Conversations

Sequence I

Neha is a fifteen year old girl. She has appeared the 10th std board exams this year so it’s a vacation time for her. It is 3:00 pm in the afternoon. She is alone in the house. Both her parents are working in a bank.
She is bored with watching the idiot box. She is irritated by the silence in her house.

Sequence II

Anuja is a 34 year old woman. Being a housewife and a mother of two children (Pranav and Arpita) she is engrossed in her daily routine. Today Pranav has gone out the whole day. Arpita has just left for her singing class and will return in the evening.
Anuja is in the kitchen, cleansing the utensils.

Anuja is Neha’s uncle’s (kaka) wife. They live at Prabhat road, Pune. They share a bungalow together but have separate entrances.


Neha feels like talking with someone so goes upstairs to Anuja kaku.

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Neha : hi kaku, can I come in?

Anuja (turns to look at Neha): oh, Neha, come in!

Neha : are you busy, kaku?

Anuja : oh, not at all, ye bus, aga hi jara bhandi visalun thevat hote..

Neha : hmm

Anuja (while cleansing her last utensil) : bol kay mhantes? Aaj duparchi zopli nahis?

Neha : nahi ga, bore zale zopayla.. ani TV pun baghun bore zale an..

Anuja (cuts her sentence): okay, mhanun tu alis kay!!

Neha : hmm, pun tasa nahi .. ani aga ghari bolayla pun kon nahi, mhanun kantala alay.

Anuja : ho ga , aaj climate pun ekdum cloudy ahe, me pun ata he kam zala ki jara padnar ahe.. masta vatel.

Neha (makes a small face) : bara, mag theek ahe, me jate khalti..

Anuja: aga vede, gammat keli, bus .. hey bugh zalach majha kam!

Neha : pun tujhi zop?

Anuja : hmmmm… ek kam kar, dressing table varun telachi batli aan, parva tu bolat hotis na ki baryach divsat me molish nahi karun dila mhanun, chal ata karte masta!

Neha gives a bright smile and runs towards the dressing table for the oil.


Sequence III

Anuja is massaging Neha’s head.

Neha : kaku.. masta vattay.. thanks!

Anuja : me pun khoop divsani tula kartie massage.. (with a smile) mala pun masta vattay!

Neha : e kaku, tula athavtay, me lahan astana, tu Pranav la mollish kelas, ki me pun hatta karayche ?

Anuja : ho, ani eka divshi tumhala doghanna karayche me mollish ani nanter arpita uthli ki tila gheun basayche.. kay hath dukhayche majhe!!

Neha : heehe.. ani aai la kalla ki aai mala ordaychi .. mhane tu mala ka nahi sangat??.. ti ghari kuthe asaychi sangayla!

Anuja (with a half smile) : majja yaychi na..

Neha : hmmm..
(With a low voice and sarcastically) aai la ajun tari kuthe vel asto… sangayla!

Anuja : chal ga, tujhi aai Saturday – Sunday ter aste ghari .. tevha sangat ja na..

Neha (little irritated) : hey mollish kay thervun thevta yeta ka, ki fakta weekendslach karaycha ani weekdays la nahi.. mala nahi asa avdat!

Anuja : heehe.. mug kay avadta tula? (taps Neha on her head).

Neha : mala actually aai ni job kelelach nahi avdat… (Anuja tries to speak in between, but Neha continues..) ata bugh na.. mala evdha vel ahe suttit .. ter tich nahie ..

Anuja : aga asa thodich asta, .. ani tini sutti ghetleli na tujhyasathi ? exams chya velela ghetleli .. mug nanter firayla jayla ghetli an…

Neha (cuts her sentence) : tasa nahi ga, ti .. ti 24 hrs ka nahie majhya barober??.. mhanje jashi tu astes .. pranav arpita barober…!

Anuja : heehehe.. hey tu pranav-arpita la vichar!! Te boltat.. mamma tu sarkhi kay gharat gharat astes, baher ja na.. mug gharat asli ki sarkha homework kar, pasara awar boltes..

Neha : heehe..

Anuja : so my point here is, by working, your mother is doing a right thing. Ti tujhya sathi pun vel kadhte ani swatasathi pun!

Neha : mhanje?

Anuja : mhanje .. ti job karte tevha ti k wegla role play karte .. 9 to 5 and when she comes back , she plays the role of a wife and a mother!
Whereas me .. me just 24 hrs gharach baghat aste..

Neha : pun…

Anuja : pun , hya cha artha hot nahi .. ki tujhya kade ticha lakshya nasta.. ata bugh, tu ghari ahes.. ter ticha sarkha ph yeto, yeto na..? tu jevlis ka ga, ata kay karties so on..

Neha : ho…

Anuja : infact ti tula school madhun pun alyaver phone karte.. tula jara ushir zala .. kinva tu kuthlya friend kade gelies .. te sagla tila mahit asta.. ho na?

Neha : ho ga, te sagla theek ahe.. pun aaj mala evdha vela he suttit.. ter.. ti jer ghari asti.. ter amhi masta baher gelo asto .. probably movie baghayla..

