“What if” a thought journey on rails: - 315-

Imaginch was busy on counting the number of electric poles, on the side of the track and did not pay so much attention inside the a/c compartment. This game of counting the poles has never failed him to pass the time during a journey. He was not sure whether they were erected 50m or 60m apart.  Another doubt, what was length of welded rail, over which the train was travelling, less than 250m or more than that? Even when all these thoughts were going on in his mind, he did not fail to notice a vendor moving ahead with a tray filled with chocolates and crispies. That was a few moments ago.                

The wheels were making their rhythmic clickety-clack sound on the track.  Amidst this monotonous chattering, he could barely hear a child and his mother arguing about something. The child's voice sounded insistent and the mother kept trying to pacify him in a low voice. The voices were coming from three rows behind Imaginch   and at best he could catch only snatches of their conversation. In the interval between two clickety-clack sounds, he clearly heard the raised strident voice of the child asking, not pleading, “What if?” 

Imaginch seized the chance and added one more guessing game to the already ongoing counting exercise. More or less, he got the clue as to the likely subject matter under disagreement, when he suddenly remembered about the vendor who had passed by a few moments ago. That was enough for him to go on a wild goose chase and workout a possible scenario, to unravel the context for the “what if?”   He felt pleased with his logical deduction, based on the contents of the tray, and was ready to start the process. 

This “what if” was a good prey and he would chase it till the end to hunt it with his imagination.  The guess work on “what if?” taking precedence, he promptly postponed the counting of poles and the clickety-clacks, to the next trip. 

What if?  If this question is asked under different situations, how would he answer it? Imaginch started to think on this line. 

He mused, “These two words followed by a question mark is deceptive but appear simple. Any attempt to answer, is beset with unknowns and problems. He listed the unknowns as “the subject matter, the identity of the person and the situation in which the question is raised.” 

Why answering such a simple question becomes so difficult? Before mouthing this aloud, he remembered his own ‘deceptive and not simple’ caveat. 

Cautionary flags fluttered in his mind. Number one, before trying to answer the question, one should ascertain whether the answer is already known to the party. Number two, the identity of the person is vital to decide the manner in which the answer has to be presented. Number three, the purpose of this question being brought up for an answer. 

Then on, it is pure and simple. You can begin your guess work with gusto. For reasons best known to his travelling mind, the words guess and gusto reminded him of gusset plates used in railway bridges. Probably these words are trying to remind him to join his guesses as a gusset plate does!  Now, he is ready to venture and come up with these options and leave it to the person or the situation to pick the suitable answer. Here are a few of his laboured guesses and suggestions. 

Guess number one:

If it is your boss asking this question, how should you respond?  First, gauge his mood, bias and then decide whether the answer should be honest or pleasing. Before giving out the reply, you also have to assess the fall-out, if your opinion goes counter current to a n already frozen idea. After hanging this board of caution “Beware of hasty answers.”, he moved on to the next one. 

Guess number two:

If it is a colleague, how you would go about it? The options must have been iterated for some time in your colleague’s mind. The very fact that this question is being asked now, is to imply that there are some unresolved issues. Imaginch’s suggestion – Put yourself in his or her shoes and hat, analyse, address the fall-outs and then offer the opinion, after adding the prefix ‘if I were you.’ Is there any other  polite way of leaving the decision to him or her? 

Guess number three:

If it is a friend, then how to deal with it? In this case, an open and frank exchange of ideas would definitely be possible and welcome.  With the total information spread on the table, there is no scope for withholding crucial factors. The depth of friendship offers a great help to ensure that the whole discussion is solely for the benefit of the friend, without any bias. This is the best and conducive atmosphere, to offer a solution or an opinion without hanging any cautionary board. 

Guess number four: 

If it is a youngster, what how should it be handled? One thing is certain; the youngster will most probably be not from your household. This particular he or she must be - from the house of a relative, a colleague or a friend.  If this turns out to be the case, the subject on consultation might be narrowed down, depending upon the age and shared inputs, on the current thinking of the youngster, from your relative or friend or colleague It would mostly be on education or job opportunities. This takes a load of your mind. 

As an outside chance, if you sense the possibility that it might be concerning a marriage proposal, hold your thoughts and wait.  Now you would have to carefully view through the given glossed over account. In all probability, the youngster's mind must have been made up already in consultation with his friends.  

When it becomes clear that the objective and its sole purpose and intent is to get you to play the role of a "devil's advocate", seize the opportunity. Freely speak your mind. Happily, you can add your two bits worth of wisdom on accept or reject basis! The youngster will neither take the advice nor the wisdom part as an offence! Nicely packaged, is it not?  Imaginch felt pleased with himself for adroitly managing to skirt the issue without saying it is your choice! 

Guess number five:

If the question comes from a grandchild, how should it be dealt with it? One thing is certain that there will be no doubt about the subject. Before coming out with an answer, scramble for a pair of kid gloves and tread very, very carefully to avoid stepping over the sensitive feelings of the grandchild, his parents and his grandmother. Watch your words lest you step on a landmine!  The kid knows the trade routes and you will be lost even with google maps. The kid is a master negotiator and will lay out your weakness (mostly affection, kindness and other grandfatherly attributes) on the table, to clinch his SBTO (self-benefiting trade off) deals. The power of affection for the grandkid is such, you simply fold over, succumb and sign the deals. 

After agreeing to the deals, you may wind up paying his hidden whimsical tariffs too! The best choppy-free passage would be to give in without any resistance. Then, you are free to remove the gloves and fret in private, if you want to!   Imaginch’s advice “Grandkids are not to be taken for granted. Tip toe on eggshells.” 

Guess number six: 

If the question is asked by one of your kids and how should you respond? As a courtesy, they will give you an opening statement.  So, the subject part of it is now clear. Diligently prepare, edit and moderate your answers and present them as your views. After sufficiently dressing up   your uncertainties as experience and wisdom, deliver your opinions.  Be prepared for the likelihood that all your views may get rejected out of hand. 

Now, you are free to leave in a hurry to huff and puff but not before hearing this often-repeated quote – “You have not yet learnt to bridge the generation gap!” 

Guess number seven:

If the question comes from the mistress of the house, how to dare and handle it?  A very tricky situation indeed. If you blurt out a ‘I know the answer’, be prepared for this backlash “When have you known things that are useful or what part of it so useful, now?" If you don't know the answer, then also you are not off the hook, from this barb, " don't I know what you know?" 

Though you may wonder, ‘when you know, what I know then, why did you ask me!’

Here Imaginch dutifully raised a placard written in red letters - “for your sake don’t dare to voice it.” 

In spite of all these catches and traps, if you are ready to wear protective gears, then go ahead and answer it. If no such gadgets are on hand, then use the time tested and result guaranteed technique - nod your head, keep your counsel under advisement. But don't fret, fume, huff or puff even in private. It has consequences! 

After reviewing his thought lines on the last question, Imaginch decided he had reached the end of the journey. If he pushed forward, a collision is imminent with the thoughtfully provided buffer stop or dead end or buffer block, to stop his thought train at the end of the platform. He was happy that during this mental journey, he could actually identify some of the elements involved in the running of a train.