TEN YEARS AGO
Back then, if you did not speak the local language, you needed to know enough in order to convey your ignorance.
Here are some samples of what a rootless city-bred boy used while making friends with the local kids playing a cricket match:
"Nanage Kannada Barudilla"
(I DO NOT KNOW KANNADA)
"Tulu bodchi"
(DON'T WANT TULU...!)
"Malayalam aruyula.."
(DON'T KNOW MALAYALAM)
They look at each other and manage to get through gesticulations - what do you speak then?
"Hindi.."
"Ha, Hindi..Hindi...," they repeat, trying to invent a word for my comfort.
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