Anuja : aaga , aaj tula sutti ahe.. mhanun tula bore hotay or tujhi mamma kamala gelie te kaltay.. but tu ata parat within to time busy hoshil .. tevha kay? Tevha you wont bother, ti ghari baslie ki banket gelie te..

Neha : hmm.. pun .. majhy friends chya aaya tyanchya barober baher jatat…

Anuja : kadhi? Roz jatat ka?

Neha : nahi , kadhi tari..

Anuja : mug, tumhi doghi pun jata na .. kadhitari .. movies la..

Neha : aga tasa nahi..

Anuja (speaking immediately) : Mug kasa??

Neha : aga, mhanje, baba kam kartatach na.. ter mug aai ka karte?

Anuja : ka karte mhanje? Aga mahagai kevdhi vadhlie.. ata both the parents working hi ek necessity zalalie..

Neha : pun mug, tu ka nahi karat job? Or tu karat hotis adhi.. mala athavtay.. mug tu sodlas! … ka??

Anuja : hehe.. me sodla karan, tevha pranav arpita lahan hote.. appu ter was not even one! Ani tya doghana manage karma, aji-ajobanna kathin jat hota.. And that time I didn’t believe in the system of palna-ghar!

Neha : pun mug, ata mahagai.. ?

Anuja : mahagai ter vadhile.. ! touch-wood, with your kaka’s pagar, we can manage things right now! But probably jevha pranav arpita college la jatil tevha sagla load kaka ver yeil tevha mala vatel .. ki ugichach ghari basle!!.. me hi job karayla pahije hota..ani ata mala hey hi kaltay.. ki palna-ghara pun changli astat.. but ata late zalay!

Neha : pun with majhya babancha pagar, even we can manage things! So now why is my mom doing job? Ani now I also know ki me kuthli line ghenar ahe college madhe.. or atleast I know my choices..

Anuja : yes! But tell me one thing, u have made your choice based on seeing others, right? For example, you want to become like your mami.. you want to do MBA, right? And you are in awe of her.. the way she looks, cooks, dresses, the way she drives and most importantly, the way she works..

Neha : that’s there! But that’s a different thing! She works in this amazing company.. She has some great opportunities.. She has travelled to some 2-3 countries for work! I have discussed with her..

Anuja : heehe.. hey bara ahe.. ti pun 9 to 5 job karte.. or even kadhi tari late sittings.. teri ticha kautuk! Ani tujhi aai bichari dhavat palat ekda bank banda zali ki tujhya kade ghari yete.. ticha rag!!

Neha : pun mami kade kiti opportunities ahet. Ti masta on her own baherchya countries madhe jate.. masta travel karte..

Anuja : tujhi pun aai 2-3 months sathi baher geli asti.. kinva ajunahi jau shakte.. tichya kade pun opportunities hotya ani ahet suddha, but what she opted for is non transferable job, and that too just for you!

Neha : hmm

Anuja : hey bugh, job kuthe karna hey jari important asla, teri “job karna” hey dekhil important ahe.. infact jasta! You won’t understand it know, pun tu jevha amchya age chi zalis, tevha tula kalel, ki kiti respect milto, just because you are a working woman mhanun! And to respect kiti mhahavacha asto!

Neha : hmm

Anuja : ata majhyach kade bugh na, people take me for granted! Whereas the same people don’t take your mother for granted! Why? Because.. its simple .. she is working outside and.. I am not! She is not available for some day to day functions, whereas according to people I am! Jari mala kitihi kam asla ghari .. tarhi!

Neha tries to speak in between, but Anuja continues..

Ani jevha ek mother job karte.. Tevha fakta money wise beneficial nasta in totality eka gharasathi khoop beneficial asta!

Neha : mhanje?

Anuja : mhanje … fakta tujhi aaich ek independent woman naste.. ti tichya akkhya family la pun independent karte!
For example: we all know, tu jevdhi independent ahes.. ani lahan pana pasun, tevdhech pranav-arpita nahiet..! me atta atta kuthe tya doghanna mokla sodayla laglie.. ata hey bugh na.. appu cha singing class ter just next building ahe.. teri me tila ata paryant sodayla – anayla jat hote.. ka? .. just because me available ahe mhanun!.. ata me hya month pasun banda kela.. teri ti neat jatie-yetie.. atta parayant malach confidence nhavta!

Where as, tu lahan pana pasun, ekti dupari classes na jaychich cycle varun.. tula ghari kahi hava asel, tula mahitie kuthe thevlay te.. you take your decisions.. agadi lahan goshtin madhe suddha.. ki tula aata kay karaychay.. kay khaychay, tula tujha vel kasa manage karaychay.. hey sagla!

Tu jevha baher jates , tu ekti cross kartes.. hey sagla counts.. ani hey tu ekti ka kartes ani kona mule kartes.. tujhya aai mule.. !! jashi ti independent zali, tini tula pun kela! She has the confidence in you and you yourself can feel that confidence, isn’t it?

