Tandarin

"Excuse me, sir," I said, "could you please tell me how to get to the Shivaji Park?"
"O.K., then," he said, eager to speak and without having paid any attention to me at all, "head that way" — he pointed north — "cross Bengal Chemicals, Prabhadevi, …"

I realized he was having fun ticking off the eight streets I'd have to cross, so I decided to interrupt:
"Are you sure about what you're saying?"

"Absolutely."


The fellow could only reply, "Must be someone who's not familiar with the city."

"Nevertheless, like I said, he had an intelligent face. And naturally, I prefer to believe him, not you."

Giving me a stern look, he asked, "All right, tell me, why do you prefer to believe him instead of me?"

"It's not that I prefer to believe him instead of you. But, like I said, he had an intelligent face."

"You don't say! And I suppose I look like an idiot?"

"No, no!" I was shocked. "Who ever said such a thing?"

"Since you said that the other fellow had an intelligent face…"

"Well, truthfully, this man had a very intelligent look about him."

My sparring partner was growing impatient.

"Very well, then, Sir," he said, "I'm rather pressed for time, so I'll say good-bye and be on my way."

"That's fine, but how do I get to the Prabhadevi Park?"
His face betrayed a spasm of irritation.

"But didn't you say you wanted to go to the Shivaji Park?"

"No, not the Shivaji Park. I want to go to the Prabhadevi Park. I never said anything about the Shivaji Park."

"In that case," and now he was pointing south, "take that street and…"

"You're driving me crazy!" I protested. "Didn't you say before that I should head in the opposite direction?"