At Home Depot return desk, after reading my name off of ID, South Asian lady with a nose ring and heavy accent spoke in Telugu.
I identify and can understand some family Telugu.
Yes, but nope, “born and brought up”, as desi folks say, with mix of delight…and disappointment.
IYKYK
Then said my middle name was nice.
Then wanted to confirm I was Brahmin.
That has never happened to before.
A retail experience first.
In the suburban American South.
It was a conflict of my egalitarian, republican values.
It started out as a remarkable, yes, but nope.
