MYSTERY BEHIND MY NAME

Every time when I meet my kindergarten teachers they made me remember themselves by asking, ’do you remember us, you were the favorite child of Arabic sir, you know why? He loves the way you said you name, very fast and difficult for even the teachers to understand. But that was cute! Every one of us loved it, especially him. Do you still have that habit of reciting your name as a fast poem?’ You can guess how awkward will it be when someone asks you such a kind of question about something you might not even remember about. For me that was hideous. I don’t know whether they were making fun of my name, or me, or the way I tell my name. but the truth is, you might see me smiling at their saying but deep inside my heart I will be chiding myself for having such a weird title.

The mystery behind my name is very simple, nothing much interesting but the way my Amma tells the story holds one’s attention, a real fascinating one. Do hear it out from her words.

AMMA SPEAKS

I was six months carrying you. I remember the way you were in my womb, a very silent, rarely moving child whom I mentioned as a static stone as you were stuck at a corner once. No wonder my doctor laughed at me when I said, ’oh doctor I can’t feel my baby but something is stuck inside my womb and it’s not moving. I don’t understand what it is, is my baby still alive or? I am scared doctor, will you take a look ?’ Even when I consult her after having you she asks,’ how is your stone now, is she fine? Or should I take a look ha’. Look at the stone now, all grown to an adult and teaching me the different types of stones in this whole world. How time flies is always strange to me, leaving all those memories behind, of course it gifts us with new people and moments but some memories are so attached to our heart that leaving it behind is more like ripping out the most favorite thing out from your life. One such moment is choosing your name. 

Me and your Appa, my loving husband sat together to give you a name like a group of business man congregates to decide their profit sharing ratio (you know, commerce student, not better way to compare this situation other than this). Your Appa wants you to be named as ‘Gayathri’, don’t ask me ‘why’ just like every others do,’ is that his lovers name or his mother’s or his great grandmother’s?’ is what everyone questions me when I say he chose your second name. There is no such thing. It is simply because he loved it. And at the same time I wanted you to be named as Theertha because my sister named her girl ‘Prarthana’. I want you to perfectly synchronize with her as you and she were born on the same month with one week gap (how strange!). You can now assume what might have happened next. We both had an argument and finally made a conclusion. That’s how you were named, THEERTHA.P.GAYATHRI. I know that’s odd but I can promise you no one of this world will be in your name, it will be you and you alone, it’s your asset  and you have the whole patent right to say that.

There was a time when I felt horrible to say my full name but today when I say my name, I say it proudly loud as I have the biggest asset gifted by my parents.

Remembering Bavitha

HOPING FOR A GOOD DAY