Conductor: Change a kudunga sir. (Please give me change, Sir)

Naveed: 20 rupees ku change illaya? (Don't you have change for 20 rupees?)

Conductor: Avan avan 100 roova moonji munaadi neetina naan enga povaen chillaraiku? (Sir! If everyone gives 100 rupees, how will I have change?)

Naveed: Seri... Indhaanga pudinga. (Ok fine. Here's the change, please give me the ticket...)

Conductor: Indhaanga ticket. (Here's your ticket, bro)

(Naveed sits on a vacant seat at the back and opened a book to read... after 35 mts gets down at Pillar and heads to the tea kadai, he usually frequents.  The bench was not vacant and he waited outside)

Manickam: Thambi enga da pona? Sir vandhirukaar paaru, oru chair izhuthu podu. (where did you go, boy? Sir has come, pull a chair for him)

Thambi: Sir, chair indhaanga sir.  Idho vandhitaen (Here's the chair sir.. just a moment)

Naveed: Thanks da

Thambi: Sir unga coffee, cigarette. (Sir, here's your coffee and cigarette)

(Naveed smiles, and takes a look at people sitting and lazing over a cup of tea or coffee. While everyone preferred paper cups, he likes his coffee in glass tumbler. There were people chatting, having snacks, reading newspapers.)

Naveed: Thambi, inga vaa (Thambi, come here!)

Thambi: Ennanga na? (Yes sir)

Naveed: Enna vayasu unakku? nee indha ooru thaana? (What's your age? Do you belong to this town, boy?)

Manickam: Paya chengalpattu nga.  Avanga appan oru kudikaaran.  Pondaati payan na gavanikaama, adichi midichu chitravadhai pannan.  Avanga amma, enaku doorathu sondham.  Enkitta vittutu padika vainga anaenu sonna.  School sethutaen.  Padikara neram poga, kadaila enaku udhavi yaa iruppan.

(This boy is from chengalpet. His dad is a drunkard.  He never takes care of his wife or kid and hit or kick them them all the time. His mom is a distant relative of mine.  She requested me to help her son, by sending him to government school.  I enrolled him in school.  He helps me at the shop, whenever he finds time)

Naveed: Nalla velai paneenga.  Idhu padika vendiya vayasu, velai seyaaranenu nenaichaen. Nala padikariya thambi? (You did a good job.  Was wondering, why he is working at such an young age instead of studying. Are you studying well, thambi?)

Thambi: Nala padikarenga.  Ippo 4 class padikaren.  English laaam ezhudhuvaen aana indha kanaku mattum thaan varamaatengudhu.  (I study well sir.  I am in class 4 now.  I can write and read, English well but only Maths is tricky)

Manickam: Tution sethu vidunga nu kekaaran.  200 um 300 um kekaraanga.  Namaku katupadi aagadhunga. (He is asking me to enroll him in private tution.  But, I can't afford 200 or 300 rupees. Not sure what to do.)

Naveed: thambi, nee school a nalla gavanichaalae puriyumae? (If you listen well, when they teach you at school, you will understand right?)

Thambi: Illeenga kanaku vaathi, mooku podi poda thaan laayaku.  seriya solli thaaradhu.  (No sir, My math teacher is good in inhaling snuff only...)

Naveed: (Smiling) appadiya? (Is that so?)

Thambi: Aamaanga, eppo paaru enga yaarachayum koopitu, podi vaangitu vara solvaaru.  Kaasu kooda kuduka maataru.  Naanga kaasu potu vaangiyaandha, engala test la pass pani vituruvaaru. (Yes sir, he will ask us to buy him snuff.   He won't even give money.  If we buy for him with our money, he will make us pass in exams)

Naveed: Thambi, vaathiyara ava mariyaadhaya paesadha, adhu thapu. (Don't talk about your teacher in that disrespectful tone. It's wrong)

Thambi: Eppo avaru vathiyaaru madiri nadandhukaararo, appo mariyadhai tharuvaen. (When he behaves like a teacher, then I will respect him)

Manickam: (Sighing) Velayatu thanama irukku indha pula.. eppo thaan porupu varumo therila.. (This boy is always playful.  Not sure when he will act responsible)

Naveed: Freeya vidunga na... payyan chuti yaa irukkaan, nala varuvaan parunga. (Don't worry anna...He is young and smart, will come out good in life)

Manickam: Unga vaai palicha, avanga amma ku oru vidivu kaalam varum. (I would be happy, if what you says comes true... it will be good for his mom's future...)

Naveed: Thambi un paer ennanu sollaliyae? (Boy! you forgot to tell your name)

Thambi: "kuppai".. neenga yaen ippadi oru paer nu kekarathuku munaadi naanae solidaraen... Enga aathaaku, 3 kuzhandai porandhu edhuvum thakalai, adhaala naan porakara samayam, naan pozhaicha, enna amman koil munnadi, kuppai la purati eduthu , kuppai nu paer vaekaraenu vendudhal...naan thanginaen adhala indha paer vaichudhu enga aatha... (my name is kuppai...before you ask me why such a name, let me explain... My mom lost 3 children at birth.  She prayed to the goddess that if I survive, she will roll me in the garbage before temple and name me kuppai.  I survived. Hence this name.)