I had to travel back to Chennai on a train a few days back. We had booked tickets on the Shatabdi. Since we had boarded the evening train, we were given some snacks to have - cupcake, samosa, tea and a Haldiram's namkeen packet.
After three stations, a couple boarded the train along with their two children - a boy and a girl. The mother's seat was right next to mine. As soon as they settled in, the boy came up to his mom to ask her about what would be served. (The entire conversation happened in Thamizh. Tried my best to translate it) -
Boy - Amma, they have given others cupcakes and they are still eating them. Will they give us as well?
The mother - No. I don't think they gave cupcakes.
Boy - No amma, I saw the plates on many seats. It has cupcake. They give them as snacks. And they are still eating? Will they give us as well?
The mother - Ok. May be they gave it. No, they will not give us. They will only give us dinner.
Girl - Amma, they will give us ice cream right (She is so excited about it)
Boy (turning to his little sister) - Of course, they will give us ice cream
Girl - Will they give us chocolate and ice cream as well?
Boy - No, only ice cream. Isn't that right, amma?
Mother - Ask the TTR uncle. He will know.
By the time, the TTR came in to check the tickets. The boy was murmuring ice cream and looked at him in awe.
TTR (looked at both of them) - what class are you both studying
Both the children promptly replied.
TTR - Ok, where is your id card?
Boy - My school has still not given me my id card
TTR (laughs) - If you don't show your id card, you will not get ice cream
Girl to the boy - See, I told you they will give us ice cream.
TTR - Do you ride a cycle
Boy - yes,small cycle.
*Points at his sister
Boy - She does not know how to drive a cycle
TTR - Do you have a licence to drive your cycle
*Boy does not understand what he is asking
Boy - no
TTR - See you don't have license, no ID card, then no ice cream
*TTR then looks at the girl
TTR - Do you have an ID card
Girl- No
TTR - Then no ice cream for you
**Girl comes running to her mom
Girl - Amma, i want ice cream
Boy - I have my ID card at home
TTR- then show it. Otherwise no ice cream. See everyone showed me their ID card. Your parents showed me as well.
Girl (is about to cry) - Amma, I want ice cream.
TTR comes in after some time and gives them both a chocolate. They are both really happy and excited. That small chocolate puts a smile on their face. They thank him immediately.
Our dinner arrived after some time. Both of them ate very little and waited eagerly for the ice cream. The moment the attender gave them the ice cream, they were so happy. They immediately opened it and started to eat it.
Looking at them for that 20 to 25 minutes, made all of us smile.
After three stations, a couple boarded the train along with their two children - a boy and a girl. The mother's seat was right next to mine. As soon as they settled in, the boy came up to his mom to ask her about what would be served. (The entire conversation happened in Thamizh. Tried my best to translate it) -
Boy - Amma, they have given others cupcakes and they are still eating them. Will they give us as well?
The mother - No. I don't think they gave cupcakes.
Boy - No amma, I saw the plates on many seats. It has cupcake. They give them as snacks. And they are still eating? Will they give us as well?
The mother - Ok. May be they gave it. No, they will not give us. They will only give us dinner.
Girl - Amma, they will give us ice cream right (She is so excited about it)
Boy (turning to his little sister) - Of course, they will give us ice cream
Girl - Will they give us chocolate and ice cream as well?
Boy - No, only ice cream. Isn't that right, amma?
Mother - Ask the TTR uncle. He will know.
By the time, the TTR came in to check the tickets. The boy was murmuring ice cream and looked at him in awe.
TTR (looked at both of them) - what class are you both studying
Both the children promptly replied.
TTR - Ok, where is your id card?
Boy - My school has still not given me my id card
TTR (laughs) - If you don't show your id card, you will not get ice cream
Girl to the boy - See, I told you they will give us ice cream.
TTR - Do you ride a cycle
Boy - yes,small cycle.
*Points at his sister
Boy - She does not know how to drive a cycle
TTR - Do you have a licence to drive your cycle
*Boy does not understand what he is asking
Boy - no
TTR - See you don't have license, no ID card, then no ice cream
*TTR then looks at the girl
TTR - Do you have an ID card
Girl- No
TTR - Then no ice cream for you
**Girl comes running to her mom
Girl - Amma, i want ice cream
Boy - I have my ID card at home
TTR- then show it. Otherwise no ice cream. See everyone showed me their ID card. Your parents showed me as well.
Girl (is about to cry) - Amma, I want ice cream.
TTR comes in after some time and gives them both a chocolate. They are both really happy and excited. That small chocolate puts a smile on their face. They thank him immediately.
Our dinner arrived after some time. Both of them ate very little and waited eagerly for the ice cream. The moment the attender gave them the ice cream, they were so happy. They immediately opened it and started to eat it.
Looking at them for that 20 to 25 minutes, made all of us smile.
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