THE ART OF KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES!

  THE ART OF KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

 "Keeping up with the Jones" as many viewers will know means , keeping one's status socially and with[ procure ment of material goods] favourably when compared to our friends neighbours and relatives.

Thus if our neighbour,friend or relative buys an article[ say a two wheeler] there is an urge in us to follow suit or better them by buying [ say a four wheeler].

This art  envelops, percolates through all strata of society. The rich, middle class, the poor all practice this art. We see it everywhere; in the households, offices, clubs and parks. every conversation throws in this art, somewhere, ;  But the  Creator  has given this quality, talent in varying degrees. to us.  to some it is overflowing in all their speeches and actions but there are others who are more sensible and  exhibit   this quality in absolute required situations only.

Thus a middle class housewife while distributing " pedas " to her immediate neighbours , when  questioned , would say  " Oh this,  because my son got admission in I I T  Chennai,";

but her neighbour not to be taken aback would reply "Oh my Suresh  got admission in IIT Mumbai , but we dont want to send him there because we have no friends or relatives there"  but the facts may be quite contradictory.

Likewise in a park, while a senior citizen when  chatting with another, will say, "Oh in the morning I don't take coffee, but green tea only" ; not to be outdone  his friend replies " Oh for me it is fruit juices only ; I have a variety to choose from depending on the season" but it may be quite another matter that they will be served with plain coffee or tea only in the morning ;

or a housewife would tell her neighbour "I am going to buy a Kanchipuram silk saree for Diwali" , to which her friend would reply "Oh for me its only Benares Silk saree".

Sometimes this quality in us is taken to ridiculous extremes as was  the case  with Radha.

She was from the upper middle class society and was a member of  a famous Ladies club in   Calcutta. The club was  once showing a Gene Kelly yesteryear movie "Singing in the Rain "

After the movie the ladies got to talk about their hubby's hobbies. Rekha , a close friend of Radha said, "Oh Suresh is a great western  style dancer. He practices very hard  in his spare time to both slow and fast numbers. He reminds me so much of Elvis and Fred Astaire when dancing fast and slow numbers," turning to Radha to drive home the point. 

Radha not to be outdone, blurted out, "Ramesh is good at Bharat Natyam, especially when he dances to the song " Bo Shamboo  Swayambo".

Rekha knew that Radha was pulling a fast one on her, and wanted to take her to task. "Oh, really!," she said, "but I love Bharat Natyam , and its  hand, leg, eye coordination  movements when done by a professional looks so beautiful. One day I would like to come and see how Ramesh  does it. I will call you later and fix up a date. "

Radha was stumped and realised that she had put her foot in her mouth! How is she going to wriggle out of this situation she thought? Oh God please help me she murmured to herself; 

From the club, she drove to a music video shop, and bought videos of " Bharat Natyam for beginners' 

She went home and decided somehow she must make Ramesh learn Bharat Natyam  at the earliest. if necessary engage a tutor ; but first she must put him in good humour and that she knew was through his tummy; so she prepared his favourite dish "Paal  Payasam" [ loosely translated as milk porridge ]

Ramesh was pleasantly surprised to see his favourite  dish at the dinner table ; "Radha,why have you made " Paal payasam today, it is not my birthday; "I know Ramesh," Radha said, "just a change from the daily routine; hope you like it" 

"Yes dear", Ramesh replied.

After dinner, Ramesh put on the T V set to get updated on the daily news; and he was surprised to see  a Bharat Natyam  tutorial video; Radha, he shouted, so that she could hear him in the kitchen.

"Don't tell me you are interested in learning Bharat  Natyam or is it for Sumati?" [ his daughter] he asked.

"No,No, Ramesh," said Radha coming into the drawing room, "but dear, dear its for you" Radha finally blurted out.

"What! for me?"  Ramesh asked, "Are you joking Radha?"

"No dear", said Radha, "but you must help me please; please say you will" , Radha pleaded.

"I will, but no promises", said Ramesh. "What is it?" he asked.

Then Radha said it is all because of Rekha. "She started boasting at the club today, that her Suresh was a great Western dancer, so I was forced to say you were good at Bharat Natyam."

Ramesh replied, "I will help you out , but on the following conditions ; First, in future, you will keep me out of your chats with your friends."

"Yes, yes", said Radha;

"Next, you will make payasam, at least once a week";

"Sure, sure", replied Radha;

"Last, but not least, this vacation, we,will go to my parent's place";

"What?" replied  Radha, "but you had promised me about going to my parent's place", she  asked.

"Do you want me to help you or not?" asked Ramesh.

"Besides, I may be going abroad, for a week at that time.You can go to your parent's home."

"Ok, Ok, point taken," replied Radha;

"Alright, now, please be calm and peaceul Radha", said Ramesh.

After a few days, Ramesh phoned Suresh at his office.

"Hello Suri, Ramesh here";  

"Yes, Yes", Suresh replied, "how are you?"

"I am Ok ,  but I heard that you can dance better than Elvis  'the  Jailhouse Rock' number."

"Look Ramesh, have you gone nuts?", asked Suresh, "or, have you taken one, too early!"

"No, No," Ramesh replied, "I am told no one can dance the Blue Danube better than you!"

"Who is telling you all this bullshit?" asked Suresh;

Then Ramesh told him the whole story involving Radha and Rekha.

They then devised a plan to resolve the issue.

One Sunday , Radha received a call from Rekha;   "Look,  I am coming that side today,so I thought I might drop in to see you and Ramesh."  

"Who is it?" asked Ramesh.

"Its that pesky Rekha, she is coming today," whispered  Radha,  " What will we do?"

"Tell her to come", replied Ramesh, "no problem at all."

Suresh and Rekha, came at the appointed hour and were greeted by a nervous Radha and Ramesh.

The conversation soon switched to hobbies and hubbies. Thinking she will be embarrassed, Radha tried to  excuse herself to get the coffee but Ramesh  dissuaded  her.

Then Rekha said "Oh Ramesh, Suresh is all praise of your Bharat Natyam  dancing; he showed me the video;  You have great hand, eye and foot coordination. Truly you are a great master!"

"I can learn a lot by seeing that video. Oh its nothing", said Ramesh,  "just a God given gift", at the same time winking and smiling at Suresh.   "By the way, I have seen Suresh dancing in his younger days; His show of " Jailhouse Rock  was superb and he would have given  Elvis a run for his money!"

Later after Rekha had left, Radha asked Ramesh, "Dear I don't understand it at all; your Bharat Natyam  video that Rekha talked about..."

"Neither do I",  said Ramesh; "Why don't you ask Rekha about it!"

G.Venkatesh

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