I go home from trichy once in a month. I go for a couple of days, generally a weekend. Every time i go home, my grandfather asks me the train timing. He asks me to leave two hours before the departure time. Now that used to bug the hell out of me. "I`m going by train and not by plane", i feel like telling him. I just say to myself that these are the problems of having a very meticulous person at home. I m sure every home will have at least one such person. This sort of planning and organization is something that this generation overlooks but is an innate quality in elderly people. My grandfather plans everything before hand, tries to be very cautious. Actually, we both travel a lot. Before leaving, he used to carry money in every possible denomination. I used to wonder why does someone have to be so cautious. Are barterers so selfish that they won't part with their coins?
I used to have an aversion for coins. I used to carry cash in the form of notes and never liked having coins in my purse because purses fraught with coins are bulgy and not compact. Whenever i decide to go out, my grandfather asks me if i have coins with me. I would just avoid and say that i have lots and leave. But something that happened recently taught me how important it is carry coins.
On one such occasion, I left for my grandma`s house near Tambaram. I had to travel by train from a cousin`s house in Mambalam. I had gone to my cousin`s house by bike. But the impending journey was too far to travel by a two wheeler, so i decided to travel by a local train. I was leaving for Trichy that night and it was already 3 in the afternoon. So i had to hurry, just pick up a parcel from there and get back home as early as possible. I went to the railway station and took a beeline to the ticket counter. A long queue preceded me but queues generally clear very fast in railway stations. Since i had to return back to the same place, I wanted a return ticket and gave a ten rupee note at the counter and asked for a return ticket. The guy seated in front told me that the cost is Rs 11. I started searching my purse for a rupee as if i had many. I already knew i had none, but just to show that I really din't have, i searched for sometime and told him i don't have and gave him another ten rupee note. He refused to take it and said he can't give change. I was already in a hurry, so i just bought a one way ticket and ambled to the platform. I reached my grandma`s house, collected the parcel and left for the station again. It was four and I was really in a big hurry now. I started taking rapid strides. Just when i reached the station, I saw the train I had to take. I starting running towards the counter. The train was standing in the platform now and i knew it would leave in a minute. Gosh!!! A queue again at the counter. But at this time, it seemed as if the queue was endless and people were getting serviced very slowly. Finally, when it was my turn, i saw the train starting to move again, got hyper and literally threw the ten rupee note into the counter and asked for a ticket. I asked him to give it fast and was keeping my face very tensed, showing how desperate I was to get onto this train. The guy starts yelling at me ( In Tamil, of course ).. "Idiot, Why are you jumping as if this is the last train? You can get onto the next train!!!" . Now that took my senses away. I was staring at him,open-mouthed having no idea what to reply. I knew there was no use yelling back at him. The train had gone miles by then. I had to wait for 30 more minutes for the next train now. Damn!!! If only I had bought a return ticket!!! If only I had a rupee with me!!! If only I had heeded the poor person`s words when he specifically asked me if I had them!!! Baffled, i walked slowly and took a seat, my grandfather`s question echoing in my ears.
Morals :
1) It is generally Paatti sollai thattadhey!!!. From now on Thatha sollayum Thattadhey!!!
2) You really should have the privilege to grow with grandparents. Their stories and apothegms are imperative for application in your life. If you are staying away from them, make sure you at least spend your holidays with them.
3) It is better to listen to elders at home than to get insulted badly by a public servant. And guys, all your patriotism, your right to talk, your duties as a citizen of India, your urge to shout back that you are public and he is a public servant will pump you up under such circumstances only!!! You will know when you experience it.
4) Coins can spare you from getting thrashed by someone whom you don't even know.