Neha : hmm, yes!

Anuja : and infact, she has bestowed that confidence in you!
Today pranav arpita are dependent on me. Or I have made them dependent.. udya jer me job ghetla.. ter kahi divas majha ghar will be in total chaos.. karan now everybody is used to the fact of me being available at home, including myself!
So..

Neha (cuts her sentence) : ..so you are right, kaku! Tu barober bolties.. mala hya kshani kanata ala.. mhanun mala vatla aai ka ghari nahi… ata parat majha college suru zala… ki mala farak pun nahi padnar! Ani mala jer mami cha kautuk vatta.. ter I shouldn’t look down upon my mom!
Ho na?

Anuja (with a smile) : right!

Neha (realizing something) : hey tu massage karaycha kadhi banda kelas???.. hehe.. mala kallach nahi…!!!

Anuja : hehee .. kadhich!!!! Hahaa!! Jer me evdhya vel kela asta na massage.. ter majhi bota atta paryant galun padli asti!! Hehee

Neha : heehehe…
Thanks kaku, you are the best!

Anuja : you are welcome, Neha! Chal ata .. tu kay karnar ahes.. khalti janar ahes ka ithech thambties??..

Neha : nahi jate .. khalti.. ata masta zopin.. ani tu pun zop!



With a smiling face, Neha runs down towards the staircase, Anuja watches her with a smile... And moves towards her bedroom!

A STAMP ON MY PASSPORT!!!

I entered South Korea on 25th August 2007. I was eagerly waiting for this day! My hubby was here already.

Coming to South Korea was a conscious decision. Both of us were in comfort zone, back in Mumbai. We had/have our own house, new car, both having good jobs with decent salaries.. everything!! But we wanted to experiment! We wanted to come out of the cocoon and to establish a world of own with just 2 of us around!!!!

We are glad that we took this step! We fought our way through all odds and came here! And I am really very happy that we chose this country! South Korea is a very small country. Much smaller than my state.. Maharashtra. But this country has an unique quality. It is a very picture perfect and a beautiful country. For people who want to have a good experience in staying abroad, I would recommend this country.

It is also a quiet and peace loving country. Well structured, well designed and well coordinated!! Unlike the other countries, people roam freely anywhere and everywhere. It is a very safe country for foreigners too. You hardly find or hear a story of a foreigner being misguided or mugged!!

The other unique quality would be, it is a very discipline oriented country! You will starkly notice the structured life here. The people here too, love to follow a pattern. They love to routinize their life with dedication. For example: Working men will completely be workaholic during the weekdays and family oriented on weekends. A manager at the weekday, would be playing a football with his toddler on a weekend!!!!

Another example for following a pattern is, this country has lots of good places for sightseeing. But a Seoul loacalite will always say that if you have seen Seoul, you don't have to see rest of the places. And most of times, this statement comes true. As, there is a lot of variety in Seoul or nearby areas, similar design of a park or a mall is followed in other cities.

Unfortunately there are lot of misbelief's rumours attached to this country. These misbeliefs vary from the consumption of food to way of living or the people overall!!!!

When we announced our decision of coming here, some people got worried about what would we eat daily, or started searching for this country on our globe or questioned us about the language or anything and everything!!!!

Our friends still do ask (with a concern) on what we eat daily. For them, the Koreans eat anything and everything.....!!!

For once and for all I would like to clear all the rumours. For the last time i would say (and please note), that this country is of human beings living for ages. These human beings are as normal as you and me! They have an attractive body structure (which actually most of us don't, and which we envy upon them)!!! They have a very healthy lifestyle, suiting the climate! They believe in family, work, friendship and above all humanity!!!! And yes, THEY DO HAVE A PROPER DIET JUST LIKE ANY OTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE! In fact, one should learn or at least appreciate their way of cooking. Most of their dishes are oil free, or with less calories!!!

Our preparations are very different from theirs! But one needs to respect each other unique qualities and try to acculturate the best of both worlds!!! If you do not eat non-vegetarian food, then at least respect the people who eat!!!!

But the fault does not just remain of the people who spread rumours. It is also the fault of the people who let the rumours spread!

Actually, this country also needs to market itself (apart from the latest techno savvy products). They should make their presence felt on the globe! Some of their values can be really shared by all. My only request to them is, do welcome change in any form, learn new things, broaden new arenas, enter the world globalization, but retain the rich values and culture which are the strengths of this country! For any foreigner here, language becomes the barrier on the first go. But when you start living in this country, one may notice ''human beings'' stay around you, thus language becomes hardly an obstacle. And its really commendable that being a developed country, one finds humanity!!!!

Apart from all, this country has given ''us'' the things we wished or came here for!! Here we are not only earning money, but also enjoying the quality time with each other! I do not know that how long we would be staying here, but this country taught us to live in present and live each day to the fullest. Our stay in South Korea has been a very learning experience, and a stepping stone in our life!!!

I am glad that South Korean Visa is the first stamp on my passport!! :)

Thank you!

Nishigandha S. Gadkari