PODA PATTI
Talking of name-calling and new gen expletives, a friend of
mine remarked how baffled she was by the word “douche bag” that her screenagers
hauled at each other.
The savvy kids of the sophisticated world have enough and
more cuss words that are in vogue today. But when it comes to name calling at
home,I have a penchant for the old fashioned expletive, patti (dog). But
woe is me; my own screenagers have picked it up too.
Now, in the world of name calling, patti is but a crude and uncouth word and douche bag
a svelte and not so familiar one, outscores it. But fuming in a fine fit of
fury, when my kids get on my nerves, I feel a surge of adrenaline and before I
realize it, the abominable word is out of my mouth.
On a mission to deliver our household of this coarse word
and fearing that my kids would be considered passé, I have banned it and
declared a fine of ten rupees for each utterance of the word. I even suggested scanning
the Wimpy kid series for better and more polished alternatives.
Arguments arose in defence “But ma... a dog is man’s
faithful friend and calling a person a dog is equal to calling him a faithful
friend. No big deal!”
“Arunthathi Roy, won the Booker Prize in spite of using ‘poda
patti’ in her book, but when we mere mortals use it, its gross! Not fair!”
Refusing to budge I stuck to my resolution and the rule was
there to stay. I know the ban has worked for when I checked the piggy bank a
month later, there were just three ten rupee notes........
