What's in a Name ?

Shakespeare was at his best when he made Juliet say these lines, “What’s in a name? For a rose shall smell as sweet, if called upon by a different name too!” Yeah, all of this is indeed true. As in, considering the plot and Juliet’s immense love for Romeo, these lines did fall fit there. And, at the end of the day it was literature romance & if SRK can win our hearts with open arms, then such lines can definitely make us fall for the power of true love.

But let’s face the reality and come out of Bollywood/Shakespearian romance. Guys, there is a LOT in a name. And not just the name, but even in the way it is spelled, pronounced & movements of the lips while uttering it. Personally speaking, Alaphiyah or Alfiya might in no way sound as sweet and courteous as Alefiya. The same holds for a lot of our other names too. We can’t stand the injustice done to us by amending our personal identities. No. Never. Not at all.

I still remember my school days. My physics teacher used to call me Alpha. I was thrilled at such a scientific relevance given to my existence. But then again, Alefiya it is, I used to correct her every single time. It’s not that she was the only one to do so. Like, for yet another instance my professor at college always thought my name is Aaliya. This time, I really didn’t mind her saying so. (It is not because I in any way like Aaliya Bhatt, hell no! -_-) In fact, that was the only alteration I liked somewhat. Rather, I decided to use it as my pseudo-name sort of. (Even this blog address is an example of same!) She is the only person I forgave for ruining my originality (& making it simple and classy!).

And on top of it, I have been further blessed by an awesome surname too, “Saifee”, which equally sets tongues on fire. So people get inquisitive on that note too. Like, just a few days back a friend genuinely enquired if I had any connection with the famous Saifee Restaurant in Indore.( Not that I didn’t want to be connected to them in some way, I would have then got free food anywhere anytime. Sheer bliss, isn’t it!) But unfortunately, I am not. Gladly, the locality I live in is also named as Saifee Colony so people get eager to know that we have all people with same surnames residing in same locality (Like seriously? P.S. – It is just a coincidence that I live here).

The scariest moments of my life are the roll calls. You know those attendances and all, taken in lectures etc. Every single time, I tell you every single time my heart skips a beat when my roll number is about to come. The small pause before uttering of my name freaks me out as it is an anticipation of yet new way to deteriorate and offend my name. The worst nightmare is people being unable to predict whether it would be a girl or a boy responding back at this call. (Trust me, now days I myself yell out my name beforehand to fill up that doubtful pause just as my roll number is about to arrive in the list, to avoid any horrifying looks from anybody & the laughter that follows thereafter. Save me Lord! :( ) Call it a coincidence or whatsoever; I even make great friends with people having unique names. Perhaps, it is due to the dilemmatic - bond that we all mutually share. Like my good school friend Kamayani or my college friends Chinmayee, Prabhavi etc.

So, you see how hard it is when the most personal thing about you i.e. your name makes your living a potential thrill. I wish even my parents might have named me something casual as Riya, Priya, Neha and descended upon a generic surname such as Sharma, Verma, Gupta…life would have been easier then. Although, my friends are usually enthralled over my name and the discussion & excitement that follows, but at the end the game is on me. Also, I am quite a many times complimented that it is the uniqueness that my name holds which keeps me in people’s memory for long. Good for me, may be!

So, as all say – If you have got it, flaunt it!
Okay, I will.

(I agree this platform is not meant for venting out my personal miseries. But trust me; this has been a peak of my day-to-day troubles. And not just me, I know for lot many others as well.
After all, even the world must know the forms of discriminations other than racism, sexism, economic ones etc.)