An Embarrassing Experience

Like many men of my age, I was pretty scared at the prospect of becoming a "daddy". I believe this fear had its roots in the post-adolescent self-realization of what immense trouble I had been to my father. But, as luck would have it, I am a daddy too, now. But that's not the central crux of this story - it's just the pillar on which the premise of this story is based. Now, not very long ago, two events happened in my life, at the same time, which set in motion, among other things, one of the strangest and most embarrassing events that I have encountered. I got promoted at work, and my wife Sweta got pregnant. The fact that I was scared of the huge responsibilities that come with parenthood must have prohibited my wife from sharing the news with me immediately. I, on the other hand, came home and broke the good news from work to her. We celebrated, with me completely ignorant of the fact that there was something else I needed to think about.

Enter, my mother-in-law. Even today, I cannot imagine why my wife had broken the baby news to her, and not the promotion one. So here was I, who knew about the promotion but not about the baby. And there was my mother-in-law, who knew about the baby, but not about the promotion. Under such circumstances, she called me to congratulate me (on the baby, of course), and the most remarkable conversation happened. I have tried to be true to my memory:

MIL:  Hello Bhaskar, congratulations!

ME:   Thank you, thank you, maa :-)

MIL:  Such a wonderful piece of news! I'm so happy for you.

ME:   Yes :-) Indeed, I'm happy too.

MIL:  Of course you are happy. We are all so, so happy. So when did you get to know?

ME:   Well, I had an idea it was coming, but the final confirmation came yesterday.

MIL:  Really?!! Very good, very good. Finally, I'll have some reason to come to Bangalore and celebrate.

ME:    Why, of course, maa! Please come down, we'll celebrate.

MIL:   Sure, sure. I have been praying for this day for such a long time.

ME:    Yes, this was long due.

MIL:   Ah, NOW you are admitting that this should have happened long time back? I don't understand your generation. Why do you have to take so much time for such things?

ME:   Well, these things are never easy, maa. There's a lot of hard work required. It takes time.

MIL:  Yeah, I know THAT!

ME:   Plus, only hard work isn't sufficient. To some extent, you need luck as well.

MIL:  Yes, ahem......luck does play a big role.

ME:    But I'm not saying that I don't deserve it. After all, there're no shortcuts to these kinds of success. But there are other factors as well.

MIL:   I'm sure there are.

ME:    For instance, motivation. Why do you think we're seeing this success today? It's because I just love doing what I do every day. I do it with a feverish passion. The excitement is something which I really enjoy and look forward to.

MIL:   By the way....

ME:    And then, there are other things which play important parts.

MIL:   Really, like what?

ME:   Visibility, for instance. It's not enough that I am good at what I do. It's important to SHOW others that I am good at it. Only then will I be recognized as a true performer. Only then will I be in demand.

MIL:   Bhaskar.....ok then.....I have to go to the kitchen......

ME:    And finally,of course, without encouragement from my boss, this would not have been possible at all. She is the one who motivated me to do this.

MIL:   Accha?!!

ME:    Absolutely! If she would not have recognized my talents over the years, you and I would not have been having this conversation. Not only did I make her recognize my talents, I actually went to the extent of ensuring that she benefits from them. And I can tell you, she is VERY happy with my performance.

MIL:   .........

ME:    Hello, maa? Hello? Hello??