Maa Ki Kir Kiri

Yesterday, Bangalore experienced the first rain of the year. The much awaited rain after weeks of heat waves. And yesterday, I had gotten my car out of servicing. Had done exterior detailing (wax polishing and stuff such) on my car. This rain screwed it all. The first word that came out of my mouth was "Maa ki Kir Kiri". I don't know why this word, but felt really good about it.

"Maa ki Kir Kiri" is a phrase in Hyderabadi used to express frustration, irritation and emotions such.

Suddenly in the soothing rain, my thoughts rolled back to the time I spent in Hyderabad. It all started coming back at me. I recollected my first day at Hyderabad, when I stopped to ask directions at a "Tea Bandi". I wanted to go to Punjagutta from Nampally railway station. The person shouts to another person, "Punjaagutta ku kaisa jaana baap?, Inhe Punjagutta ku jaana kathe". The other person comes closer and asks again, "Punjaagutta jaana kya?", to which I nod. He scratches his cheek and says, "Ek kaam karo miyan, aise seedhe chale jao", as is typical to all the Hyderbadi's when asked for directions. Suddenly out of nowhere another person comes and says to the guy, "Arey Houle, kya bolra re, uno kya vatni door chalke jaate?" and then turns to me and asks "aatu lete?". I asked him how far is Punjagutta from here, to which he replied, "kam se kam, che (6) kilemeteraan padta, aatu lelo, aasaan hota". This was the first time I had literally heard the language form a live Hyderabadi. I wanted to burst out with laughter. It took a lot of courage to hold it in. I was like, "Hi God, I think I am going to have fun here!". I wanted to gel in quickly and tell them "Kya mamu, kya chindi hindi bolra baap!".

This was a sweet encounter. I figured then that "hau re, Hyderabad me to aisa ich hota, yahan pe hindi aise ich bolte". I "hona bolke" wanted to learn this language badly. Did I learn it? "Aage kuch bhi nakko poocho yaaron". Nevertheless, I wasn't quite successful at it. I guess many people would have tried as well, unsuccessfully though, after all "Bhai logaan, try karne me kya zaarra, waise bhi aapan dhakkan logaan hai".

Coming back to the rain, last night it rained non stop. All was well. Today morning I drove my car to work and had even worse "maa ki kir kiri" moment. The water clogged roads, the dirty sludge, the mud, everything was on my car when I reached office. I was like "baigan ki iski, baarish baut dum karra na, maa ki kir kiri". But then soon after I realized that Bangalore now had become a Bangalore that it is known for, cool climate, cold breeze, dull weather. I pat my back of the head and say to myself, "tension kaiku lera, light le re maam!".

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