Hindi Medium : a journey that takes you back to your roots

 

Jai was on his way back from Mumbai from attending a conference at Pune. He was enjoying the cool breeze with the scenic beauty. Suddenly, his car stopped. Driver declared about the flat tire. Jai saw one bus coming and he had no other way than to board it. He was feeling quite awkward among those village people. They all were quite decent looking, smiling face but they didn’t have that big city people look (what Jai was used to of seeing). They were simple village people for who meeting someone with a smile was more important than to invite them over lunch/dinner or entertaining them at a lavish restaurant just for formality sake.

Jai found a window seat next to an old man. “Dada, koi baitha hai?”(is anyone sitting) Jai asked. The old man replied something in their regional language and made space for Jai to sit. He was constantly looking at Jai and saying something which Jai wasn’t understanding and it was making him a bit uncomfortable. Ritika was watching all this happening from the diagonal back seat. She was seeing Jai’s discomfort and the old man’s staring. Jai was searching for another seat and there was one vacant seat next to Ritika. He asked if he can come there. Ritika explained the old man in their language that he can take the window seat.

“You read Hindi books?” Jai was surprised to see Ritika reading a Hindi book.

“Yes, Hindi is our National language. What’s wrong in that? Don’t you read?”, Ritika replied sensing the sarcasm in Jai’s question.

“I don’t even remember when was the last time I read anything in Hindi.” Jai was still trying to figure out what Ritika’s work might be. She looked pretty smart, confident girl to him. Then why Hindi book?

“So, what brings you to Mumbai Ms..? I didn’t get your name.” Jai was trying to hold a conversation.

“Ritika. And you?” she replied.

“I am Jai. So, Ritika, are you into writing or anything?” He was still stuck on the Hindi book reading.

“No, I work as a translator. I was accompanying my mom who is a painter and wanted to cover some tribal art for her next exhibition.” Jai’s question brought a smile on her face. She could figure out the reason behind this question. Looking at her book, Ritika tried to explain in brief.

“Wow, so how many other languages do you know Ritika?” Jai was finding this conversation pretty interesting. His guess was correct. Ritika was a smart and talented girl.

“I know 15 Indian languages fluently and a couple of foreign languages. Actually, my Dad was an army so we traveled a lot. And to do friendships, I learned the regional languages.” Now Ritika tried to give Jai a better picture.

“I am not able to handle Hindi and English and you are so fluent in these many. Amazing.” Jai who was still trying to digest the number of languages Ritika knew.

“It’s individual’s interest and sometimes situation. In my case, it was both. I don’t know which lead to what. I feel there is some beauty in every regional language. Few things sound sweet when narrated in that particular language. Language is just a medium of conversation. The actual connection happens through the heart.” Ritika was talking in a flow and it was mesmerizing for Jai.

“Brilliant. I never looked at it this way. Now I understood the reason for that book in your hand.” Jai said with a smile pointing towards Ritika’s book.

“Hahaha. I am glad you liked my viewpoint otherwise these days people judge somebody’s smartness by the kind of clothes they wear or if they speak English or not. If someone is wearing presentable (not flashy) clothes and conversing in Hindi then others make up a perception about his/her intellectual level. And this viewpoint takes a 360-degree turn if the situation is another way round. In short it’ like judging the book by its cover.” Ritika made her point very clear and impressed Jai to a great extent (though she didn’t mean to do that)

They were almost reaching their destination. Jai and Ritika got up, grabbed their belongings.
As they were approaching the gate, Jai stopped and walked to the old man. “Kaka, chalta hu. Shubh Yatra.”(I will take your leave. Happy Journey!!) Today he was a different Jai.