When Canada Met Vadodara
Learning English Idioms Through Gujju Humor
Ritesh: Arre Mehul! Long time no see, yaar! How's life treating you?
Mehul: Haan? You mean life mujhe treat kar rahi hai? Matlab life doctor hai kya? Aur main koi bimari hoon kya? 😅
Ritesh: (laughs) Arre nahi bhai, aisa nahi! Treat ka matlab yahan doctor wala nahi hai.
Mehul: Arey haan! Ab samaj gaya! Tu kehna chahta hai — life mujhe kaunsi party de rahi hai?
Ritesh: (confused) Party? Arre yeh kaha se aa gaya?
Mehul: Arre treat ka matlab toh party hota hai na! Tune hi last time bola tha "Birthday treat do!"
Ritesh: (laughing) Arre nahi re, no no dear! Woh treat means party sahi hai, lekin yahan treat ka matlab kuch aur hai — jab casual mein doston wagairah ke sath hum bolte hain "How's life treating you?" to uska matlab hota hai zindagi tere saath kya sulook kar rahi hai... (He laughed and explained) I mean, kaisi chal rahi hai zindagi?
Mehul: Arre sidhe bolna tha "How are you?" Kyun bekaar mein confuse kar raha hai?
Ritesh: Oho… theek hai, sorry bhai… How are you?
Mehul: Bas dekh, sab badhiya! Jab tak koi English mein baatein shuru na kare, tab tak hum Gujju badhiya hi hain! 😄
(Both laughed)
Mehul: By the way, tu bata — how's life treating you in Canada?
Ritesh: Things here are great. Work's hectic, but I'm keeping my head above water.
Mehul: Head above water? In Canada also flood aa gaya kya?
Ritesh: (laughs) Not that! It means I'm managing to survive and handle all the work, even when it's too much.
Mehul: Ohh… so not drowning in work! Got it, bro.
Ritesh: By the way, our new manager is really on the ball.
Mehul: On the ball? Football match in office? ⚽
Ritesh: (smiling) No re! On the ball means smart and alert. He understands everything quickly.
Mehul: Toh you mean, like our Pushpa aunty during Diwali sale — always alert!
Ritesh: Exactly!
Ritesh: Anyway, I should go now. Got a flight early morning.
Mehul: Haan haan, have a safe journey! And next time you come to India, don't forget to meet me, okay?
Ritesh: Of course not! I'll drop by Vadodara for sure.
Mehul: Drop by? No need to drop anything, bro. Just come!
Ritesh: (smiles) Drop by just means visit for a short time.
Mehul: Toh bolo na simple "I'll visit you!" English makes everything sound like exercise! 😄 But let me try — I am going to drop by my cousin today evening. Is this correct?
Ritesh: Oh yeah, you're a rapid learner!
(Both burst into laughter again.)
✅ Idioms & Phrases Learned
1. How's life treating you?
How are things going in your life?
2. Keeping my head above water
Managing to survive under pressure.
3. On the ball
Smart, quick, and alert.
4. Drop by
To visit someone briefly.
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