a- word

                                                                                                   The 'A' Word  

                                Have you ever asked a 3-4 year kid to write the first alphabet ‘A’. They draw circles; full circles, half circles or seemingly circles or they draw all sorts of lines, in all possible directions. This means it is feasible for them to write alphabets like C,E,F,H,I,L,O and T, so technically one of these should be the first alphabet and not the complicated A. But it’s not so.

                                Now, I wondered why ‘ A’; is it because the husband is called ‘A’ with utmost love, devotion, with the blood gushing in every part of the body…. evident on the cheeks. Yes, in matters of love ‘A’ is indispensible. For example, if a boy wants to ask a girl out, he can say “ ‘A’ kyu bolti tu……ghumngey, phireengey, aish karengey aur kya” (what do you say…..we will roam about, have fun what else?). Now if the girl says “NO”, the boy can always say, he was just singing the song. It will save him from embarrassment and at the same time he will know that it’s not his cup of tea.

                                When we need to buy something from the peddler, whose name is unknown; in a prolonged tone we say ‘A’….. ‘A’ is unanimously chosen as the universal name for all unknown things. Like, in mid speech if and when, we forget a particular word, that word is replaced by ‘A’. For example “areey,  waha ‘A….’ rakha than Na” (I had kept it there) “. People’s thought proceese are filled with ‘A’ “usney  kya bol raha tha…a…a…..a….ammm”. It’s the favorite alphabet of the shopkeepers too “ ‘A’ grade sari hai” (sari is ‘A’ grade). For the parents , ‘A’ grade in every subject, on the child’s report card is as important as the India- Pakistan match or jewellery matching with every sari.             

                                 In between fights ‘A’ becomes very important “ ’A’ kya bola” (what did you say) “‘A’ ek punch marunga na” and the most trendy “ ’A’pechanta nahi merey ko”. Plus, in this world of sexist abuses, where ‘mother-sister becomes one’ (Hindi translation plz) ect. Ect. ‘A’ is not gender bias, one can just say “A-HOLE” rest is understood. After all, we all need to be gender sensitive.

                                  Some people go one step ahead, when they, instead of saying “ek” say “a…ke”. Just a sample,“ ‘A…KE’ tho dena” (give only one), “’A…ke’ tho tha” (had just one).

                                The child has to learn the important ‘A’ mantra, as chances are his/her name might not have any of the alphabets like C,E,F,H,I,L,O but will have ‘A’, so how important is ‘A’  for you “ ‘A’ kya bolti tu?”