The Mrs. Rastogi Syndrome: A Tale of Quirky Habits and Endearing Memories

This morning, during one of our group WhatsApp chats, one of our classmates responded as if he was working for the same company where his wife is employed. This wasn’t the first instance; he often talks as if he is part of his wife’s company. Initially, I found this confusing, but eventually, I realized it’s a regular habit of his. This behaviour reminded me of Mrs. Rastogi, leading me to dub it the “Mrs. Rastogi Syndrome.”

Now, you might wonder, who is Mrs. Rastogi? Naturally, she is the wife of Mr. Rastogi. To understand this better, let me take you back to where it all began.

Meeting Mr. and Mrs. Rastogi

I first met Mr. Rastogi when I was transferred as the Branch Manager to a rural branch in Badaun District in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Rastogi was the branch manager of another rural branch within the same district. Our professional paths crossed frequently, but our personal friendship only blossomed after I moved to Civil Lines in Budaun.

Life in Badaun

Most people from nearby rural areas resided in Badaun town. Our bank was the lead bank in this district so many rural branch managers were staying in Badaun. Mr. Rastogi lived just a few houses away from me, and we naturally became close. A senior colleague, RD Sevak, and I were bachelors living in the same Civil Lines neighbourhood. Mr. Rastogi, who was more senior in age, lived with his family, including a young son. Since he was married, we often found ourselves at his house in the evenings, enjoying the hospitality of his wife, Mrs. Rastogi.

Enter Mrs. Rastogi

Mrs. Rastogi always welcomed us with tea and bhujia, but what stood out was her unique way of speaking about official matters as if she were the branch manager. Initially, this puzzled me. I asked RD Sevak if she also worked at the bank and where she was posted. The truth was far more amusing—Mrs. Rastogi simply had a habit of talking as if she managed the branch, not her husband.

Mr. Rastogi never seemed to mind; in fact, he appeared quite content with this arrangement. This became a source of occasional private amusement for us. Over time, we grew accustomed to it and coined the term “Mrs. Rastogi Syndrome” to describe this peculiar behaviour.

The Syndrome Spreads

Fast forward to today, and it seems the Mrs. Rastogi Syndrome has made its way into our WhatsApp group. My classmate’s tendency to speak as though he works at his wife’s company reminds me so much of those evenings in Badaun. It’s fascinating how such habits persist and spread, transcending time and place.

Conclusion

So, if you ever encounter someone speaking about their spouse’s workplace as if it were their own, you might be witnessing the Mrs. Rastogi Syndrome in action. It’s a humorous quirk that adds a touch of colour to our interactions, a reminder of how we blend our lives with those of our loved ones in unique and endearing ways.

Next time, I might just tease my classmate by saying, “Hey, are you the new manager at your wife’s office?” And we’ll all share a good laugh, reminiscing about the original Mrs. Rastogi and her unforgettable syndrome.