My Bina's Name

Megha Macwan
India
ESOL 400
Fall 2007


The day before yesterday, I was sitting with my family. We called Fr. Xavier, who is our family friend. When I was talking to him, he asked me, “Megha, what is my Bina’s name?” Instead of replying, I was laughing.

A few years back, I joined Ankur. It is an organization for children. It was the first day of our summer camp. There was a big hall with 150 students from different parts of Gujarat, seven instructors and the director-- Fr. Xavier. About 23 new students joined Ankur and I was one of them.

Fr. Xavier was giving an introductory lecture. After finishing, he asked us to introduce ourselves, but he asked us to speak in English. One by one everybody was introducing themselves. When it came to me, I stood up and started:

“My name is Megha Macwan. I am in eighth standard. I am from Anand. In my family, there are four members. My father’s name is Victor bhai. He works in the Elecon engineering company. My Bina’s name is Albina. She is a teacher. My brother’s name . . .”

“What did you say? What is your Bina’s name?” Fr. Xavier asked me. I said, “Albina.” Everybody in that hall was just laughing. I did not understand anything. I was just standing and looking downwards. I thought that maybe I made a mistake, but I could not understand it. Fr. Xavier asked me again, “What did you say? Please say that again.” With lots of fear in my heart, I spoke very slowly, “My Bina’s name is Albina.” Then with smile, he said in my mother tongue, “Oh, so your Bina’s name is Albina.” Then I realized my mistake.

Since our childhood, my brother and I used to call my mother by her name. Everybody in our family used to call her “Bina,” so we also started calling her “Bina.” In our childhood, we also used to call my father “Vicky.” However later on we started calling him “Papa,” but still we used to call my mother “Bina,” so when I was introducing myself, instead of saying “my mother’s name,” I said “my Bina’s name.”

After a few years, I was sitting with some of my friends in the college garden. We were having our lunch. Somebody asked, ‘’Megha, who made this curry? It is wonderful.” “My Bina made it,” I replied. “Oh she is really a good cook. What is she doing?” She asked me. I said, “She is a teacher.” She asked, “Is she married?” I was so surprised and said, “She is my mother.” Everybody started laughing. That girl thought that “Bina” must be my elder sister.

This happens to me so many times. Many people think that “Bina” is my sister. For me and my brother, she is always “Bina.” We never call her “Mummy.” “Mummy” is our grandmother, my Bina’s mummy. At least now whenever I introduce myself or I talk to someone who does not know me very well, I clarify that “Bina” is my mother’s name.