Thought-provoking Tea Shop Discussion?

A scene from a common tea shop in Saidapet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu; Characters: Two 50-old guys and one 29-year old guy from IT.

Situation: Curious IT guy listening to the conversation between two commoners discussing about the so-called prosperity of their sons.

Dialogues: Tamil, mixed with random English words (Translation provided)

Old Guy 1 (Sipping tea while talking to his friend): Yenna pa Ramu, yeppadi irukke, un paiyanukku Americavula vela kedaichathame…Yeppo poran

(Hey Ramu, how are you, I heard your son got an opportunity in a US company, when is he leaving?)

Old Guy 2 (Throwing away his half-smoked cigarette): Ada avan innum athe company’la than pa irukkan. Yedho onsite opportunityyaam, athaan 2 varshuthakku America poga solranam…. 2 Lakhs per month kedaikkumam!!! Yellam antha maariyatha kodha varam… Adhu seri, un paiyan yeppadi irukkan

(No buddy, he is in the same company. They are sending him onsite to US for 2 year tenure. They say he will earn a salary equivalent to 2 lakhs per month. By the way, how is your son doing?)

Old Guy 1 (With a worried face): Avan kedakkaran pa…B.sc la 4 arrear …. Seri kaludhaikku padippu than varaliyennu… 2 lakhs kaasu koduthu yenna venunnalum pannu…. Yenna vittudunnu sollitten.. Ippo sondhama business panren… Mylapore’la 1 kadai, Mandavelila oru kadainnu yedho polappu oduthu…

(Ah, leave him, useless fellow, he  had 4 arrears in his B.Sc. As he is poor in education, gave him 2 lakhs to look after himself and told him to get lost. He is now doing business, has two shops, one in Mylapore and another in Mandaveli… Heard he is doing ok)

Old Guy 2 (With a confused look): Ada parava illaiye paa, 2 lakhs vachuttu rendu kadai vachuttana,, yeppadi paa.. Advance kodukarrathukke 2 lakhs aagumame. Yeppadi pannan… Adhu seri, yevvalavu varuman kedaikkkuthu… Vettu selavakku pathutha?? 

(Hmmm.. not bad, how come he could manage to run 2 shops with just 2 lakhs as capital….. I heard the advance for a shop itself runs into lakhs,… Anyways, hope business is good, is it enough to run the family?)

Old Guy 1 (Slightly irritated, skips the part on how his son managed to run two shops with a mere 2 lakhs as capital): Business yellam nalla than odudhu paaa…Yedho friends help panni bank'la loan vangi kadai vachan. Pala hotelku thengai regulara supply panrathala, maasathukku yella selavum poga 50,000 rupees nikkudham… Yenna panni yenna prayojanam… Un paiyana mathiri US pogara yogam irukkudha…. 2 Lakhs salaryna summava.. Yevvaluvu gouravamana vazhkai…. Velacherila 60 lakh’ku flat vangittannu kelvi patten… Yen paiyyana paaru… Avan ippo than Tambarathula oru ground vangi irukkannu… Yenna than kadai vachalam,… US pora yogam varuma

(Business is ok. Heard he got a bank loan with the help of his friends. As he is supplying Coconuts to nearby hotels on a regular basis, he is earning 50,000 per month. What’s the use anyways? He is not able to earn 2 lakhs per month like your son… or even have a white-collar job… I heard you son got a 60-lakh worth flat in Velachery, look at my son, he just managed to buy one ground in Tambaram…. What’s the use? He is no better compared to your son)

Old Guy 2 (With a proud face): Ada viduppa, yellam pona jenmathu punniyam…. Un paiyanum nalla varuvan kavalai padathe…..

(Leave it buddy! Only the fortunate souls reap such benefits. Don’t worry, your son will also prosper in life)

29-Old IT guy (Listening to the full conversation): Dei, ungala yellaraiyum yenda Tsunami thookala…. 50, 000 rupees per month varumanam namma naatula kadaicha, naanga yenda veli naadu poram…. Ada paavigala!!! 

Old Guy 1: Aamam pa... Un madhiri pullaiya perathukku koduthu vachirukkanam, un paiyanai kettadha sollu! Naan poitu varen!

(Yes buddy.... Only fortunate folks get blessed with a son like yours. Convey my regards to our son. Bye)

(Both men leave as the IT guy starts thinking aloud.)

IT Guy (Thinking aloud): Dei ungala mathiri aalungala yenda Tsunami thukkala..... Gouravama maasuthukku 50,000 sambadhikkara pulliya vachikkuttu, ooran vittu pillaiya periya aalunnu solre, Maasathukku 50, 000 rupai kedacha naanga yenda polappu thedi veli oorukku porom... Aandava, ivangala mathiri aalunga kitte irundhe yengalai kaapathu)

 (Fools! Folks like you people should have been killed by the Tsunami…. Old man 1 should be extremely proud to have a son, who is doing business and earning 50k per month... Instead, Old man 1 is proud his friend's son....only because of his white-collar job and onsite opportunity.. If people like us got the chance to earn 50k per month here, why on earth would we even go onsite???…Oh god, please save us from fools like these).