It is willy-nilly IMHO. Over the phone an Indian (or is the custom also common in other countries too?) spoke to me, a peer and I might add a Yankee, with a "sa

It is willy-nilly IMHO. Over the phone an Indian (or is the custom also common in other countries too?) spoke to me, a peer and I might add a Yankee, with a "sa" at the beginning of half his sentences. During the call I parsed this as "um" or "yep" would be parsed, and after the call I thought maybe it was a "sir" in a non-rhotic accent.