REALITY'S WORTH

            “Awesome treat, dude. Only he can offer such a thing. It cost more than I expected, yet I enjoyed” – My friend hadn’t then come out of the Havell Effect of eating at Pizza Hut. That had been the birth day of one of my schoolmates. I was angry for two reasons: First, he hadn’t called me for a treat. And, the second; two people have emptied 1200 bucks altogether in a rash fashion. But there was consolation for me as I learnt both of them had to pay for it since there was not enough dosh in the birthday baby’s card.

            I mulled on it. 1200!!! 10 movies could be watched convincingly with a first – class ticket in multiplex theatres. For people like me, who are content even with second class, it was worth 24 movies; About 25 hours of entertainment had been spoiled to the fullest extent. My whole class could have comforted their stomachs with that amount, had that treat taken place in our college canteen (CEG rockzz!! :P). Two idiots, that’s right, no mercy for even friends, two idiots had burped 1200 rupees, for which they had travelled from Cuddalore to Puducherry (about 25 kilometer span) by bus in this red hot climate.

            Now, let me list what all amounted to waste after that: Four hours of valuable time (worth sleeping.. What? What else do you do in such weather conditions?), 1200 bucks + bus tickets and finally health (P.S: The non – birthday guy was already suffering from digestion problems). This sent my mind back to schooldays and those so – called ‘birthday bashes’ (Can somebody tell me by what name this disease is called? I am taken back often to the past when I start worrying about something. Maybe, Cheran has affected me so much through ‘AUTOGRAPH’).

            During 11^th and 12^th standard, we were always packed up with a tight schedule for each and every day. Morning tuitions, followed by special classes (they even termed this extra hours in school as ‘intensive coaching classes’), regular classes, and finally evening tuitions. They would take about 14 hours in a day. When we finally get home tired and exhausted, dinner would be ready. A quick bath and dress change, over to the dinner table. No talking, no watching TV. Maximum time allotted for dinner was about 15 minutes, with a grace period of 5 more minutes. Then, we had to revise for the tests to be conducted on the next day. Imagine a man who had to travel for about 10 kilometers (5+5; to and fro, nah?) in bicycle and then experience 14 hours of ‘enlightenment’. Even Sachin Tendulkar’s ‘Tennis Elbow’ problem seems negligible now, right?

            So, this was the situation. As sleeping hours could not be reduced at any cost (Already, there were only 5 to 6 hours per day for sleeping), we had no other option but to bunk either special classes in the evening or tuitions during birthday parties. Our parties were grand, yet simple. We would always go to some pani puri shops. Especially, those mobile Kaiyendhi Bhavans near the Cuddalore Stadium are very famous. They mix the ingredients in right proportions and serve us with smiling faces. If you had little more money to spend, there is another option. There were some lavish and luxurious guys, who would offer treats at Valli Chicken Center.

            I can still remember my birthday party during the 12^th standard. We were about 15 in number. As I am a vegetarian, Valli Chicken Center was not the plausible choice. So, we all had to prefer the ‘Thallu Vandi Kadai Pani Puri’. One man in particular was very affectionate towards us. Called Annachi, he offered an extra plate on that day just because I asked him about his family and business. Of course, my budget was very limited and I hadn’t expected 15 guys to turn up altogether. So, I was kind of making ‘indirect, strategic, friendly deals’ with that man. But, he was really moved. I can’t recollect what exactly I asked him but my problem was solved without any hiccups, as he charged comparatively low rates for our gang (Oh, maybe I have strategical diplomacy!!!)

            I have, since then, teased him many times and some of my friends were even stunned at how I countered the situation. But, some of them had money and I could have very well borrowed it from them and repaid it later. But, that was a huge prestige issue. Moreover, that wasn’t the tradition. The birthday boy had to spend the whole money from his pocket, whatsoever. Seriously, after nearly an year, I recently went in search of that man to repay the money I owed him. But, he was nowhere to be seen in and around that area. There were pani puri shops still operating out there, but that particular sentimental person, who, on my birthday looked like Duryodhana offering a small territory to Karna, was not present.

            I literally cried, wept and sobbed. In how many shops and hotels do we see this real concern? There are numerous Bhavans (vegetarian hotels) in the town, and I haven’t seen at least one person sitting at the cash counter with a smiling face.

            People speak about developments in technology and urbanization etc etc. But, where do we really stand in terms of humanity? Where are we with respect to inter – personal relationship? What is our position in helping others? There are no chachas to offer a piece of Jilebi free of cost to children, in bakery and sweet shops. There are no akkas, whole – heartedly wishing us ‘Happy Birthday’ when we buy chocolate packets in their shops.

            Present situation is different. Gone are the times when we were given extra candies on our birthday with genuine wishes by the shopkeeper. Nowadays, you cannot get 1 or 2 rupees returned from any shop. “Sorry Sir; no change. Take this chocolate.” This started with 50 paise, went on to 1 rupee, and today, some guys even do this for 5 rupees. Even the fridge in my house contains some 50 chocolates with varying values from 50 paise to 5 rupees. Not one out of them did I intentionally buy.      I wonder how a shopping complex of such a vast reputation could never mind about such petty things. Dad explained me, “There are 1500 – 2000 people, who visit this shop daily, son. Assuming that each person is given a chocolate instead of coins, imagine the profit.” Yeah, I imagined then and, oh gosh, you could even build another small grocery shop within two years only with the money you earned by this ’nahin coins lekin candy’ marketing strategy.

            Even Annachi could have gladly done that on my birthday. He would have earned some 60 rupees more. But, why? BECAUSE HE IS A HUMAN BEING. What are we going to achieve in this world by working in MNCs and earning millions and billions if we don’t mind about these trivial yet taunting things?