Being Rao !

I don’t remember anyone calling me by name till a few years back, I always felt my surname had an advantage over my name and my name always got sidetracked. Throughout my school days, college life, Friends, foes, guy in my housing colony always called me RAO. It had reached such levels that even when the neighbors dog barked “Bow Bow” It sounded like “ Raoww Raoww” to me

Then suddenly it all changed, when I started working, The RAO factor declined and I got identity as Santosh ! I admit it was difficult in the initial days, some guy and sometime girls too would be calling me by my name and it would hardly catch my attention, Some assumed I had a hearing defect and suggested therapy!

Now if you are still reading my name saga and wondering why I am digressing so much on this name, Surname thing, Wait Wait I am getting to the point!

Today a guy in office came rushing to me! Here is what followed

He: Hey Santosh, You are a Manglorean Rao? Haaaaaaa????
Me Thinking: Eh ! Why this sudden interest in my surname ?
Me: Yaaaawwwn ! Ya why ?

He: I always thought you are an Andhra Rao
Me Thinking: so you people differentiate Raos ?
Me: No I am from Mangalore.

He: Wow That’s great yaa !
Me Thinking: Really? I never knew being a mangalorean Rao is a big deal!
Me: Yaaaawwwwaaaannnnn OK !

He: GSB ha ?
Me Thinking: isn’t there one god in the 1 crore collection that we have who is listening to this conversation who will please help me?
Me: Ya GSB

He: That’s good man !
Me Thinking: Really? I never got any advantage from anywhere, no teacher gave me passing marks, no company promoted me before time, I do not get extra bonus here to be a GSB!
Me: Sir! If you are acting on behalf of someone to arrange holy matrimony for a GSB girl, Let me tell you even GSB’s are allowed only one marriage and I have already had my share! So please don’t tread that line !

He: No Man !
Me Thinking: Are we done?
Me: Thanks

Me: You came all the way to talk to me because you found out from somewhere that I am a Rao and a GSB?
Me: Really ? You came just for that ?
He: Yes man ! aren’t you proud of being a GSB?
Me Thinking : Whaaaaat !!!!
Me: Never really thought about it that way !

Me: Are you disappointed in me? :-)
He: No ! Nothing like that !
Me: Ok See you around then !
He: Ok Man bye !

I am still in surprise that a chap came over to my desk and had this whole conversation around being Rao and a GSB ! Suddenly the surname took precedence over my name again ! Also, realized people have too much time to waste in office and on such things? That’s a killer !!!