Code-switching and food-loving
Pari is one of those fortunate children whose parents have an inter-religion inter-state marriage. While her father is a Telegu-speaking Christian, her mother is a Marathi-speaking Buddhist. The first 1.5yrs of her life had alternate exposures to the two cultures when both her grand mothers took turns to come to Kharagpur. But since the time she actually started understanding the world around her and learning to communicate, she has been surrounded more by people from her mother's side. As of now she doesn't understand the difference though. But she has learnt to easily code-switch between Marathi and Hindi when she is talking to her Mummy and Daddy at the same time. Her everyday questions to both on the conference call are: Mummy, tu kaay jevli?, Daddy, aapne kya khana khaya?, Mummy, tu kaay karat hoti?, Daddy, aap kya kar rahe the?... and so on. A few days ago, when she fell off the bed and hurt herself while doing some mischief, she cried and complained like this to Mummy, "Mi light band karayala jaat hoti na tevha bed varun padli. Mummy mala navin bed gheun de, ha mala aavaDat nahi". Daddy had difficulty in understanding what she spoke so fast but was concerned for she was hurt. To his question, "Kya hua nana?", her quick response was, "Main light band karne ja rahi thi na to bed se gir gayi. Daddy mujhe naya bed lekar do, ye bed mujhe pasand nahi hai."
As of now, Pari seems to be be fond of food, like her parents. An year ago or so, she was sleeping in car when she was being taken for her quarterly check-up. It was morning and she was accompanied by Aaji and Mummy, while Mama was driving and Mummy's paternal aunt (Pari calls her mothi Aaji; mothi means elder) was in the front seat for she had to be dropped home on the way. Before she reached her destination, mothi Aaji turned and gave some money to Mummy to buy some "khau" for the kids. Mummy tried refusing by saying what's the need of this "khau" money. Mothi Aaji insisted for she didn't get any "khau" for the kids when she came. At that instant Pari got up. When she was asked what happened, why she woke up, she replied, "tumhi loka khau-khau karat hote na, mhaNun" (you people were saying khau-khau, that's why).
Yesterday, Pari had gone to a nearby Buddha-Vihar, alongwith Aaji, and her cousins (Athak, Palak tai, Chahak aka Chelsea, and Kittu dada) to watch some cultural events there. Because Athak and Chahak got thirsty after a while, all the cousins returned home. Sometime later, Pari said to Aaji, "Let's go home, else Chelsea will finish all the chicken". (Chelsea, Mummy's cousin's second daughter and two months younger to Pari, has inherited the foodoholic gene like a few of her paternal aunts and unlike her elder sister Palak tai). Aaji replied, "No, she won't do that". Pari said, "Oh, will she say "I'll keep some for my Pari"?" Aaji smiled and said "Yes, she will say that". Pari felt satisfied and continued to watch the rest of the program.
As of now, Pari seems to be be fond of food, like her parents. An year ago or so, she was sleeping in car when she was being taken for her quarterly check-up. It was morning and she was accompanied by Aaji and Mummy, while Mama was driving and Mummy's paternal aunt (Pari calls her mothi Aaji; mothi means elder) was in the front seat for she had to be dropped home on the way. Before she reached her destination, mothi Aaji turned and gave some money to Mummy to buy some "khau" for the kids. Mummy tried refusing by saying what's the need of this "khau" money. Mothi Aaji insisted for she didn't get any "khau" for the kids when she came. At that instant Pari got up. When she was asked what happened, why she woke up, she replied, "tumhi loka khau-khau karat hote na, mhaNun" (you people were saying khau-khau, that's why).
Yesterday, Pari had gone to a nearby Buddha-Vihar, alongwith Aaji, and her cousins (Athak, Palak tai, Chahak aka Chelsea, and Kittu dada) to watch some cultural events there. Because Athak and Chahak got thirsty after a while, all the cousins returned home. Sometime later, Pari said to Aaji, "Let's go home, else Chelsea will finish all the chicken". (Chelsea, Mummy's cousin's second daughter and two months younger to Pari, has inherited the foodoholic gene like a few of her paternal aunts and unlike her elder sister Palak tai). Aaji replied, "No, she won't do that". Pari said, "Oh, will she say "I'll keep some for my Pari"?" Aaji smiled and said "Yes, she will say that". Pari felt satisfied and continued to watch the rest of the program.
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