There is in fact astrological rationale for this believe it or not ! It so happens that ones blessed by the auspicious planet Venus are endowed with two qualities, extreme confusion and everyouth (after the aptly named beauty product !). I find myself indeed to be so ! Although the comments on my youthfulness are ever welcome, I have come to some grief especially in my profession as a teacher.
I went to the tennis courts to practice on the wall only to be stopped by the man in-charge to ask me, "faculty/staff" or "student" ? Not surprised since such a situation has arisen before, I replied "Faculty" ! With a look of disbelief in his eyes he asked, "card hai" (do you have the membership card ?) to which I replied with a smile, "haan hai dekhna hai kya ?" (yes I do, you wanna see it ?). His response suggested how he was least convinced, he asks "kaun faculty hai, aap ya papa" (are you the faculty or your dad ?? :P). I was smiling but a bit annoyed too and said, its me and showed him the card !
A similar incident happened in class, mind you its the third lecture in the semester. This guy who manages class rooms comes in and asks, which class is this ? I tell him its Dynamics. His next question surprises me further, he says "who is the teacher" ! I start thinking I am standing on the podium lecturing, is it not evident I AM the teacher :P. I still politely tell him with a smile, "I don't seem like it but I am the professor for this course". He walks of muttering that, "Oh I don't have you on the schedule....I will go and check" and so on.
I wonder if this is an India syndrome that I have to look, potbellied or grey haired or have a wrinkled face to pass as a professor ! Or could be my lack of formal dressing ! I have of-course had fun too. After playing a good game of tennis with some students without revealing my identity, its always been fun to see their reactions when I do tell them that I am a professor !!