Skip to main content

Encounter with an Old Indian Man

Yesterday, I was on my usual walk with the little one. Everything was as usual. Little one was being curious george, I was trying to manage her, said hi to a couple people on the road, smiled at some, crossed El Camino. Everything was as usual until now.
So, I met an old man, er, an old Indian man. Like at others, I smiled at him as he was passing by me. He returned my smile. I was to continue my way when:

Old Indian Man(OIM): Where are you from?
Me to him(MTH): Chennai.
Me to myself(MTM): uh-oh!

OIM: Oh. Chennai a? Tamizha? Where in Chennai?
MTH: I gave him the location.

OIM: Anga enga?
MTH: Gave him the exact location.

OIM: Naanga Chennai thaan. Ana settled in Bombay for 22 years.
MTH: o ho.
MTM: na ketena?

OIM: Kalyanam acha?
MTH: yes
MTM: pakathu veetu kozhanthaya stroller le thallindu varen

OIM: Evlo varsham? 2-3 years?
MTH: 5 years.

OIM: Oh. 5 yrs acha? Chinna kozhanthaya iruke, 2-3 yrs irukumonu keten.
MTH: :-)

OIM: Ponna payyana?
MTH: Ponnu

OIM: enna vayasu?
MTH: one

OIM: Adikadi India poviya?
MTH: ippo thaan poitu vanthen. Ayushomamku.

OIM: Enna Brahmin a?
MTH: mmm

OIM: Ayushomamnu solracheye kandupudichen.
MTM: romba mukkiam

OIM: Ellarum pant potukareengala, athunala theriyala.
MTH: :-)

OIM: unga veetlernthu varuvala adikadi?
MTH: yes.
MTM: Next time ava varathe vanthu pakarela?

OIM: Inga enga veedu?
MTH: Inga thaan. Pakathle.
MTM: address kudukatuma?

OIM: Husband enga work panrar?
MTH: sonen
MTM: therinju enna salary jasti vangi kuduka porela?

OIM: Nee work panriya?
MTH: Illa. Home maker thaan.

OIM: Oh. ho. Amam. kozhanthaya pathukanum le. Husband late a varuvaro?
MTH: Illa, vara samayam thaan.

OIM: Na inga thaan iruken. Usual a my sons will take me for a walk. Iniku naane kalambiten. Walk varathu nallathu thaane.

OIM: un per enna?
MTH: gave my name

OIM: Enaku 6 sisters. The last one's name is the same as yours.
MTH: :-)
MTM: ithu eppo mudiyumo

MTH: Sari, I think I will carry on. Time achu.
OIM: ok ma.
handshake

...Thirumbi pakama odi poiten...

All this in a span of less than 5 minutes. Way big a questionnaire.
I hope he got all the answers he wanted. He should've had a peaceful walk back home.

Next time, I will think 5 times before saying hi or smiling at an Old Indian Man.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isha Yoga

Though I knew it, one of our family brought it to light that it has been a long time I posted here. I'd love to say that the last few weeks were pretty hectic & I just couldn't find time to write something here. Not so! The last few weeks have been totally different. I've had the time to do so many things that were in my "to do" list for a long time. Thanks to better management of time & sleep. The secret: a seven day yoga program. A very close friend forced me to join this course. I was hesitant & skeptical. I was not sure I was up for the 30 min twice a day commitment(40 days). I have a toddler & I really toggle between her & other work at home already. Plus what big change would come? But somehow, I registered for this class. Since I read somewhere that they give discount for married couples, I brought G in too(though the main reason would be to make sure I get through the 40 days). From the day I registered till the 1st day at class, this...
24 comments
Read more

A milestone

Today,exactly a year ago, 17th September 2009 was my first day of Shambhavi . My association with Isha. The first 40 days, for some reason, did not look like a milestone. I continued it twice even after the 40 days. And then 2 months later, I took my first trip to the Tennessee Ashram for my Shoonya. And the 6 months target was also touched. Since then, no looking back. But now, 1 year. Sure seems like a milestone. Don't know why. But it does. I am aware that there are so many people with more than 15 years association with Isha. But this is my journey. And I feel many things. Mostly grateful. Life has changed immensely. I'd have probably missed my daily practices for about 5 days in all of this 365 days. It did not seem easy to even think of doing 2 hours of practice every day for 1 year. But somehow, it happened. Between S. Between all our travels. It just happened. It feels like the worst of the my life is behind me. I don't have anything to look forward to. Just honest...
10 comments
Read more

The day has come

when I am really happy. For my Mother mostly, but also for so many things untellable. Amma has just returned from Isha Yoga Center for an advanced program & she has been raving ever since she got back yesterday. Amma did her Inner Engineering 3 months ago. She has been regular with her practices. And in just 2 months time, the family doctor has reduced her sugar medication to almost nil. While I wait for the day it actually becomes NIL, I am so relieved, satisfied & grateful that this has happened. She has also dropped all other medications that she was on. She has been peaceful, energetic & happy for no reason apparently & I can definitely see a big change in her. And the way I am sharing things with her, I told her that I've never felt so close to her, ever. And it means a lot to say this when she is 60. But yesterday, when she was sharing her visit to the Ashram, my heart just wanted to be there. How privileged are some people! Amma has an extremely low tolera...
9 comments
Read more