I go to the mall .During check out the lady at the counter tries to pronounce my name from the credit card.

Wow ! You have a beautiful name.

Thanks! I smile.

I get a call from my interviewer.Before she starts the interview.

You have a pretty name.

Thanks ! I smile.

I take an appointment for doctor visit.The lady compliments

Your name is beautiful.

Thanks ! I smile.

I am amused when these people compliment my name.It feels good that an Indian name appeals to people here.I have been hearing this appreciation ever since I landed in this land.Initially when I heard this,I just smiled to myself.

This is a common name in India..what big deal?

But I got surprised when I hear this all the time.How can so many of these people like my name?

Feels good..

Ok..before you ask me ,let me tell you,my name is

Lavanya.

But Americans have a different version of my name.

They call me

Lavaaanya..(va as va in van)Do I make sense?

When I heard this pronunciation at first,it felt different.The place where I worked had mostly Americans and I got used to being Lavaaanya.

Initially it started like this.When I mention my name to somebody as

I am Lavanya

They ask

sorry.. what?

Lavanya

Can you spell it for me?

L-A-V-A-N-Y-A

oh..Lavaaanya..err..did I pronounce it correctly?

Ya..perfect.

Lavaaanya.

pretty name..

Thanks..hehe.

That's how I started introducing myself.

I am Lavaaanya.

Few days back we shifted to vonage phone service.Since I had a problem with the incoming calls, I had to call customer service and talk to them.I call the vonage toll free number.

This is so and so..How can I help you maam?

I am a vonage customer and I am not able to receive any incoming calls.

Can i have your name and account number please..

I am Lavaaanya..and my account number is 9999999.

Ok..please hold on maam..let me put you to so and so department.

Ok..

Hello maam..I am Priya.Is this err..Lavaaanya?

Does she sound desi..My thoughts wonder

yes..Lavaaanya here.

Please let me look into your records.

She then finds my name and says

Oh..Lavanya...okay.!It is Lavanya.She decides.

For a moment I felt I could read her..

Hmm..Desis in USA fake names!she sure sounded like that.

But I am not like that guys ...I haven't tried to change my name..but it's changed..I don't put on fake accents too.

I wanted to scream.

But who can hear me?

But how on the earth would I know that vonage customer call gets forwarded to India?

Do they?

God knows.

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Adios

Lavaaanya:-)