Of Names

A rose is a rose is a rose is a rose. But, then, it’s a rose. How about us, lesser mortals?
One of my childhood pals’ name was ‘Shabby’. I don’t know whether I spelt it correct, but he was called just so: “Shabby”. And I was too young to understand the meaning of the word, otherwise I would’ve had one gala of a time. And there are a hell lot of people, friends and acquaintances, whose names begin with the word “Shy”. Shyju, Shyja, Shyma ‘Oh Maaa…!’ and one among them that makes some kind of a sense is “Shyjith”, ‘one who conquers shyness’! Indeed, only if you are fond of finding sense in nonsense.

Once, when I was in College, I had been to a friend’s home. As we were sitting and chatting at the verandah, I heard his mom calling “Lousy” and his sister responding to the call. No, she’s no ‘lousy bitch’. It’s her name. And given the fact that her brother, my friend, is ‘Lovemon’ and his elder brother is ‘Loveson’ it could be ‘Lovesy’. But still, how it would feel to be called ‘Lousy’, day in day out? What’s the image that comes to your mind when you hear someone calling ‘Anju’? I know the answer. But I have had a classmate, one Mr.Anju. And every time some new visiting faculty call ‘Anju’ and see Anju, who sport a thick moustache, either they give him a bewildered look or smile at him saying that their daughter’s name is Anju.

Another name that can cause real embarrassment to the person in question as well as others is ‘Anas’. And to cause great annoyance and embarrassment all you have to do is to change a letter. But, fortunately the name ‘Anas’ is called/pronounced as ANAS and not as ‘aay-nu…’ thank God! I’ve a friend whose name is ‘Nishad’, and I know another guy with the same name. ‘Ma Nishada…’

And before winding up, I need to confess that I had a narrow escape, a hair thin one. At home, I’ve been called ‘Shabu’.