Sunday, July 11, 2010

Never mind the title

So, I began working last week. It's been almost two weeks. And I don't have as much to complain about as I thought I would. Or would like to. But there is one issue that I would like to address. During my seven legal internships in Bangalore and 2 weeks of employment, I've noticed different styles of work, different vibes. Some firms have a predominantly national law schools crowd, some have a predominantly bangalore university crowd, some have young energetic partners who interact with everyone, some have partners who are the proverbial "blue moon/ id ka chand". Some have an awesome work ethic, some not so much. Some treat interns like one of them, some treat them like the poor cousin. Each of them is different, in a hundred different ways. But over the years I've noticed an alarming similarity among every one of them- they all have, in one corner, the passive aggressive-nearly always avoiding confontation yet getting things their way- disapproving- Real Estate Aunty.

No, I am not being supercilious because I am a corporate lawyer and think we're a cut above. I do think the second is true, but that is not the reason for this classification.

There is a type- a very dangerous type- and it exists. In one corner of the office, unnoticeable behind a computer and a fortress of patta deeds in Kannada/Telegu/Tamil, there lives a real estate aunty. She ALWAYS exhibits the following traits:

  1. Aged between 33-45.
  2. Has a kid between the ages of 8 and 15
  3. Full strong Karnataka accent
  4. Will begin eyeing the clock at 12 and will break for lunch latest at 12:45 (much before the corporate team or the poor litigation guys who only eat after 2:30)
  5. Drives a Kinetic/Activa. No Dio mind you because its obviously not fuel efficient enough or sturdy enough.
  6. Has a name like Savita, Sujata, Vinita.

Real estate aunties will also exhibit the following behavioural characteristics:

  1. They do not approve of your dressing. And god forbid, if you wear skirts, your legs will get the staring down of a lifetime.
  2. They WILL NOT allow you to switch on the fan. And they haven't even heard of an AC. They always feel cold and will always carry a jacket (reebok, polo sport) to work. Yes Bangalore has pleasant weather, but it isn't frikkin South of England.
  3. Their sister-in-law/cousin/aunt twice removed will always be having a child.
  4. At around 4:30 they will receive a phone call from their child/children and will proceed to help them with their homework. Thereafter the constant chatter will be interrupted with "Bee-Yaa-Yell-Yell", "aah, haudu,haudu. Correct appa."
  5. They will mispronounce names-"Gowtham, Kowshik, Gowrav"
  6. Their wallpapers will always, always be flowers/teddy bears/some supposedly cute animal thing.
  7. At 6:00 pm they will promptly pack their bags and leave.
Really, I could go on, but you get the picture.

8 comments:

  1. Really, do go on!

    Do they also send email forwards with "cute" pics of soft toys, pets and babies?

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  2. oh my god, yes they do.do you know some?

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  3. I know the type. I used to be surrounded by them! Except that they were not corporate lawyers. And not all were 35-45, some were even 24. Some were even guys.

    I think "Real Estate Aunties" is more than a demographic classification. It is a state of being.

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  4. Yeah, these aren't corp either. ThankfullY! I'm tellin ya corp lawyers aren't like this.
    But I agree with you. It is a state of mind.
    So what type of uncle are you?

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  5. I was shocked out of my life when I went to my mother's office and discovered she has Mehrangarh fort and camel pics as "screensaver". Forget pink teddy bears.

    Whattosayy...all the best :)

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  6. One who is suppressing at least three lawyer jokes right now. (oops!)

    Wait a minute, is this one of those questions that incriminate you no matter what you say? Like when my mom asks me what kind of malted milk drink i want. single malt whiskey isnt really an option, is it?

    (tiny voice in the head : do i really want to be getting into an argument with a lawyer?!)

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  7. yes aa? but i never sawed such an aunty! firms i worked in always had supercilious/bored/chatty english speaking grads. whatta bore!

    so all this patta storing and all happens in the firm itself? why she has patta andall? sorry, confusion is happening.

    most importantly - i figured out 'houdu' means 'yes' very late during my blore i'ship! i used it freely, recklessly and confidently. no wonder i kept getting off at different (wrong) bus stops every day. :(

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  8. Lol, you've really got the stereotypes very accurately!

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