The other day I met a school mate (X) after a very long time. We were not too close friends and was my once-upon-a-time classmate. The conversation went on like this….
X : Hi da! How are you ? It’s been a long time since we met. 
Me : Yeah! It’s been ages. I am fine and how are you?
X : I am fine dude ! I work for this big Y
company. Whom do you work for ?
Me : I work for Z
company. Did you get a chance to meet any of our school mates?
X : So, how much do they pay you ?
Me : ( Thinking to myself) , Did I hear him correctly ?
Me : I am sorry ! I did not hear it . Can you come again on that .
X : (Unabashed) I asked how much Z
pays you ?
Me : (with a broad smile) Does that matter to you now ?
X : Come-on man! Do you know how much I am paid in Y.
And he went on boasting about the company he works for, how much he is paid and how he may be sent on a B1 trip to US in a month. All the while, I was uncomfortable and had to listen to him patiently.
X : Ok da! Time for me to catch up with my colleagues for a party. See you later!
Me : (Gosh! I am saved. Thanks to the party host) . 
Ok da! Nice to have met you after a long time. Bye !
X : The next time I meet you, don’t feel shy .
There he went away vrooming away in his bike .
Me : Shy! What the ______ does he think ?
I stood there for a while confused and gobsmacked . 
Why does he want to know about my salary?
Is he gonna help me plan my tax savings?
Is he trying to boast his job status ?
I don’t ask anyone about their salary and I expect others not to enquire mine. What people forget is that
It is bad manners to ask a girl her age and a guy his salary
.
Atleast , three people have asked me this question within the past week. I am at my wits’ end.
P.S. :- Fill in the blank with any swear word.
I know people like this. They were lucky that i didnt have a gun with me at that moment. The very moment they become my enemies.
Aliens! Bloody aliens ask these kinda questions.
Good one. Lots of people like this ex-classmate of yours actually – I think they ask other’s salary to cover up their own insecurity and feelings of inadequacy. If people really feel satisfied, I don’t think that they’d feel the need to broadcast their pay-packet or shout from roof-tops that they’re having a gr8 job and are successful. I bet this guy goes to sleep at night feeling frustrated and dissatisfied
, which is far from what you are.
And btw, next time someone asks you your salary, say this with a sweet smile: “I get paid enough to live a decent, happy life. The rest of the details are none of your business
”.
Shikha,
Well said and thanks for a courteous answer.
Ur experience is nothing when compared to that of mine. I was scolded my one of my school mates dad for being ignorant of the news that she got placed through campus interview in some software company. it seems he had informed my mom and she forgot to tell me. He scolded me in front of my college mates at the railway station………..telling “what a friend I was” geeeeeessssssss she was not my friend she was nothing more than a class mate. I hardly used to talk to her!!!!!!!!!
haha! How come a lot of us have FRIENDS like these? I am happy that I don’t get to know much of my FRIENDS’ parents. OMG, I will not tolerate a third person insulting me in front of others. That way, I am blessed.