The second most-dreaded question in my life
I have written about the first one here.
And now here comes the second one.
Situation:
Husband is in Bangalore leaving his 9-month pregnant wife behind at Chennai with her parents. Husband is sitting with his “bhabhi” (elder brother’s sister) in the verandah of their grandfather’s house. They are having a conversation about the usual, have you decided the name? etc. etc. Then comes the question from the bhabhi.
Question:
“Ninge tension aagta illva?” (Aren’t you tense about it?)
Result:
You are checkmated. Because neither ”yes” nor “no” is going to help you out. And that answer that was taught during your MBA “It depends…” doesn’t fit in here. So you are dead meat! :)
If you don’t see what I mean let me explain in detail.
The Yes Scenario:
“Ninge tension aagta illva?” (Aren’t you tense about it?)
“Hun. Aagta ide” (Yes, I am tense.)
“Ninge yako tension? Neenu illi kutkondu araam aagi paper odta idya. Avalu alli kasta padta iddale!” (What tension are you talking about? You are here reading newspaper and she is the one who is taking all the pains there!)
The No Scenario:
“Ninge tension aagta illva?” (Aren’t you tense about it?)
“Illa pa. Yake tension. Ella sariyagi normal aage idyalla. Doctor normal delivery antha bere heliddare” (No. Why get tense? Everything is normal. Doctor has said that the delivery will be normal only.)
“Aste neevu gandasaru ella aste! Enu care annode irolla. Sumne tension ella naave madkobeku. Nimmgenu. Araam aagi kuthirteera!” (That’s all! All you guys are like this only! You don’t care about us at all. Only we need to be tense about everything. You just keep sitting!)
Learning:
There is no (perfect) answer. Like the “Do I look fat?” question from this post, you lose points no matter what when that question is asked.
An answer you could attempt when you face the situation, “See, tension only spoils the environment. So even if I am tense I try not to show it in front of her”.
Using this answer is subject to zero liability from my side. If you use it, it is at your own risk! Good luck!
PS: The expected date of delivery for my wife is 11th April :)
As D-day approaches and hearts are thumping in unison, with expectations galore, here’s wishing you and your wife a healthy baby!
Anand Balaji:
Thanks! :)
All the best! :)
Tension madko beda, everthing will be fine. Good luck!
Tough question indeed! How about an answer like “the situation is too overwhelming to decide whether I am tense or not”…I know some people can catch it, but thats the safest I could think of! :D
All the best sir!
BTW, have you tried the technique called “deflection”? Don’t answer this question. Instead say, “it is not a question of tension. It is the uneasiness of not being able to be there with her when she is going through all of this by herself.”
All the best sir…
//The expected date of delivery for my wife is 11th April //
Will wish your child then.
Since I’ve been reading your articles only since Oct.(When Bbthots wrote about KANK and you’ve made a comment there.),did not come to know of your marraige day.But I’ll wish you on the 1st anniversary of your marraige.(June 16,2007)
I’ve posted a comment here:
http://www.mysorean.com/about/
Respond soon.
Very good post. ist dina bari woolmer, cricket ide aagoytu.
First thing First, Hearty Congratulations.. Wedding anniversary barokke modle na ? Hmm…. :-)
I am sure that everybody would little tensed but equally optimistic with good things.
This reminds me a joke, As a software professional we keep speaking about Delivery.. The scene where the husband is waiting outside the labour ward is compared to a Project Manager staying late at office, because he has a delivery too. Both the husband are waiting for the quick delivery & commonly they can just wait but do nothing !!
Best of luck.. naanello tension andaaga hesru hudkokke ankonde(Humour post cum April post alva).. en hesru short list maadayta ? En Chennai citizen ansatte!! ??
1. Yeah, I can understand the Catch 22 situation. :)
2. My best wishes to you and your wife. May you be blessed with a healthy baby!
3. You say “bhabhi” (elder brother’s sister) ????
4. I hope your child is born on 10th of April, so that he shares the same day of birth as another famous personality – I !!!
On Second thoughts, wish he’s NOT born on the 10th..
Good Luck dude.
Best wishes to you and your wife!
This conversation was really interesting :) Btw, you would have my email id thro this comment… could you please drop me a mail?
actually, this would’ve been the “third most-dreaded question in my life” but it appears that you were smart enough to bypass it [the real question no. 2] ;-)
- s.b.
oh, i forgot to add, congrats and all the best.
- s.b.
Best wishes to you and your wife.
Best answer in an MBA type response: Somewhat tense, but looking forward to it.
Yogesh:
Thanks!
Manjula:
Thanks!
Vasuki:
Thanks!
Good attempt! Let’s keep thinking and improve our answers! :)
Murali Partha:
Thanks Sir!
Deflection technique…hmmm…But that answer was awesome!:D
Prashanth:
Thanks!
S. Ganesh Kumar:
Thanks! :) Will look forward to your wish.
And i went through that link you posted on my “About” page. Didn’t quite get it. You want me to check out how much traffic my site generates?
Veena:
Ella kelsa time to time aagogbeku antha nanna philosophy! ;) LOL! :D
Hesaru decide maadi aytu. We had thought of “Sriram” for boy and “Sita” for girl. Now, since it’s a boy, he’s going to be called “Sriram”!
Sudhu:
Thanks! Your wishes have really had an effect. The child is healthy and details are put up on my latest blogpost!
Shruthi:
Thanks for your comment! You are coming here after a loong time! :)
I shall send you an e-mail as quickly as possible! Shruthi kelodu hechcha, naavu mail madodu hechcha??! ;)
S.b.:
Thanks for your wishes! :)
And as usual, dumb me didn’t quite get the real question no.2! :(
Ashish:
Thanks!
Good answer! But that’s like saying “yes” and you may end up with any of the reponses given there! :P
“And as usual, dumb me didn’t quite get the real question no.2! :(”
you mean you didn’t understand what i meant by the real question #2, or do you mean that you did not get asked that one? in case it is the former, here it is, quite ably narrated by alpha!
- s.b.
S.b.:
Got it now! LOL!
With my speed of living life, I missed that question I guess! :)
Late commenter here ..
Any ways what did you answer .. Yes or no ?
ha ha nice catch-22 situation :)
Bachodi:
Yes.
Sanjay M:
Welcome here! :)
It sure is a catch-22 one.