Hey Friends,
Today we have ATM's which carry our cash almost anywhere we need it ... provided we have our card and the pin to draw the money. But the scenario was quiet different a decade ago.
The current post is related to one of my experience which taught me the value of money. I learnt my lesson the very hard way! The incident dates back to 1998 when I was just a teenager and had just begun my college. The normal routine was to catch a bus at 6.50 (AM) from my local town and to reach the central bus stand by 7.15 AM. The distance from my town to the Central bus stand is around 10 kms and from there a walkathon of around 2kms shall make me reach my college at 7.30 AM to 7.40 AM. The fare for one way travel was Rs.5 and on daily basis use to take two Rs.5 coins and one of these were the only option to come back home by 12.00 PM!
That fateful day I as usual took two coins, reached college and had one Vada Pav and forgot that I had no money to get back home. Again, my wallet (my first college wallet) was lying at home... I FORGOT IT! I realized this when I reached the Central bus stand, boarded the bus and the conductor asked me "Kahan Jaana hai?" I quickly tried to get the coin from my pocket which wasn't there. My heart sanked literally. Now what to do? I knew no one in the city and my home was around 10 kms away. I had not even a coin to call my home number and inform about the issue. In all this rush in my mind I got dwon from the bus and was appearing as a lost kid on the city roads with no idea as to what to do? My life before that was just going to the local school (5 minutes walking distance) and come back home....do homework/study have dinner and sleep. Suddenly life was testing my immaturity and nimble age and I was just not prepared.
Understanding the situation, I took the decision to walk all the way to home (As a matter of fact I was not very much sure of the road too and scorching heat was making the matter even worse) It was just a matter of Rs.5 but these just Rs.5 were too high for me on that day.
Normally, the kid returns to home by 12 noon and despite been 1.30 PM he is still not home....the waiting parents were getting worried. Mind you that there were no mobile phones at that time...may be they were there but we didn’t had it. Nor did I had any money to call home and inform the problem. I on the other hand was trying hard to make it as quickly as possible. But was literally scared to death. It was the first time that I was alone on the roads of a city. I was a teenager by age but the upbringing was very protective. Never had been in this situation before. Always used to be with parents and who cares to be serious when parents are around? My myth was broken and God gave me a wakeup call! I had lost my energy and was sweating like a pig. Finally, by 3.00 PM I made it home and my mom was at the door expecting me any time. (Dad by this time had reached college and was trying to get in touch with my professors about my whereabouts. The professors informed that the college had been over by 11.00 pm and I must have been gone) It was a tension day at home. Being a parent is a difficult and now I can truly understand as to what they might have been thinking till their child is home safely.
As soon I reached home, Mom hold me tightly and asked me what happened and why I am so late? What happened? Why am I sweating so badly? Why am I trembling? Did I have a fight in college?
GOD.... After having some water I quietly said ... I forgot money and I have come from college to home Walking! OMG! That day I had a scolding of a lifetime. Mom gave me her installment and when Dad came back, he gave his. The next five years of my college days, were like a parade for me i.e. before leaving home it was mandatory for me to show my Dad that I have money in my bag/pocket and to show my Mom that I have something to eat!
This incident has changed my life...at least when it comes to handling money. My Dad says, whenever you leave home, take some money with you, have an option of mobility (i.e. keys of car/bike) keys of your home and a mobile phone - ALWAYS. I have stuck to this thing and always make sure that I carry the advised things.
Even today, whenever I leave my home in Pune I take precautions and remember that day that brought about some sort of a maturity in my life.
The other side of the story is that I get teased so much for that mistake that each time I forget something at home, my sisters/Mom/Dad never fails to mock me about that foolishness. LOL!
Truly money is that thing that you need the most when you don’t have it!
Thank you for reading the post and I do welcome your comments on this section.
