Overseas

Last month, i had the chance to leave the nation and cross the sea for the first time in my life. Me and my mom were in Dubai for a week with Dad (He's currently working there).

We landed in Sharjah and after Visa-Eye Scan-Baggage Claim, we went out. It was around 10:30 pm and dad was waiting for us. We hired an airport taxi. Since we were a family, we were allotted a lady driver. She was wearing an Emirati dress. I didn't realize it was her uniform. After a couple of minutes of me looking at the road and all three of us being very quiet, she started speaking.
Introducing herself as Raziyah, she asked my dad, in perfect English, the details about the destination. And then, she said, "Where do you think I'm from?" I was like Whoa! My dad was wondering what to say, when she said, "Just tayik a guess..."
Aha. My dad pounced on the accent and switched to fluent Malayalam, "Chechi Naatla evada?".
"Hahaha Ottapaalam. Ningal?"
"Tamil Nadu. Coimbatore"
She switched to Tamil...
"Nan valandadu ellam Palakad dan. Moonu varusham Thanjavur la irundhom. Marriageku apram Ottapaalam". Turning to my mom, "Coimbatore la "Gundu Malli" neraiya kadaikkume, enakku romba pidikkum. Indha oorla mallila andha manam illa".
Mom: "Aiyaiyo, therinjirundha neraiya vaangi vanthiruppene..."
Raziyah: "Enakku "Kannadi Valayal"um romba pidikkum".
Mom: "Next time ungalukku kandippa vaangittu varen".
Raziyah: :"Inshallah".

She then went on explaining about how she and her husband had relocated to Sharjah and their life there. Then we reached our hotel and it was time to say goodbye. My mom got her contact details and promised to bring her "Gundu Malli and Kannadi Valayal" the next time. She'd already found a friend.

A wonderful start to the trip.

.....