MY NAME IS RASNA AND I AM NOT A DRINK!
Rasna, the domineering brand in the soft drinks category in 80s and 90s was introduced in 1976 by Pioma industries as a ready-to-drink mix product called Jaffe. Its name was later changed to Rasna, which is related to Hindi word ras (juice). My Super creative parents found it so marvelous that I was named after it and I am unerringly the only person I know with my name and have always had a love/hate relationship with my name
Nothing irks me more than the people who hear my name for the first time, become so inquisitive and infuriate me by asking what's the scoop behind your name. A big smile plastered on my face does not show the full-fledged rage I have hidden. I just try to avoid the state of undying feud:D
I repeatedly get asked why my parents gave me “this name.” Everybody so wants to know the meaning of my name. I really don't know where to start! :/ People generally have to ask me to repeat my name so they seldom forget me. Their reactions are so freakish. Some of them are not at all ready to believe that I just said my name is Rasna. People hear it as Rachna, Krishna, Rashmi, Reshma and what not!! I don’t even like to correct people when they address me with wrong name. Although it stinks to be called the wrong name but again being a drowsy soul I just lack that energy.
Some people just laugh at my face and then say sorry later. I am bombarded with questions like wait, Is your brother’s name Tang or what. Do you have siblings with names like Pepsi, Frooti, Mirinda. Some excited people even start guessing the names I will be giving to my kids and some even say your kids will be teased by your name. heights of predicting future!
When I was a Kid, my class mates used to sing the jingles for me “Rasna nimupani” “1 rupee main do glass” (2 glasses in 1 Rupee) and off course the tagline “I Love You Rasna”, is one thing that every kid grown up in 90s, intelligibly remembers about Rasna. I immediately used to raise my hand as soon as possible at the time of attendance call. Whenever a new teacher joined class, I dreaded that moment when I had to introduce myself. I despised the part where I had to explain all weird questions related to my name. By the time I reached adulthood, I had made peace with my name.
But once I felt so obnoxious in college, when a teacher whom most of the girls hated (you know what I mean) with a wicked laugh asked me about who named me so, my mom or my dad? I responded that they both named me together and he immediately replied back “parents do everything together isn’t’? I shot him a stern look. Somehow I resisted the urge to unload all my unspoken grievances. I went down through periods of intense self-loathing for a while. That day I asked my mom why did you do that to me and then she said beautiful girls should entwine their unique names. People will have more reasons to remember you. How Cheesy!!
In school I never took seriously the people picking on me about my name. I always liked to remember all the good compliments on my name. I never took things to the heart and that’s why I was an easy target for teasing. In college, it became worse when people started tormenting me with asking questions like which flavor you are? Orange or Mango? It made me cringe every time. I really suppressed my anger as I am bad at expressing it.
In My Job Interview, I was asked how I react when teased for my name, although I would rather smile sheepishly than doing anything about it but I answered why should I care, when the whole world loves me!! (Tagline)
I like the individuals who act normal when I tell them my name. Although it has always been difficult to deal with this name but I never thought of changing it. At least I don’t have to struggle for different kind of usernames available while creating an account anywhere.I embrace and respect the name given to me and like the uniqueness in it. It’s my identity with which I have grown up. It fostered tenacity and taught me how to deal with outrage. I like all kind of positive attention I get because of it as it’s a memorable name. That’s my Name!!
I repeatedly get asked why my parents gave me “this name.” Everybody so wants to know the meaning of my name. I really don't know where to start! :/ People generally have to ask me to repeat my name so they seldom forget me. Their reactions are so freakish. Some of them are not at all ready to believe that I just said my name is Rasna. People hear it as Rachna, Krishna, Rashmi, Reshma and what not!! I don’t even like to correct people when they address me with wrong name. Although it stinks to be called the wrong name but again being a drowsy soul I just lack that energy.
Some people just laugh at my face and then say sorry later. I am bombarded with questions like wait, Is your brother’s name Tang or what. Do you have siblings with names like Pepsi, Frooti, Mirinda. Some excited people even start guessing the names I will be giving to my kids and some even say your kids will be teased by your name. heights of predicting future!
When I was a Kid, my class mates used to sing the jingles for me “Rasna nimupani” “1 rupee main do glass” (2 glasses in 1 Rupee) and off course the tagline “I Love You Rasna”, is one thing that every kid grown up in 90s, intelligibly remembers about Rasna. I immediately used to raise my hand as soon as possible at the time of attendance call. Whenever a new teacher joined class, I dreaded that moment when I had to introduce myself. I despised the part where I had to explain all weird questions related to my name. By the time I reached adulthood, I had made peace with my name.
But once I felt so obnoxious in college, when a teacher whom most of the girls hated (you know what I mean) with a wicked laugh asked me about who named me so, my mom or my dad? I responded that they both named me together and he immediately replied back “parents do everything together isn’t’? I shot him a stern look. Somehow I resisted the urge to unload all my unspoken grievances. I went down through periods of intense self-loathing for a while. That day I asked my mom why did you do that to me and then she said beautiful girls should entwine their unique names. People will have more reasons to remember you. How Cheesy!!
In school I never took seriously the people picking on me about my name. I always liked to remember all the good compliments on my name. I never took things to the heart and that’s why I was an easy target for teasing. In college, it became worse when people started tormenting me with asking questions like which flavor you are? Orange or Mango? It made me cringe every time. I really suppressed my anger as I am bad at expressing it.
In My Job Interview, I was asked how I react when teased for my name, although I would rather smile sheepishly than doing anything about it but I answered why should I care, when the whole world loves me!! (Tagline)
I like the individuals who act normal when I tell them my name. Although it has always been difficult to deal with this name but I never thought of changing it. At least I don’t have to struggle for different kind of usernames available while creating an account anywhere.I embrace and respect the name given to me and like the uniqueness in it. It’s my identity with which I have grown up. It fostered tenacity and taught me how to deal with outrage. I like all kind of positive attention I get because of it as it’s a memorable name. That’s my Name!!
Nw finallu u hav expressed urself.
ReplyDeleteNicely written