I heard this remarkable conversation on a train. The train I boarded for my hometown was a long distance one. I was alone with two guys who were travelling all the way from the source that was Hyderabad and one other guy who had boarded the train one stop before me. At the next stop a feisty lady got in with a teenage girl.
"Only two stops..", she told the other passengers to indicate that she was on a short journey. As soon as she settled down she wanted to know was where they were from and what was their destination. The long journey travellers explained that they were from Andhra Pradesh and that they were on their way to the holy temple town of Sabarimalai. It was their seventh trip they explained. Then this lady went on to ask whether thye were studying. No, they replied, we are in HR management.
The talk on went to the different inter-state cultures. One of the young men asked her a rhetorical question whether Vidya Balan was from Kerala. Yes, she replied, but women in Kerala did not go to see those types of movies! But Dirty Picture is a good movie reiterated one of the young men, and Vidya Balan is a superb actress. Kannada movies are much better than Telugu movies stated the lady with an air of finality.
Why, asked the young men. Your Telugu movies have a lot of violence she said. To change the topic one of the young men noted that girls in Kerala were very 'decent'. Not like Hyderabad girls, he added.
I really couldn't imangine his idea of 'decent'.
We are more hygienic than people from other states, declared the middle aged woman. Also we do not sit on the floor like you people, we always use a chair or stool.
One of the young men smirked, "Madam, so you think we are not hygienic. I don't think so. It's all in the mind. It's the mindset, the way of thinking". By this time I was so embarassed that I wished the conversation would end quietly rather than in verbal tirades.
The talk went on to similarities between the South Indian languages, Malyalam Tamil Telugu and Kannada. Say "zha", said the lady. It is a real tongue twister she added. The young men tried pronouncing this malayalam syllable but were unsuccessful, much to the delight of the lady. About water, the lady said, her family was forced to drink chlorinated water in the city. I don't like the taste she said, making a face. The well water we get in our hometown is as good as mineral water. I don't like the taste of chlorine!
One guy took out a bottle of what looked like medicine, pointed at it and informed the lady - ayurvedic medicine. Let me have a look said the lady. No, it's not medicine was her verdict. This is a food supplement. The young guy took back the bottle, read the label and said "Aaah! So this is a food supplement after all!" That was where she picked up the thread, and said,"I am a deputy manager with Ranbaxy; our HO is in Delhi you know".
All the time she was saying something to the Malayalee boy(the other guy in the train who got in one stop before me), in Malayalam. Noting that she was very cozy with the young chap, one of the Hyderabad boys commented, "Your son madam?" No, she replied unflustered. I was just talking to him in our native tongue. But he's not my son.
A beggar appeared from nowhere asking for alms. The Sabarimalai pilgrims did their holy duty by handing over a few coins. The lady however admonished her daughter in Malayalam,"Never give alms to beggars. Should not encourage begging."
5 months ago