Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Contradiction...

Will blog out two of my contradicting experiences today. Bad one first.

A few days ago, say a week back, I had to take my grand parents to a function going on near West Of Chord road, Rajajinagar. I dropped them off at the hall and was searching for parking space which I didn't find there.

Just a couple of yards further, I see space but there was sunlight. I didn't want my car to bask, I moved ahead a couple of blocks to find some shade just beside a house, which had these letters carved just beside the gate (ಹರ್ಷ, ....... ರಾವ್).

I parked, though I saw the owner of the house staring at me while he took his dog to pee. He was constantly staring at me and my car. I felt uncomfortable and asked him.

Sandesh: "ನಿಮ್ಗೆನಾದ್ರು ತೊಂದರೆ ಆಯ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಡಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ?" [You got a problem with me parking my vehicle here in front of your house? eh?]

House Owner: "????"

Sandesh: "ನಿಮ್ಗೆನಾದ್ರು ತೊಂದರೆ ಆಯ್ತಾ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಡಿ ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ?"

House Owner: [In a rude manner] "Whats your problem man?"

Sandesh: [Harshly] "I said, you got a problem with my parking in front of your house?"

House Owner: [pacifying] "No! No!! Go ahead!!"

I was feeling like I shouldnt have spoken in English to teach him a lesson. Dunno what was going on in my mind at that instant, I ditched him and moved ahead to the function. After that I was feeling like why should they hang a board in Kannada if they speak English outside? Its plain "GAANCHALI".

Now to the good contrary experience.

This was say in November 2008. Book fair was going on at Palace Grounds. As usual, was browsing through the heaps of books. Moving on from stall to stall, row by row just skimming through the content of books I got interested.

All of a sudden, I recollect that I had seen a book say in the previous row, somehow missed it absent minded. It flashed through my mind and I was eager to take it. I rushed back through the row. While I was heading to the concerned bookstall when all of the following happened within two seconds.

I hit a guy badly. He was furious. He was opening his mouth to scold me while I said "ಕ್ಷಮಿಸಿ" (Kannada for Sorry) he saw me saying that in Kannada. He smiled and said "ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ" (Its okay) and moved ahead. Speaking Kannada in Bangalore has become a thing to get perplexed these days. Isnt it normal?

Just check out both these scenarios. How contradicting? aint it?

2 comments:

Shrinidhi Hande said...

You didn't tell us you bought a car... congrats...

Unknown said...

Hey that was long back. Say 7 months ago. Sorry for not telling =)