After 15 years of waiting - why do it now ? Now that's a good question. The answer was on that day : that fateful day sanity was suicidal, and insanity took over... This is the story :
My mom and I have always had a very confrontational relationship. Don't get me wrong - I love her to bits - and I am certainly the center of her universe (being the only kid helps !!!) - but she and I completely differ in our view points on most things. Being passionate creatures - we both have a no holds barred go at each other... As you would guess, she being so much older does not help - and her uncanny ability to know what I will say makes her a deadly opponent !
April is New Year for us in Sri Lanka. Whilst having a small get together in the family, the topic of 'loose ends' came up - and my mom got on my case again - ranting over the fact that my Masters was one of my biggest 'lose ends.' Having being ever so mildly high - and pouring myself another Bacardi and Coke, I mused that I was ready to any Masters - if only I was rich enough ! My mother retorted 'you know you have the money - that is such as lame excuse' - for which I quipped 'Oh Ma - I am poorer than you think. My entire life savings is being saved up for Shaakya's dowry (dowry is quite common in Sri Lanka - though neither I nor any in the family ever subscribe to it) ! My mother took the bait (or so I thought) and boy did she give me an earful. I simply laughed - and my dad gave me this knowing look to say 'that's enough now' - and after a few more rounds of witty repartee and me getting a little too intoxicated for coherent rebuttals, my mother withdrew - but I knew the battle was far from over !
The next day, around mid day, my mom came home - with approximately US$ 5000 in hand. I did not make the connection. She saw my puzzled look. 'You said you can do it - now do it - and since you don't have the money, I thought I will give it to you !' I was flabbergasted.
'You are scared aren't you ?' mom teased - in front of my 9 year old daughter - who was eavesdropping with eager glee (why ? I will tell you later) - and that was it - the tipping point. Ego bruised, and pride on the line - I took the dare - and registered - handing her money back to her...
That's how I ended up doing the course - that moment's lapse of sanity - which for once paid rich dividends !
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