During one of my wandering trips at that time, I was on my way to Nerul -- by train from CST. This was after my two days stay near 'nerul' (one of the main train stations) in the heart of navi mumbai. When I came to board the train in CST, a lady ( looked like a malayali from outside mumbai in her 20s) approached me particularly and asked me in her broken hindi if I am going to 'nerul'?
I said 'Yes' for three reasons.
(A) the impact of my 'Nerul' stay
(B) the Panvel Local, which I was about to take then - to reach the Navi Mumbai.
(C) the way it was pronounced by her.
she was glad that I was guiding her properly and just got herself tagged to me without asking more questions. There were no crowd. After clearing my check-in luggage, I went to the station counter and bought the ticket for the navi mumbai.. She too took it, eventhough she asked me 'why?'. I explained her that to reach the city we need to take a ticket (a funny reply!!). I thought she was too naive by asking these type of questions.
This panvel local, normally takes 70 minutes to reach Navi mumbai.After getting down at Nerul she asked me where can she get a train to board pune. I didn't get it initially. Again she asked, the platform where she can get a train to board pune as she had heard that there are trains running between kalyan and pune. Then she showed me in writing that she had to go to 'Neral' (near karjat) which sounded like 'Nerul'(near Panvel).
I was shocked completely and slowly realised the effect of my understanding her broken Hindi. I told her that I was not going to Neral (Near Karjat) - but am going to the NERUL. It was her turn to get shocked then and was about to cry immediately. She realised that she cannot get back to the PUNE even if she returns back from the NERUL to the NERAL (timing was so close, then).
She was so tensed and started checking with some neighbours . (she should have done this earlier itself. So, unfortunate!!) She couldn't do anything more than that.. She started asking the other person about the solution and never even turned to me. After reaching the Nerul Station, she started her efforts to return to the Neral. she must have cursed me a lot then.
Later I realised, the reasons for her approaching me. Couple of times, I have been approached by people asking whether I am a southindian - due to my complexion, my way of speaking & hair. So, this lady might have thought that I was from the keralic states going to the destination where she wanted to go.
Sometimes, I don't get these malayali accents easily and that time it was so miserable..(Neral Vs 'Nerul' ). I Believe, that girl would have reached her destination (pune) in the next day after reaching Neral. Prayed to the God at that time, on behalf of her..... for my deed.
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