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My husba1d often narrates how a friendly neighbourhood auntie got him into serious trouble with his parents, for absolutely no fault his.
As matter of fact on that occasion Bobby (my spouse’s nickname) had accompanied a few of his university / college buddies to the New Delhi railway station. Those guys were heading to Patna for the autumn break. Bobby was busy conversing with another friend Sweety, who was not travelling either when whom should he see but the aforementioned auntie walking by.They nodded and waved to each other before she disappeared. When bobby went home a few hours later, he found his dad fuming, livid with rage. His mom disclosed what had transpired: The same auntie had dropped by to report how she had seen him about to elope with a girl. The parents were dumb founded. The absurdity of the situation didn’t strike them. How could a young man carrying books/ notebooks with no baggage or luggage of any kind elope?And that too in broad daylight? Once bobby explained the incident, things simmered down.
Fast forward to the present. The same auntie now an octogenarian is still up to her tricks. A few years ago I was employed with a private company located in a residential area. Little did I know the same auntie was now the occupant ofa house in the row across the lane. During my post l lunch , I had one day noticed from a corner of my eye, but decided to ignore her as I was not quite sure.However the cunning lady had recognized me. I can’t imagine how, since she had socially met Bobby’s wife hardly five times in ‘ all. And that too ages ago. Amazing intelligence! A few months later , when Bobby’s mother died the auntie came to offer condolences. Her bag of gossip split wide open before a packed house:How she had often seen me loitering on the streets ,idling away! Horrified beyond measure I wanted to scream at her: Does the lane belong to your father? Do I need to pay toll tax to walk through? I was always walking alone, not hobnobbing with strange men. So what business is it of yours? But alas! All I could d was act the prim and proper ghar ki bahu (sigh!)
The auntie’s darling daughter is equally noisome if not more.For a few years after our marriage until she left t town she would often drop in unannounced to meet her rakhi bhai Bobby. I was away at work when she would come in (coincidence?) Each time I returned home to find my books and papers haywire! Obviously she must have rummaged through my personal effects while my simpleton spouse must have looked on dotingly
Wonder, what sort of etiquette and mannerisms do such individuals possess? I am sanguine the readers will be horrified to learn that the auntie happens to be an eminent pediatrician and mother of a popular sin singer while her daughter is a hi-fi corporate person. Moral of the story: Wealth, upward mobility, educational qualifications , social status cannot mould basic impulses of humans.A After all a leopard can’t change its spots….
Am a trained and experienced features writer with 30 plus years of experience .My favourite subjects are women's issues, food travel, art,culture ,literature et all.Am a true feminist at heart. An iconoclast read more...
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