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Humour In Day To Day Life

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by sln, Jan 1, 2025.

  1. sln

    sln Finest Post Winner

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    Humour in day to day life

    Indians have forgotten the joy of laughing and enjoying humour. The pressures of hostile weather, traffic congestion, a succession of violent situations, and the frequent use of abrasive and unparliamentary language have hardened us. Instead of enjoying humour when we witness a situation, we often react defensively. Sardarji jokes, which used to be staples in the humour basket, have also disappeared. Let me share with you some humorous situations I have personally enjoyed. I thought that let us begin the New Year with light hearted moments which I had shared in some of my snippets through the years.

    1. The Chemistry Lab Adventure
    Venue: Chemistry lab in a college.

    An attender brought a 2-liter bottle of alcohol for use in analysis and left to fetch another bottle. By the time he returned, the students had emptied the bottle, filled their 200 cc beakers, and hidden them in their cupboards. Petrified, the attender reported the matter to the Chemistry professor, who also happened to be the hostel warden.

    The professor stormed into the lab and demanded the boys produce the hidden beakers. Most of them complied and placed one beaker each on the table, except for one Namboodiri who had two. When asked to explain, he innocently replied that the second beaker was for his roommate, who was absent. The professor couldn’t help but join in the laughter before delivering a movie-like tongue-lashing.

    2. Volunteering for Orissa

    At an Assistant Managers' conference, the General Manager (GM) announced that a new window of opportunity had opened up in Orissa, as the government had permitted private trade in fertilizers. He asked for volunteers to raise their hands to be posted there, set up an office, and establish a market presence.

    I raised my hand enthusiastically, but to my shock, mine was the only hand raised among thirty participants. Embarrassed, I tried to lower my hand, but the GM thundered, “SLN, keep your hand where it is!” He went on to commend my chivalry and stated that the organization needed such daring employees to work in backward areas and prove their mettle.

    Within a week, I was in Cuttack on my mission. It was both the best and worst of times. However, the opportunity not only benefitted the company but also became a turning point in my career, establishing me as a strategist in marketing.

    3. Mr. Rangaswamy's Deflation

    Mr. Rangaswamy, a senior manager, went on a tour of Kuttanad in Kerala to meet farmers. To aid communication, he had a local assistant, Mr. Narayanan. After visiting three villages, Mr. Rangaswamy was fed up but cheered up when a farmer in the next village offered him a couple of rounds of liquor.

    In the fifth village, he encountered a farmer who conversed in English. Elated, Mr. Rangaswamy, who worked for a British company, went on a non-stop rant in his accented English. As they exited, the farmer had a hushed conversation with Narayanan. Unable to contain his curiosity, Mr. Rangaswamy asked about their exchange.

    Narayanan explained that the farmer had been inquiring whether what Mr. Rangaswamy had consumed was Indian or foreign liquor. Rangaswamy, adequately deflated, realized the true subject of their conversation.

    4. Doraisamy's Coffee Routine

    Doraisamy was an attender to the GM of a British company. The GM's coffee was served on a silver tray with bone china cups, a far cry from the small glass tumblers the rest of us used for tea. After serving the GM, Doraisamy would mix himself a cup of coffee from the remaining decoction, milk, and sugar cubes, loudly sipping it as if to remind us of our lesser status.

    When the British GM was replaced by an Indian, the coffee tray routine continued. However, Doraisamy found the pot empty after the Indian GM finished his coffee. Annoyed, he whispered to us, “Look at this Indian mentality—the GM drank all the coffee! Gentlemen, you’re all in trouble.”

    5. Lessons in Dealing with the Law

    My younger brother, at around 18, was aggressive and lacked tact, often bulldozing his way through situations. One day, while returning from Egmore station, he urgently needed to relieve himself and did so on Pantheon Road, a main arterial road. A policeman caught him, leading to this conversation:

    Policeman: “Do you know it’s illegal to urinate here?”
    My brother: “Yes, I know. But what would you do if you couldn’t control yourself?”

    Offended, the policeman grabbed him by the collar and hauled him to Egmore court saying that the judge will provide the answer. We pooled our resources to pay the ₹10 fine.

    On the other hand, I once unknowingly cycled on a one-way road and stopped upon seeing a policeman. He called me over and asked, “Why did you cycle on a one-way road?”

    I replied that I didn’t know it was one-way. The policeman then asked, “Why did you get down from the cycle when you saw me?”

    I explained that I respected policemen and was a little scared of them. Hearing this, he puffed out his chest, twirled his well-manicured moustache, and let me go with a smile. His parting words were, “You know how to survive. Study well and do well in life.” I was in the tenth grade at the time.
     
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