My son wants to do CA, Sir !!

A Conversation in Hindi – transcribed in English .

I settled down in the front seat, fastened my seat belt and observed the Swift cab driver .   After some time …

What is your name ?

Ramkrishn sir.

Nice name !  (  Ramkrishn is a combination of Sri Ramchandra and Sri Krishna , two of the most popular Hindu deities in India )

Thank you sir.

We drove for some time while the ladies in the back seat kept chatting away ..

So where have you come from ?

UP sir – Banda

Banda ??

Small village behind Jhansi sir .

More silence as he expertly negotiated some  heavy & unruly  traffic near a signal .

And why did you come to Delhi ?

After a subdued, soft laugh ..  sir, everyone comes to Delhi .

Oh ?

Better living & good children education ..

So, how many kids do you have ?

2 sir. Elder boy in 12^th std and a girl.

Wow ! You do not look that old Ramkrishn !

Thank you sir. A soft laugh once more …

In villages we get married much earlier sir.

True ! In  my assessment Ramkrishn would not be a day older than 35 years – and already has a son 18 years old .  So he must have married at 16 ? and his wife much younger ??

Not surprising at all !  Pregnant girls @ 13-14 ; young mothers @ 14-15 and a second kid at 16 years are not uncommon sight in Indian villages !!

Ban on child marriages ??   Still a long long  way to go !!

And we continue ..

12^th std  ??   very crucial !   So what does want to become – engineer or doctor ??

No sir – my son wants to do CA .( a  very uncommon career aspiration for a young boy ! )

That’s great , Ramkrishn !!

And your daughter – encourage her to study more than your son , OK ??

Yes sir .

And  soon after,  I get off from the cab …

Drive safe and slow Ramkrishn !

And the ladies in the back seat pause their chatting …

Bye !  Bye !!  Bye !!!

Have a safe trip back !

Sure,  OK ,  Good Night !!

Krish..