Its exciting to be in a multi-lingual classroom, but I find myself putting out disclaimers as I switch between languages. Love for languages aside, I feel the tyranny of grammar and syntax that doesn't understand personal linguistic sensibility, aesthetic and influence? 1/6

I grew up in Mumbai, a multi-lingual city where I learnt to be so. Though I speak fluent Telugu, I struggle when someone converses with markers of respect, because to me it’s the language of love and affection that I used with my parents and family. Never meeku only neeku. 2/6

Hindi was the language I used on the street. To me its the language of fleeting friendships and economic transactions. It always has the effect of rudeness to a native Hindi speaker, even when I am at my politest best, because the tu and tum stumbles out before the aap. 3/6

Marathi was the language that I learnt to read and write in school and later spoke in government buildings as a working adult. So it’s always Tumhi and I haven’t gotten around to saying tu. 4/6

Gujarati was commonly used in my Neighbourhood 1 and Goan English in neighbourhood 2. Both remain languages that remind me of all things familiar, an aunty or an uncle or a friend who didn’t care to know if I understood their lingo, because they assumed I did…and, I did!!5/6

Ah the joy of a multi-lingual classroom....ah the fear of a multi-lingual classroom....! 6/6