Walrus uncle comes for tea, circa 2001
“So what do you want to do beta? IIT or medicine? Ahh, you’re a bright boy, your papa-mummy keep talking about you when we are all walking in the morning. You must be wanting to do IIT only.”
“Hah, no actually, I’m not exactly planning on taking up engineering.”
“What? But why? Oh, then medical? Good good, finally a doctor in the family!”
Forced smile…. “Actually, I’m not planning to take up bio either.”
It’s almost too comical for words. Tea cup suspended in the air, midway between saucer and mouth, which hangs open, a look of half disgust, half amazement sketched comically over the face with the walrus moustache. “But then what are you going to be doing?!”
“Actually, economics….”
He turns to look accusingly at my parents, as if saying silently and you told me he was bright. “What nonsense! Why would anyone do economics! My son, you know, he did IIT, and then he went off to Amreeka, arrey you should see him now!” Pride in his eyes for his progeny, and an admonishing look for my parents’ misguided one. You can still change your mind, boy. It’s not too late. “Arrey and my younger one, he did IIM then, and he also went to Amreeka, no! Oh, then you atleast must be thinking about IIM? MBA?” Almost pleading now.
Looking for an exit… “Actually, no again….I think I like economics…and I don’t think I’ll be happy doing engineering…or an MBA”
That was the straw which broke the walrus’ back. Drawing himself up indignantly, the moustache bristling with disgust, he roared “Nonsense! What is this like! You are bright boy! Do engineering! Don’t you want to make your parents proud! Like shike kya hota hai!”
Of all the things I could have said, of all the nasty, sarcastic remarks I thought of, I said none. I smiled, muttered some incomprehensible apologies for my lack of understanding, and saw my mom wink at me. And I said nothing back to the walrus, did nothing to alter his myopic vision or present him with the horrifying thought that I wouldn't like to be like his Amreeka settled MBA sons. After all, I wanted my parents to be proud of me.
“Hah, no actually, I’m not exactly planning on taking up engineering.”
“What? But why? Oh, then medical? Good good, finally a doctor in the family!”
Forced smile…. “Actually, I’m not planning to take up bio either.”
It’s almost too comical for words. Tea cup suspended in the air, midway between saucer and mouth, which hangs open, a look of half disgust, half amazement sketched comically over the face with the walrus moustache. “But then what are you going to be doing?!”
“Actually, economics….”
He turns to look accusingly at my parents, as if saying silently and you told me he was bright. “What nonsense! Why would anyone do economics! My son, you know, he did IIT, and then he went off to Amreeka, arrey you should see him now!” Pride in his eyes for his progeny, and an admonishing look for my parents’ misguided one. You can still change your mind, boy. It’s not too late. “Arrey and my younger one, he did IIM then, and he also went to Amreeka, no! Oh, then you atleast must be thinking about IIM? MBA?” Almost pleading now.
Looking for an exit… “Actually, no again….I think I like economics…and I don’t think I’ll be happy doing engineering…or an MBA”
That was the straw which broke the walrus’ back. Drawing himself up indignantly, the moustache bristling with disgust, he roared “Nonsense! What is this like! You are bright boy! Do engineering! Don’t you want to make your parents proud! Like shike kya hota hai!”
Of all the things I could have said, of all the nasty, sarcastic remarks I thought of, I said none. I smiled, muttered some incomprehensible apologies for my lack of understanding, and saw my mom wink at me. And I said nothing back to the walrus, did nothing to alter his myopic vision or present him with the horrifying thought that I wouldn't like to be like his Amreeka settled MBA sons. After all, I wanted my parents to be proud of me.
Labels: life
posted by Karan at
3:30 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home