AAHO

First time I revisited India the millitancy was at its height. Sikhs were targeted and harrassed by prejudiced athorities. Immigration gave special treatment to the sikh youth. I expected it and dealt it with nonchalance.

However, I didn’t expect the harrassment to last more than 5-10 minutes. But the rotund immigration personnel kept on with his kanjarpana....one excuse after another for not letting me leave. Same bogus harrassing allegations they use to torment all Indians.

I stood their in silence as if "....continue to bark you son of a bitch....i have patience........."

For the tenth time he asked, "....kiy yeh aapki photo hai........."

I blurted with annoyance "AAHO!".....rustic punjabi for "yes". For the first time, his face changed from fake anger to genuine laughter. He was laughing. I didn’t know what happened.....but glad with the change in his demeanor.

He yelled to his colleague, "dekh dekh Sardarji kiya keh raha hai"......(listen to what sardarji is saying).

He repeated the question, "Yeh photo aapki hai? "..... "Haan" - I replied.

"Nahi Nahi, answer how u replied before" - he pleaded.

I yelled "AAHO". They both burst into laughters and WHAM! - my passport was stamped.