Under the Rainbow: Laughter

No children, yet has a son-in-law?

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:18:43 GMT

We Indians are funny. We try to translate to English from our mother language as-is, even grammar-wise. How many times haven't we been corrected, "It's not 'Rain is coming'. You should say 'Its raining'". But, its our mother tongue and it takes some conscious thinking when we translate our thoughts to English. And when we don't, it takes a whole new unintended meaning.

So, I was chatting with a friend on the messenger and here is the conversation

Friend: (Lonely) Parents r not there
Me: oh! where have they gone?
Friend: my son in laws's cradle ceremony
Me: (Puzzled) what? where?
Friend: to thier house
Me: but you are not even married
Friend: (Perplexed) yeah, so?
Me: how do you know you'll have a daughter?
Friend: (Confused) what? i don't understand
Me: (Bamboozled) how can u have a son-in-law?
Friend: what? i am talking about Seenu's son
Me: oh.... but Seenu is ur cousin
Friend: (Emphatic) yeah, on my mother's side, remember?
so, his son is my sahodara aliya
Me: (Laughing) oh God!
Friend: ??
Me: he is ur nephew
Friend: (Red Faced) oh yeah, damn!

Who needs help?

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:20:45 GMT

They have a practice of cleaning a few vessels every night that is needed early next morning. The next day, the maid washes the remaining vessels.
One such night while washing vessels, she was explaining a similar practice at her friend's place that she visited recently.

She: They wash vessels every night too, just like us

He: So, you didn't really miss the chore

She: We went out for lunch and dinner. So, there weren't any vessels to wash

He: Why do they wash vessels every night? Unlike us, they don't have anyone who leaves early every morning. They can wait for the help to arrive in the AM

She: She don't use a help

He: Why, isn't her husband around?

Laughing at Self - Mobile Shutdown

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:41:18 GMT

We were on our way to Chikmagalur to celebrate our second wedding anniversary and with us were Putts and Amma. Putts, Shash and I were cracking jokes about how 'typical' software engineers behave in life outside office.

Next day we were supposed to visit temples and I told Shash, "May be we should leave the mobile in the hotel room"

"Why?"

"Because they do not allow cameras and mobiles in the temple"

"I will need my mobile, I might get some important calls from office"

"Alright, then shut it down in the temple premises"

"I will not shut it down"

"Then you won't be allowed inside"

"But he will be, water", said Putts

"He wont be let in with his mobile phone on", I persisted

"He can't shutdown his mobile phone dear", said amma

"Who said you can't? Here, let me show it", I grabbed the mobile

Every one was silent for a moment and I was puzzled. I looked at each one's face and I thought they had a mischevious smile

"You know what", said Putts, "you can't shutdown a mobile"

And Shash added "Yeah, you can only switch it off"

And they all burst out laughing "You are a 'typical' software engineer"

PS: Boss, If you are reading this, you know how much I am hooked to work :-)

Laughing at Self - A3 cells

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:41:45 GMT

The other day, I was at the store that sells electrical goods to buy batteries for my mobile pocket radio. A boy of around 12 years of age came to attend to me while the owner of the store chatted away on his mobile.

I said, "Two A3 cells please"

The boy said, "What madam?"

Thinking I was not audible I said out loud, "A3 cells"

The boy looked baffled

I said, "A3 cells, small cells"

The boy was still clueless.

By now, the owner was done with his mobile talk and turned to me.

Owner asked in his typical Marwari accent, "Madam, you are an architect?"

I said No.

He asked again, "Engineer?"

I nodded in agreement with a confused questioning look.

He gave me an understanding smile and yelled, "Chotu, give madam two triple A cells"