I was recently asked what is the correct spelling of my name? Well for the record My name is Shifaali.Shah. Even Shefali.Shah will do.(Spelling was Changed from Shefali for reasons best known to numerology.🙄)

BUT It is Not Shifaali Chhaya. No more. Not at all.                              That surname was from my first marriage. A hundred years ago.        Earlier I used to hear it quite often,not now as much. Thank god!🙄🙏🏻.                                        Some of the shortest conversations I’ve ever had have been-                                               Some Stranger-“Hi you are Shifaal Chhaya?”😀.                                    Me-NO!😡.                                         The end!☠️

A couple of years ago,at an award function, Vipul and me were invited on stage to present an award. This is how we got invited.    “And now we call Mr.Vipul.Shah and Shifaali.Chhaya to present this award.                                          You can imagine what it did to me.😱😖😡😡😡😡😤😤😤😤.            My husband,thank god he has a great sense of humour,laughed loudly,held my hand,and walked in tall with me.😍😍😍😍.                    I wanted to leave immediately 😤but along with Vipul I went on stage and corrected the gentleman.

After this incident, I made sure to always rub in my correct name and present,future and correct surname,whenever and wherever I am invited.😠Even for my building ladies Diwali exhibition or drivers daughters wedding. Infact it’s one of my conditions.😑

A couple of months later We were invited to another award function. Vipul was traveling and I hate going alone,😒but as a nominee I decide to go. Days Before the function,just to be cautious I spoke with the editor of the magazine,which was organising these awards,emphasising the importance of my correct name-surname.For further underlining it I send a copy of my marriage certificate, passport, residence proof,ration card,pan card,adhar card,voters card and whichever other cards can prove and emphasise my eligibility as Mrs.Shah. 🙄I was hoping she would in turn,forward these notarised legal documents to all the announcers and masters of ceremony. Actually to any one with a Mic. No, 🤔better still to anyone who had a voice and intended to keep it. 👿Along with it I also wrote a personal letter of request🙏🏻(read threat.😈)to respect my identity and get my name right AND enclosed along with it,my wedding photographs as further proof.

Very pleased with my meticulous approach 🤓I went for the function. I got invited back stage to present an award.Just as I entered the associate editor,walked up to usher me in. I smiled. 😊She smiled. 😊 She held out her hand and said-

Editor- Hi, Shifaali Chhaya.

I FLIPED MY LID! 😡😡😡BLEW MY TOP!😡😡😡FIRED MY GUNS!😡😡😡BLASTED SOME BOMBS!😡😡😡And whatever else you can think of in the violent category.

Me-I can’t belive you just said that. 😠Haven’t you all been informed of my name and surname?😡

Editor- Yes,yes ma’am. We are….

Me- AND YOU STILL WONT GET IT CORRECT???!!!!

Editor-But….

Me- BUT WHAT?!BUT WHAT???!!! ARE YOU’LL DOING THIS ON PURPOSE TO HUMILIATE ME????

Editor-(Interupting me)No no no ma’am,not atall. 

Me-THIS IS RIDICULOUS ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

(I started walking away from the back stage trying to find the exit without Tripping over my vertigo heels……but I couldnt seem to get too far on my stilts and the associate editor was catching up.)

Editor- Ma’am, Ma’am please wait. That’s not….

Me-NO!!!😡

Editor- Ma’am please Ma’am 

Me-(Why didn’t I wear sneakers)GROWL-GROWL-GROWL!😡😡

Editor-Mam….meow

Me- (Note to self heels and ego/self respect aren’t exactly compatible but I kept up the tirade.)

Me-SNARL-SNARL-SNARL!😡😡😡

Editor-Whimper whimper….

Me- FANGS-FANGS!👿👿

Editor-Mutter-mutter

Me-ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR!💀💀

Editor-Stutter-stutter

Me-HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF I CALLED YOU…(Jogging my memory to remember her name) RAMESH INSTEAD OF……..????🤔

Editor-Chhaya

Me-WHAT???ARE YOU DEAF????(

Editor-No ma’am. I am Chhaya She blurted)

😬😬😬😖😖😖🤐🤐🤐😶😶😶😶

Well there isnt much to say after that is there.🙈 A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.                                           Exactly, me by any name or surname would still have the same middle name- “Foot in mouth!!!”😑😑😑