Saturday 12 February 2011
A new language
India speaks 418 languages.
No make that 419. I just discovered a new one last month.
Travelling by taxi from Bagdogra Airport to the tea gardens in Dooars, I was looking forward to a quick shut-eye.
I was still jetlagged from a previous flight from London to Kolkata via Dubai.
But my taxi driver had other plans.
Beep-beep he honked as I was drifting off.
He was admonishing the car behind, for driving too close.
Beep-beep.
Now he was informing the lorry ahead that we were about to overtake him.
Beep-beep.
At a cow that wasn't even on the road. Kind of a 'I-see-a-cow', kind of beep.
Beep-beep.
Cursing at a traffic jam.
Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.
At a village girl walking on the field with a pile of freshly cut grass on her head.
He kept beeping till she turned her head and scowled at him.
Then he beeped with delight.
Beep-beep.
30 seconds after a stray dog scuttled across the road.
After. Not before. What. Was. The. Point?
Armed with this new-found knowledge and back in the UK, I decided to try this new language on fellow drivers on the motorway.
Beep-beep, I honked unnecessarily at a VW toodling along in the left lane as I overtook him.
Beep-beep, he honked right back, with a friendly little smile. And a wave of his hand.
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Enjoyed reading this post. Very true. But strangely enough, made me miss India.
ReplyDeletebeep beep! Looking forward to visiting this page everyday! Keep writing! This was a hilarious post and made me miss home so much. Much love, Tina
ReplyDeleteWant more...!!!
ReplyDeleteloved reading this.
ReplyDeletei remember the night India won the CWC, we were at the India Gate dancing to car horn melodies :)