My Mrs. Is Indian

The average Indian does not call his wife by name nor does the wife call the husband by name. All Indian languages exhibit the structure 'my wife,' but it is hardly ever used in conversation. When an Indian refers to his wife in conversation with a third person, he resorts to expressions like 'the householder' or 'my woman.' The wife in a similar situation refers to her husband as the 'householder' or 'my man.' The educated Indian refers to his wife either as 'my wife' or as 'Mrs. So & So.' In either case, he feels uncomfortable, since 'Mrs. So & So' sounds remote & 'my wife' too intimate. 'My Mrs.' is an Indian compromise between the possessive 'my wife' & the remote 'Mrs. So & So.' AA.