It Depends

“Which stream are you going to take up in Class XI?”, asked the father of my father’s good friend. I pondered over the question, scratched my head, made some noises in my throat and said, “it depends”. Not one to leave some one off so easily, the gentleman continued, “depends on what?” “Of course, my percentage in the Xth board exams”. Oh yes, he was finally convinced.
Later on during graduation, a professor of agronomy asked me during a viva voce examination, “So, what is the fertilizer dose for kodo millet?” Pat came the answer, “Sir, it depends”. Fortunately he was not like the gentleman I have mentioned earlier, and actually let me off with that answer. In fact he answered the remaining part himself. “It depends on whether irrigation conditions are available, the weather conditions etc. Good answer.”
“It depends” seems to be an easy way to evade questions. Especially if you are not aware of the exact answer. At the same time it can give you a competitive edge over others because, if it depends, then it must depend on something, and if the teacher assumes that you are aware of that something on which it depends, then he might choose not to probe you further, depending on the strength and conviction of his assumption.
“It depends” has come to my rescue during the stickiest of situations. After my class X board exams were over, I had filled up forms for admission into class XI for more than one school. In one of the interviews, I was asked “which school would you like to join?, this or the other one?” I repeated my favourite phrase. The principal was aghast. “On what?”, she asked. On which school offers me the admission, first. I don’t know whether it was on the merit of this answer alone or some divine grace, I finally got the first admission offer from this school only. Another situation where it saved me from a sure tongue lashing was the viva voce examination, which I have already mentioned. But one (in fact a couple of) situation(s), when my career would have found itself in a state of jeopardy, had it not been for "it depends" was the interviews which I faced for admission into MBA courses. Knowing fully well that depending on my background, in agriculture, I would have a preference for certain institutes, I was asked in many institutes about which one I would like to go to finally, if offered admissions. “It depends”, would always be my answer. On what? Thankfully, I had prepared myself for this question. "I will consult my father, and my teachers at the coaching institute." “And what do you think they will suggest ?” Well, sir, I really don’t know. “It depends on them”.