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Thursday, August 16, 2007

The Perfect Gift

60 years ago on this very day, the 15th August, 1947 India became independent from the British rule.We all celebrated the day in different ways, attend the flag hoisting ceremony, listen to patriotic songs, distribute sweets, some may even buy gifts for their loved ones on this auspicious occasion.
In a way we celebrate our freedom, or independence by propagating peace, harmony, love, respect for all fellow-indians which is a priceless gift.
Being away from motherland I celebrated the Independence Day by visiting the Indian Embassy and attending the flag hoisting ceremony.
In the evening I went out with my friends for some work. On the way back we stopped at Car wash station. Besides was a car accessories shop.Instead of just seeing the car enjoying the bath after a long time, and getting cleaned and neat, i preferred to enter the shop and have a look at the various accessories.My friend wanted to buy a front window sun shield(shadow).As expected an Arabic person was at the counter and we, with the habit of playing dumb charades started explaining our need.He guessed it in the very first chance and told us it was out of stock.
We pondered along for a while looking at the different accessories, right from key chains to gear cover etc, etc ...
I was just besides the counter looking at a key chain with keen interest when, the Arab man congratulated me. I was taken aback and asked him for what ???
The reply - "Dekha kyon karke puchata hai" he said to his assistant, I was not much surprised as i knew that some of the Arabs could speak a little bit of Hindi.
He said congratulation on the Independence Day of India. I thanked him for his greetings.
I made my friends aware that he understands and can speak Hindi.

The Big Surprise - As we were at the counter to pay the bill, we all were stunned by the Arab man's statement "Tumchyasathi discount". Yeah Yeah he knows "Marathi" also. Each of my friends expressions including me resembled the different "Emoticons" , smiling,exclamation,thinking ...
We then had long chat with the Arab, the story unfolds from way back in 1970's when he was in Panchagani for his studies.He stayed in Pune,Mumbai,Panchagani and still remembers a lot of places and more than that he still remembers the language - "marathi". He then tried to converse with us with some more marathi sentences.

Rashid is basically a Yemenese, his father was a Yemenese and mother from Pune. Even he like a proper "Punekar", says Pune khup badalala atta .....
He know about 13-14 languages - Arabic, English, Hindi, Marathi, French, German, Irani, Punjabi etc etc ..., may be i can say he has a flair for languages and is also his hobby.
Conversing with him i realised one thing that this was emitting positive energy, was down to earth, had respect. After having an "Istikana" (Arabic chai) we took his leave and headed to have some delicious food.

This for me, came as The Perfect Gift on the occasion of our 60th yr of Independence.

6 comments:

Sagar Bhanagay said...

Very touching! Rashid may be a polyglot, but greeting someone for a cause that has no relevance for oneself, is very warm & special. Also very gentlemanly.
And very well written, dude!
Hope to get more glimpses of Kuwait & life therein thru' your blogs...

Unknown said...

Hey sandy, that was a great story. you are story-teller man. Keep going. good wishes. Rajesh

Saptansu Mitra said...

That was really touchy !!! The most unexpected gestures give the most pleasurable feeling...particularly from a person who seems the most unconcerned.Congrats...Sandy!!!!

प्रमोद देव said...

संदीप खूपच छान आणि सुखद धक्का देणारा अनुभव आहे तुमचा.असे लोक भेटले की परदेश स्वदेशासमान वाटायला लागतो.एक निराळीच आपुलकी निर्माण होते.
असेच अनुभव लिहित राहा.

जयश्री said...

WOW !! Really touchy Sandeep !!
फ़ार सुरेख लिहिलं आहेस.
आज पहिल्यांदा तुझ्या ब्लॉगवर डॊकावले...... छान लिहितोस तू.... Keep Blogging !!

Unknown said...

nice one sando....