What do you do if you want to call your friend standing across the street? If you’re a true Mumbaikar, you’d just… kiss.

C Senthilnathan

What I have been trying to convey so far may not sound what it is supposed to. I am talking about kissing sounds which people use to communicate with each other, standing more than 10 feet away. This art has been mastered by all Mumbaikars and their ears are sharp enough to catch the one meant for their ears.

Picture this. You are in a train and your friend is standing about 10 metres away. There are about 20 people between the two of you. How do you call him? A non-Mumbaikar would probably call his friend’s name aloud. But no. That’s not how it’s done in the city. You just make a kissing sound. Twenty-one people turn and look at you. Twenty of them will realise that the sound was not meant for them and will look away. No offence taken. Now your friend and you can start communicating.

I was discussing this with a friend and when I made ‘the sound’ to show him what I meant, at least five people looked around and then resumed what they were doing as though nothing happened.