularly?)
He: Aama apram miss thittuvaanga illa. (yes ofcourse, or my school teacher would scold me.)
Mom: Evlo neram vela paapa? (How long do u work?)
He: 8 :30 -kku school-ku poven, 3 manikku veetukku vandhuttu odane inga vandhuruven. Engamma sundal panni vechirukkum. Enga akka oruthi irukka, avalum naanum inga vippom.
Mom: Oru naalaikku evlo rooba kedaikkum?
He: Sani gnayiru apdina 600 kedaikkum, school naal-na 200-250 rooba kedaikkum.
Mom: seri onakku koota kazhikka ellam theriyuma? Rendam class dhane padikkara?
He : Hmmm theriyume (in that unimitable iconic tone). Neenga vena kelunga, kooti kazhichi solren.
Mom: Seri, oru sundal potlam evlo rooba?
He: 5 rooba.
Mom: ungitta naam ambadhu rooba kuduthu sundal vaangina evlo thirupi kuduppa?
He: Evlo sundal vaangireenga-ne sollala? (That's where I was bowled over. We were thinking it was a task doing (50 - 5) Never realized he would know multiplication!
Mom: 1 vaanginaka evlo?
He: naapathi anju
Mom: Rendu vaangina?
He: naapadhu.
Mom: 5 vaangina?
He: iruvathi anju. IN LIGHTNING FAST SPEED.
I should agree, with an Anna university degree, I was ashamed of my reflexes. My cousin who is in 3rd standard going to the best school in a Honda city, being taught by teachers with enviable degrees was put to shame with his speed. He was still borrowing to do the subtraction while this beach wonder just blurted out answers in a tone that said, thu ivlo dhana.
Mom: seri appa enna panraar?
He : Avaru kudichitu road-la vizhundhu kedapaaru.
Mom: Aiyo., Seri nee periyavanana ennava varanum?
Mom: Doctor ah? Engineer ah?
He: Police aaganum. Vijay maadhiri!!!!!
