Conversations with Generation Z

So there I was having my lunch when a bunch of Generation Z guys and girls joined me at the table of the canteen in the co-working space.

“Hadley D’Souza” said a long haired chap introducing himself to me.

“…..Hadley as in James Hadley Chase?”  I asked him.

“Yes” he said.

“Wow – I have read most of his books. And you are surely a fan of James Hadley Chase too?”  I asked.

“No - my mom was a fan of his and she named me after him.  I have never read him".  And then as a sort of explanation he turned to the others at the table and said "That writer was from the last century." 

I had to quickly regain my leadership around the table so I said : “Names can be such interesting conversation starters” And turning to the girl sitting next to him I asked her .."and what is yours?"

“Ishika - spelt as Eishika” she said.

“Wow – that is a wonderful conversation starter – I am sure everyone asks you why you spell it that way?”  I said.

She made a wry face and said : “No – they only say my name has a spelling mistake in it”. 

Refusing to give up I turned to the girl sitting next to me and said “I am sure your name must be very interesting as a conversation starter?”

“Actually no - my name is boring - it is Nikita” she said.

“I am sure lots of people tell you that your name reminds them of Niki-Tasha TV…” I said with a laugh.

“No – actually most people don’t even know that such a TV existed” she said.

“It was a very popular TV once” I said.

“My grand-mother remembers that TV” she said.

Then she looks at Hadley and pointedly says “Only my grand-mother – not even my mother”

Me? I was missing from the table.