I am visiting my Grandma’s place in Solapur just after I quit Trilogy and before joining Google. Solapur is typical small town Maharashtra, with a lot of older folks, whose children have gone to the big cities for work. A couple of my Grandma’s friends are also visiting.
My Grandma introduces me to her friends.
Grandma: “This is my grandson. He is a software officer.”
Me : “Hello! Software engineer, actually”
Friend #1: “Jeete Raho beta! My grandson is also a software officer. He works for Internet Company.”
Me : “Internet Company? Really? That’s very interesting!”
Friend #2 (to Friend #1, ignoring my last remark) : “Yes, yes. Internet. I have heard of it. Is your grandson a ticket salesman? My son, who is in America, was telling me that they buy aero-plane tickets in Internet. He must have bought it from your grandson.”
Friend #1 (kinda offended): “No, my Grandson is a software officer. He has gone to Florida now. For 6 months.”
Friend #2: “Florida? Where is that? Is it far from America? Maybe I can give my son, who is in America, his phone number.”
Friend #1 (looking at me): “What’s the name of your company, beta?”
Me : “I’m going to work for Google”
Friend #2: “Gogol? Is it a small company? Why don’t you work for a big company like Infosys? They sent my son to America 5 times! Yes. 5. How many times have you gone to America?”
Me : “I’ve been to the US once, for 2 weeks.”
Friend#1, Friend#2, simultaneously, somewhat shocked: “THAT’S ALL?!?“
I’m starting to feel a little embarrassed, though I don’t know why.
Me : “Yes, unfortunately. I work for a product company. There is not much reason to go to the US.”
Friend #1 (somewhat sympathetic): “It’s OK beta. The important thing is to work hard, and not wait for the fruits of your efforts. If the Lord so wishes, you can go to America once more.”
Me : “Err…OK…Thank you!”
I excuse myself, and walk out of the room. Outside, I can still hear them speak.
Grandma: “His mother is very smart. Father too. He only needs some time, that’s all”
Friend #1: “Yes, don’t worry. My grandson had to work 2 years before they sent him to America. You just have to work hard. Destiny will automatically reward you.”
Friend #2: “Yes. If you do a pooja for him at the Lakshmi temple, your grandson might even get sent to America this year!”
Grandma: “Let’s hope so”
Dude, I can totally empathise with you on this entire conversation..
However, in money-minded Marwari families and their circles, there is an additional bit of the conversation, which leaves me smirking, and it usually goes like this:
Friend #1: So, in this small company, the pay must be kind of low?
Me: No, nothing like that.. Its enough really. And the work is good.
Friend #2: (In a patronizing tone) True, you should never be money minded so early in life. So, how much do take home every month?
Me: (Actual Take Home – 20% or so)
At this point, Grandma is beaming with pride at having shown down her friends, and the aforementioned friends are trying to hide looks of surpise on their faces which muttering incoherent stuff like “Good beta” or something… I usually take that as my cue to leave the room..
Yeah, money doesn’t matter much, but it doesn’t hurt either
No need to go far. I have heard those comments right here in Bangalore itself.
Aunty : So beta which company are u working for ?
Moi : I`m with HP now
Aunty : But beta u toh did IT Engineering na , why are u working for Petrol company ?
Moi : Doh ! x
it still hurts… even when i`m writing about it now after a gap of 2 years !
Hehe… Petrol company! “Do you get free petrol in HP?” LOL!
Dude! Who is in HP???? I need some help with HP ppl!
HP? You mean like Harry Potter? I think Daniel Radcliff is in Harry Potter. You need help with Harry Potter?