OH HINDTANGLISH MY MOTHER TONGUE

I often wonder why I who speak in Hindi fell in love with a Tamilian and married him. We have two children now, but I still cannot refrain from thinking like this. You might laugh at this it would have better if she thought about this at dotage but language is really a thorn in our otherwise blissful marriage. This language dilemma is no midlife crisis or menopause syndrome but really a headache, which I can do without. While we are alone living in our apartment in Chennai we have no problem our mother tongue is Hindtanglish a potpourri of languages like Hindi, English and Tamil language but when we are in a family gathering our speaking becomes the butt of our family jokes in any gathering whether from my husband’s side or in my side.

While I along with my husband Narayanswamy went to our honeymoon to ooty we had to bypass Coonoor, A gentleman guessing that I am a Hindi speaking woman asked in Hindi ‘ kya coonor cafi dur hai(is Coonor far from here)’ . My husband who never knew Hindi at that time “Yes yes we will get coffee here in this station “

I was in splits my husband got irritated

“What is there to laugh?” he chided

“I am sorry” I said wiping my tears

From that time our hilarious comedy has started. I was working as a copywriter in an advertisement firm. To help me out I had a servant girl called Selvi doing small chores around the house. Selvi came from Trichy and as her parents were poor they sent her here to bring in some money. She was like my own daughter.

Once there was no salt in my house my husband and my children were busy in their work  so I  asked ” Selvi  namak one kilo vangindava(buy one kilo of salt)

The poor girl was at a loss. She stood scratching her head.

“Why Namakatti one kilo what will you do with it amma”     

“Selvi your amma wants salt one kilo please go and buy “he started laughing

“Preetham that poor lady will learn to speak English before you speak Tamil “he commented dryly”