What's in a name?

My parents christened me Arun Kumar. When parents baptise you with a name that is as common as a name as mine you know that is recipe for confusion. Confusion and my name go hand-in-hand. While in school, the only time I stood as top 3 of my class, the prize was given to my friend who carried the same name and initial. My mother still chides me saying that at the end of the ceremony - yours truly did ultimately get to lay his hands on the prize, An Enid Blyton book - it seems I had told her 'I'll never come in the top 3 ever again'. And, as fate would have had it, this remained true even uptil the day I finished my masters.

But, coming to the real story of the day. My wife's elder brother shares part of my name. Yup!! the second part. He just called up. The conversation went something like this:

Kumar: 'Arun...kumar'
Me : 'Yes, that's me.'
Kumar: 'Arun..kumar'
Me : 'Yes, this is Arun kumar speaking.'

The deadlock was finally broken by my wife - whose got a better hang of life than me, plucked out the phone from my hand and ended the frustration of my bro-in-law.

Phew!!! What's in a name? If you ask me, lots.