I am a fairish, well traveled Malayali in Bengaluru. I travel in buses to and fro for work.

Many times, my fellow passengers look at me and assume or presume that I may be from a different country because I wear western dresses.

When they ask me anything in broken English and Hindi, I reply back in Kannada. At this, even the passengers around have a good laugh.

I find that it becomes a big thing when I put in the effort to speak the local language.

Author: Babita Jaishankar