"Enna theriyardha?"

I am sure all of you have faced this at some point of time or the other over one or many of the festivities at home. It's 15 years later and some random mami for sure walks up to you and says, "Enna theriyardha?" (Do you recognize me?)

If you're anything like me, you'd give a blank stare up and down and if still you didn't recognize them and they didn't realize that, you would fake it, "Ongala theriyamala?" (As if I wouldn't recognize you?) Most people have the grace not to embarrass you any further... But some people don't and explicitly ask you to name them. And that's where you falter or hope that your mom comes to your rescue.

The most times that happened to me was at my own wedding reception. Where so many people found it important enough to tell me the most patently obvious thing - Ithunoonda irundhey... ipo paaru evalo valandhutey (You were sooo tiny... now look at you, all grown up). At least that's a remark which you can smirk away, but the enna theriyardha is a trap. I remember this one comical incident when my dad lobbed on stage with an uncle, and was all excited and asked me about 5 times, "Kondai, yaarunu teriyardha?" (Child, do you recognize him?) Normally I would've nodded with a welcoming smile. But I was exasperated by the question and the occasion and after 3 days of festivities, I was so darn tired, add to that those stupid heels and the plastered smile. I snapped, "Illai pa." (No) My dad comes closer to me and whispers, "Neither do I... but I was hoping you knew." Touché. Not even your parents can rescue you from that one. And no one was getting out with any dignity past that point. Poor uncle.