SHOULD I WISH YOU OR SHOULD I COMPLAIN TO YOU?
Pic.; Rekha Prakash S ome seven years ago, early one morning, I received a phone call from the mother of one of my students. She had a petty grievance and I gracefully assured her that the needful would be done. I hoped, the matter would end there. But, the lady was going on and on and on … “Rest assured ma’am,” I conveyed to the lady keeping my cool, “It is a small matter.” “Small matter?” the lady flared up and took off, all over again! I realized I had committed a sacrilege by saying “It is a small matter”! “Ma’am, I am sorry, if I have offended you,” I had still the composure to convey to her, “But, trust me, you don’t have to worry … Today is my 50 th birthday!” That didn’t help either … The lady had more to say … And, I hung up my phone … “To hell with you,” I said, now irritated and hurt, knowing it very well, that she neither heard what I just said nor felt what I meant when I had said, “Ma’am, today is my 50 th b’day.” Yes, all that...