The Land of the Silent Barber

It's been a very long time since page has been lying around like this, but this being the inauguration, let me not go into that.

There are difficulties with living in a place where you don't speak the local language. Especially if it's Tamil Nadu.

Friend of mine asked for a pack of cigarettes (in English invariably) and the shop keeper gave him ten cigarettes in his hand. As it is uncomfortable and usually a bad idea to carry them around in your hand, he asked for a pack so that he could put them all in.

The reply: "Enna saaar, you smoku pack too, aieh?"

(sigh) You get the point.

But today, I found one place where your ignorance of the language actually helps you. The Barber shop.

I don't know what's the deal with barbers. I think they have this misguided notion that better customer relations are established by asking a lot of questions, giving a lot of opinions and basically never shutting up!

That is precisely why people never switch barbers. Coz they don't want to go through the harrowing experience of the inquisition yet again.

BUT, if you're a Mallu living in Tamil Nadu? Perfect! You understand just about enough Tamil to say 'NO' when the barber asks you if you want a Rajani Hair Style, and you don't know enough to answer the usual "So where are you from?" in Tamil.

I said a few words in English in a half hearted attempt to answer the question, and..

Voila!! None Followed.

#Awesomeness


2 comments:

Adi said...

Count yourself lucky that the barber did not chop your ear :P.

Unknown said...

That's better than having to hear all the shit that barbers usually dish out :D

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