Friday, May 05, 2006

I, Ms. Rajani Nair

Sex change, I assume, must be a very expensive affair. I’m not interested in finding out how much it should cost for the simple reason that, I don’t think I will ever need it. I’m delighted to be born a woman and even more delighted to be living as one.

So what is the big deal?

The big deal is that almost everyone who calls up for the first time asks for a Mr. Rajani Nair. I have been living with this title of Mister, for God knows how many years! My bank thought I was male (in spite of writing FEMALE in big bold letters in the Gender column of the application form), so does Indian Railway. The Credit Card Sales Executives think I HAVE to be mister, or may be even Mr. Rajan ‘Saar’, the ‘i’ was a spelling mistake, you see!

So yesterday, I told the lady who wanted to sell Mr. Rajani Nair a ‘lifetime free credit card’ that she “just missed him. He died only 20 minutes ago. Would she like to leave a message I might pass on to him if I felt like?” I’m sure the poor woman was so confused and scandalised, but managed to say that she was sorry about the death and even muttered a ‘thank you’ before ending the call.

No, I was not named after the actor Mr. Rajinikant (I was born to very Mal parents who had no idea who Mr. Rajinikant was till my Dad landed a job in Chennai). I’m Rajani because I was born in the night - my maternal uncle’s ingenious suggestion. Sadly he is no more. I wanted to thank him for his splendid suggestion because I just realised how much I LOVE my name. Even I couldn’t have found a better name for myself. Of course, there are other meanings to my name which I found out a couple of years ago: Rajani, it seems, is a river in the epic, Mahabharatha, and Rajani is also another name for Goddess Durga. Now, that’s something!

Male me? Ha.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

That made interesting reading. Knowing you, I'm not surprised at the outburst. Cheers.

Anonymous said...

“just missed him. He died only 20 minutes ago. Would she like to leave a message I might pass on to him if I felt like?”
ROTFL!!!

Slogan Murugan said...

hahaha. Ashwini's from the north are always mistaken for womrn in south india.

Bhaskar Sree said...

ha haa haa!!
I shall use this the next time sombody calls up for a lifetime free credit card..!!!

afterall, lifetime free has only that much validity!!! :)

Anonymous said...

It was really an interesting reading. Your narration too is brilliant. Iam seeing this after a very long time. Keep writing man! Yes Mr. Rajani.

Rajesh

UB said...

Directed here from Orkut, was fun to read this account! Rajani is so feminine (atleast in mumbai) that it cannot be mistaken!

Jasche said...

an interesting read after a long long time..

Puneet said...

btw, now I think I have an idea why these call center guys keep saying "maam" to me. (it's just the other way round case with me..here inn bangalore..people confuse my name with a girlish name..and my voice happens to be *soft* )

anyways..great post.

/Puneet

Subhasis Chatterjee said...

Wow that was a very very intersting piece of writng. The best part was the way you have narrated. As you can see from the other blogs that this is not an uncommon problem... but your free flowing language and style just makes me read again and again. I like you name Rajani and thanks to that departed soul who had kept your name which perfectly matches with you along with your lovely pair of eyes.

Hyde said...

Took that line from the movie, didn't you? :-))

I plan to use it one of these days...

Anonymous said...

hey.. i am also rajani nair and I live in chennai too!! I go through the same ordeal every day!! I am living in Chennai for 25 years now! cheers!!! rajani nair