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Language and communication are the back bone of any bond between people . However Not knowing the local language sometimes lead to amusing situations. Something similar happened to me too.

MOMENTS OF JOY-WHAT MADE YOU LAUGH 😆

LANGUAGE CAN CREATE LAUGHTER WHEN MEANINGS GETS LOST !!!

I found this topic interesting to write as in my memory I had this unforgettable and funny experience which happened many years ago.

Language plays a vital role in communication. When we are unable to communicate in the required language then the situation can turn in both serious and funny way. My ignorance in knowing a local language took a hilarious turn.

India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories. India is incredibly linguistically diverse, home to 122 major languages and over 1,599 other languages and mother tongues. One can imagine the confusion and chaos that one gets to experience if not aware of the local language where one is staying.

This blog is about one such “Lost in Translation” moment when I was newly married. I began my life as a newly married in West Bengal - the Eastern part of India. Bangla was the language spoken by the locals.

Bengali/ Bangla language is widely celebrated as one of the world’s sweetest languages, known for its melodic rhythm and soft vowels. I was trying to learn to speak the language by observing the conversations happening around me. I could fluently communicate in Hindi, so could manage the shopping of daily needs. I was aware of the basic words and phrases in Bangla to begin a conversation and reply back too.

Before I start with this blog I would like to write the meanings of few Bengali words in English to keep the humour alive.

BOUDHI - this is a word used to address the married lady of the house - Sister-in-law

BIDAAL - A cat

INDUR- A rat

I had started my new journey as a young bride, in Kharagpur, West Bengal, India. We were living in the campus in cosy comfy small apartment. The funniest part was that the name of the apartment was “BACHELORS APARTMENT “ , but all married couple were staying in that apartment.

Life was full of joy and excitement as a newly married.

There was a milkman who delivered milk everyday morning. There was a maid, vegetables vendors, Bread wallah to name a few with whom I had conversations on a day to day basis in the local language. With a error in the tenses, gender and pronunciation I was just learning to speak.

Everything was fine, until one night, I forgot to close the kitchen window.

The next morning, in the kitchen, I found potatoes scattered all over the floor — some even had teeth marks! I shrugged it off, too busy enjoying my new life to worry about kitchen mysteries. But that night, I saw something moving… something black and quick! On closer look — a BIG RAT 🐀 — followed by a whole parade of smaller ones! My heart almost stopped.

I grabbed the nearest broomstick like a warrior with a sword and charged into battle! Pots clanged, boxes toppled, and there I was, swinging my “weapon” in panic and fury while the rats played hide-and-seek with me like Jerry teasing poor Tom.

And right in the middle of this chaos — DING DONG! — the milkman arrived! I opened the door, still holding the broom like a battle flag, with my hair messy, eyes wide, and my face twisted in disgust and determination.

The poor milkman froze, staring at me.

“Boudhi! , what happened? Why are you looking like Kali Ma?” he asked in Bengali.

I replied hurriedly in Hindi, “Ghar mein choohe hain! (There are rats in the house!) I’m trying to chase them out — it’s impossible! Can you help me?”

The milkman thought for a second. Then widening his eyes said in Bengali, “Boudhi, kichhu hobe na. Apnar ekta bidaal rakhoon. Toh indur ra chole jaabe.”.

(“Sister-in-law, nothing to worry. Keep a bidaal at home — the rats will go away.”)

Completely puzzled, I asked, “What is bidaal? Yeh bidaal kya hai? Kahan milta hai?”( No Google to search or translate 😂).

The milkman made a serious face, then suddenly went, “Meow… meow!” His facial expression was so funny that I burst into uncontrollable laughter!!!.

That day I learnt new words in Bengali “Bidaal- Cat and Indur -Rat”.

The humour truly needs no translation. Isn’t it??

For few moments I forgot the rats menace and laughed wholeheartedly. Those funny moments not only made me laugh, it also remains fresh in my memory till date .

That moment you lost it, in joy, in absurdity, is life. How did you like this blog?. Would like to hear in the comment section.

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