The Maamis
There truly is no escape from the quintessential Maamis that you find at some points in life. They are polite (exceedingly so) and also curious about other people's lives. You feel warm and welcomed by them, and then loose control of the direction in which the conversation was heading. Soon you are spilling your darkest secrets, and they listen carefully. Before you know it, all the Maamis in your state seem to know about it, and question you mercilessly till you divulge more.
Let me narrate one such instance :
All characters and incidents in the writing below is fictitious. Any resemblance to any person or occurrence is purely coincidental ;)
She had moved to the new house recently. It was a gated community, and there they were - the Maamis that so loved to talk about themselves and others. She would listen to them, respond and go about her day. Who was the girl she had come with? That was her daughter, who was working in an MNC. What had she studied? How old was she? Does she know how to cook? Haha yeah she did help around the house..
Questions like these were asked so innocently that she never realized there was some hidden intent behind those. She just put it down to the nosiness of people in general. Little did she know!
Soon those chats turned to declarations.
"We have properties in X and Y areas. My son has Z degree. He is working at A company right now. I think the girl who marries him must bring atleast 20 sovereigns of gold. She could stay at home and look after all of us!", one told her conversationally, while picking flowers in the morning. She listened, just nodded along and appreciated the facts just declared. (She didn't realize this was something usually not talked about during their little chats).
That afternoon as she was drying clothes in the hot sun, another Maami decided to pop up to the terrace. "We are looking for a girl whose family can give us atleast 30 sovereigns of gold, a vehicle and 20 lakhs cash. My son is planning to study further you see, and it would benefit the girl so much,, so its only fair that the girl's family cover those costs.", the Maami told, self righteously. She nodded sympathetically while internally feeling sorry for the poor girl who was planning to get married to this guy.
The same evening as she was getting said clothes back to the house, another Maami decided to tell her about her son. "My son is a priest... Yes, yes we are a very pious family you wouldn't find a more suitable boy anywhere! And I wish that he stays along with his wife closer to the temple.. And we would let the girl work too! It would be very beneficial for the girl to marry my son..." By now she was tired of hearing praises of these people. She again agreed with this Maami and goes back to the house, wishing the day would end.
The next day, the boy who lived next door happened to see her the next day. "Maami! Please come to our house today!" Surprised she went in, husband in tow. They are given hot coffee, and some random chit chat ensues. The chatter also includes generous praise heaped upon the boy by his adoring mother. The mother was another (you guessed it!) Maami. Finally some tumeric and kumkum powder was offered. She wondered what one earth had just occurred. She put it down to the oddities of a traditional community.
A few years passed. She had moved back to her hometown, where everything went back to normal. She didn't particularly miss the social life and popularity she had enjoyed back there. One fine afternoon, while watching a movie , it occurred to her in passing that all those declarations and attention could have been proposals for her daughter's marriage
PS: I heard this from a source. She can spin quite a story, when she has the time.While telling this she giggled and I fell out of the chair laughing. In my defense she told it way better than I ever could!
Until next weekend!
DragonRider
Let me narrate one such instance :
All characters and incidents in the writing below is fictitious. Any resemblance to any person or occurrence is purely coincidental ;)
She had moved to the new house recently. It was a gated community, and there they were - the Maamis that so loved to talk about themselves and others. She would listen to them, respond and go about her day. Who was the girl she had come with? That was her daughter, who was working in an MNC. What had she studied? How old was she? Does she know how to cook? Haha yeah she did help around the house..
Questions like these were asked so innocently that she never realized there was some hidden intent behind those. She just put it down to the nosiness of people in general. Little did she know!
Soon those chats turned to declarations.
"We have properties in X and Y areas. My son has Z degree. He is working at A company right now. I think the girl who marries him must bring atleast 20 sovereigns of gold. She could stay at home and look after all of us!", one told her conversationally, while picking flowers in the morning. She listened, just nodded along and appreciated the facts just declared. (She didn't realize this was something usually not talked about during their little chats).
That afternoon as she was drying clothes in the hot sun, another Maami decided to pop up to the terrace. "We are looking for a girl whose family can give us atleast 30 sovereigns of gold, a vehicle and 20 lakhs cash. My son is planning to study further you see, and it would benefit the girl so much,, so its only fair that the girl's family cover those costs.", the Maami told, self righteously. She nodded sympathetically while internally feeling sorry for the poor girl who was planning to get married to this guy.
The same evening as she was getting said clothes back to the house, another Maami decided to tell her about her son. "My son is a priest... Yes, yes we are a very pious family you wouldn't find a more suitable boy anywhere! And I wish that he stays along with his wife closer to the temple.. And we would let the girl work too! It would be very beneficial for the girl to marry my son..." By now she was tired of hearing praises of these people. She again agreed with this Maami and goes back to the house, wishing the day would end.
The next day, the boy who lived next door happened to see her the next day. "Maami! Please come to our house today!" Surprised she went in, husband in tow. They are given hot coffee, and some random chit chat ensues. The chatter also includes generous praise heaped upon the boy by his adoring mother. The mother was another (you guessed it!) Maami. Finally some tumeric and kumkum powder was offered. She wondered what one earth had just occurred. She put it down to the oddities of a traditional community.
A few years passed. She had moved back to her hometown, where everything went back to normal. She didn't particularly miss the social life and popularity she had enjoyed back there. One fine afternoon, while watching a movie , it occurred to her in passing that all those declarations and attention could have been proposals for her daughter's marriage
PS: I heard this from a source. She can spin quite a story, when she has the time.While telling this she giggled and I fell out of the chair laughing. In my defense she told it way better than I ever could!
Until next weekend!
DragonRider
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