Conversation

Evening time. At a traffic light junction.

Old man: Assalamu’alaikum.

NunBun: Wa’alaikum salam.

Old man: So who are you? (In Tamil)

NunBun: (Pauses for a while, taken aback by the question) I used to stay at Bukit Purmei, and now I stay at Kim Tian…

Old man: No no… I asked who you are. Your name, your family name and so on.

NunBun: (Smiles) Well. I am one of those whom you call “Veliyoor” (foreigners). Imagine, being called a foreigner when I’m Singaporean! (fakes a laugh)

Old man: Oh. No problem with that. That’s ok.

End