Mothers !

Here is a peice of a standard conversation that takes place between an Indian Mother and her "child" in the US doing his/per Ph.D.

C: Hallo Aai*

M: Hallo, Have you had dinner ?

C: No. I just came back from the dept. Now I will cook some dal and eat.

M: It's neccessary that you have dinner on time. It's not good for your health to skip
meals. What did you have for lunch ?

C: Buffalo wings and salad and an Apple.

M: That's all ???? (Silence for 2 seconds) You should eat more. This is too less. You work so hard...

C: First of all, I don't work as hard as I should and secondly I don't need more food, Aai.

M: Yes you do. And you need more food. You have become so thin.

C: In fact I am in perfect shape. I never felt more fit.

M: NO... You need to eat more. And take enough rest. You need rest.

C: I don't. I sleep for 7 hours already.

M: But brain takes up a lot of energy. So you need to take rest and and eat chocolates or Almonds or Cachewnuts while you are working.

C: Aai... Can we talk about something else ? How is the construction work at our new house going on ?

M: It's going well. It will be over in another month. We didn't install the bathtub that you had asked us to because baba thought that it was not necessary, at least for now.

C: And how are your tutions coming along ?

M: Quite well. I am enjoying them. Oh that reminds me. The father of one of my students is visiting NewYork and he said he could visit you. So I am sending a leather jacket and a sweater and a pair of handgloves with him. It must be getting awefully cold there.

C: Oh no........ Aai.... Why do you do this. I don't need leather jacket. I have many jackets and it's anyway good to wear more layers than just one big fat jacket. And I don't even know this guy that you are sending the things with. YOu shouldn't do that. Mainly because it's not needed..........

M: You do need a leather jacket. Aarati's sister, who stays in newjersey was here a week ago and she was telling that a leather jacket is absolutely neccessary in winter. And this is guy offered to take those things himself. I didn't ask him.

C: So what... Aai I am telling you I don't need the jacket. So don't send it if you haven't bought it already.

M: No, I haven't but you do need it and Baba* and I are going to buy it in the evening and the person is going to collect it tomorrow morning when he comes to drop Tejas off for the tutions.

C:..............................................

M: Have a proper dinner and then go to sleep in time.

C: okay..... Should I hang up now ?

M: okay. Bye and take care, Son.

C: Bye Bye Aai.

Surely, Neccessity is the Invention of all Mothers !

* Aai = Mom, Baba = Dad