Nachhattar in New York: न्यू यार्क में नछत्तर सिंह

In Newjerk!

Rajbir Deswal : On a migrant Punjabi who took famously to Big Apple !
Nachhattar Singh is from Punjab and lives in New York. A school dropout, he had no other option but to pick up the bellboy’s job in a hotel after migrating to what he calls “Newjark”. We met him in his hotel. On noticing that we could speak Punjabi and that we were visitors from his own 'kontry', he took interest in us.
By no standards he appeared to be a man out of place. In his late-thirties and with a trimmed beard and pinkish-white complexion, he looked as if he was born and brought up in America. But the secret was out to the likes of us only when he opened his mouth to speak.
While in the lobby, we heard him interact with his customers. Sample this: “But tam flat?” “Phor tonty?” “Bill gat ban phrom hottal”. “Next” (He meant: “What time is your flight? At 4.20?) You will get a van from the hotel. Next please”).
Nachhattar Singh became quite friendly with us and he offered to double as our guide in New York. He would tell us, “Its going to be a bindy (windy) day, so better bear (wear) another jaa-kut (jacket),” and “Nyagra-Phaal beiwed from Kanada said looks marblous”. Hope you can make out what he said.
More than his ear-pleasing style (as enjoyed by us) of speaking English in an unadulterated Punjabi accent, his help rendered in saving some dollars was welcome. He would accompany us to his friendly vendors on the Time Square and get us cheaper stuff like phonecards or souvenirs. He even arranged a conference on phone to Delhi through the gadget at his residence.
He had a nephew Vimpy, whom he addressed as Bimpy, and who was employed as driver for the hotel van, courtesy Nachhattar’s connections. When we were to leave for the airport, he clubbed us with other customers in the van, which had four extra seats, saving us nearly $100.
Bidding goodbye to Nachhattar Singh with hugs, we thanked him for his services. As a last gesture of taking care of us, he called Vimpy and told him, “O’ Sambhaal Kay, Kaka! Raah-ch koi raff-ad na paa-een” (Take care boy. Avoid entering into trouble on the way).
Vimpy looked like his uncle and spoke after his fashion, but he needed to be groomed for living in New York since the boy did not have his “papers” in order.
As ill luck would have it, a car banged our van from the rear. The driver gave mouthfuls to Vimpy for no fault of his. Vimpy then alighted and charged menacingly at him and doled out choicest of Punjabi abuses which only we could understand.
Back in the van, Vimpy said, “Bladdy-phoolz! Eh sochday nay inha day pyo da kontry hai” (They think it is their father's(!) land). We recalled Nachhattar Singh’s cautionary and sagacious advice to Vimpy and wondered how bravely had he been putting up with hostilities in a land that is not his own Patiala or “Batala”.
While we made fun of Nachhattar’s language, the Americans made sense of it. This was precisely the lesson our friend wanted to give to his young nephew if the latter had to stay in Nachhattar’s “Newjark”.

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