Thursday, February 18, 2010

Omana Penne

If you have reached this post looking for the song of this name - wrong destination dude! But read on, it's as (if not more) interesting. ;-)

Sometime back, I was at a queue to buy some tickets. The Indian guy at the counter presented me with two or three options. So I turned around and discussed with my friends which one to choose. My interchange with the counter guy was in English while with my friends I switched to Tamil. When I turned back to the counter, he smiled at me and said, "Oh, Tamila neenga? (Are you a Tamil?)".
I smiled back, "Amam (Yes)".
More smiles from his side, "Neenga Malayalee nu nenaichen (Thought you were a Malayalee)".
I was curious, "En? (Why?)".
An apolegetic smile from him, "No, you looked good that's why".
Wait. Do I take that as a compliment or an insult to the Tamil girls worldwide?
I, of course, was stung and told him off as politely as I could for being so presumptious!

Another day, another time, I was standing in yet another queue for airline check-in (Funny how these things always happen at queues). A lady stood behind me and I smiled at her, since we were to travel the same flight. She smiled back and asked after an instant, "Malayalee yaanu? (Are you a Malayalee?)"
I shook my head smilingly, "No".
She gave me a pitying smile (!) and turned away her head.
Well!
I could've told her that even though I may not be a Malayalee, I would still make a delightful travel companion. But, I didn't know how to say that in Malayalam.

7 comments:

Spica said...

Lol.. Don't be insulted. Mals do sniff sniff*. Hence.

Oh, and people think I'm malayalee too! I guess it runs in the family.

*Tendency of a mal to 'snif' another mal out.

Nivi said...

but u do look lik a malayalee.. :) (anyone who saw lnt 2005 fashion show wuldnt disagree)

Girl of Destiny said...

@Chit:
Well, he shouldn't have been of the opinion that ALL good looking girls have to be Mallus!

They do? Is it 'coz of the eyes you think?

@Nivi:
I dressed up as one that time. So, good that I looked the part :-)
I'm not denying I may look like one. But in these 2 cases, that wasn't the issue you see!

Soin said...

you were not wearing lungi i hope..free

Spica said...

I was thinking hair.. Cause after I straightened my hair the comments kinda stopped.

And I think he just opened up some random bit generator and was trying to flatter you and ended up with foot in mouth disease.

And as for her - you have no freaking idea how much mals love spending time with each other. I cannot even begin to explain to you how they seek each other out. I was in MCC. Trust me on this one.. I can tell you so many stories. She probably didn't even know what to say to you. You - or any other person in the world - was probably like an alien from another planet.

I'm grossly generalising, of course.. We both personally know lots of mallus where this doesn't apply.

Ramya said...

Yes, u do look like a mallu ;) now dont scold me:)

tamizh said...

lol....

but enaku andha paatu keta un nyabagam varum :)