hOle in my pOcket
Once we enter grade 11 we begin to crave for our independence, mostly financial. Some of the parents also feel in the same way (Oh! Those lucky kids! ). While some like mine, think that I am not mature enough for handling the green money. And since I wasn’t able to convince my parents for the same, I had to wait for another two long years to finally fulfill the craving for monetary independence.
But finally the wait is over! With some wonder at God’s immaculate timing and a polite courteous bow to my parents, I can announce to the world at large, that this indeed is a fabulous time to gain financial freedom. Yes, green money, here I come! When I hold my monthly allowance of Rs. 2000 in my hand, I feel all powerful(even if it is for a day!) and thank the heavens above that my parents do not feel that the global meltdown should have a bite of my share too. So as all of us youthful souls who are caught up in the trap of college expenditure know that however much we have in hand, it always seems to slip out, akin to sand flowing out of a clenched wrist.
So as it was my first pocket money, I was expected to stretch out the entire amount of Rs.2000 for full 30 days without sneaking in a rupee or two from my brother or father in return for my innocent lamb like expressions I used to throw at them with some sly intent. So like a proper accountant (though I don’t exactly know what he does) I will try my hand at organized financial handling and decipher the cryptic ways in which my money might leave me. The prime and the most arduous task is to college, which involves much more than just getting up on time. Since I live in West Delhi, and had previously decided that I am not made for hostel life (which God only knows why!) I have a scenario where the geography is not its best shape. I have to first take a bus to the metro station which seeps in just Rs.6 (all thanks to the government intervention). Then I finally catch the metro to reach Rithala. Travel through metro is easier, I save a red flashing 10% discount on all metro rides with the smartcard and hence fill in Rs.500 right at the beginning of the month (which lasts the entire month). Then, if by God’s grace I reach on time (which happens occasionally) I avail the RTV, which being very economical drops me off the college at a meager Rs.5. But unfortunately, as I am forever late I have to catch the auto and give in to the demand of the driver who asks for Rs.30 (giving out thirty bucks instead of five, oooohhh… I am already spoiling my budget).
So in all I spend about Rs. 60-70 on my travel daily, which culminates around to some 1200 odd rupees. Yes, more than half my pocket money goes traveling, imagine what a dilemma! Since, more than half of my pocket money is already out of my pocket I got to think about food, another necessity. Now, the necessary food according to my mother is the wholesome lunch I am supposed to have. Luckily the canteen-waala serves quite good stuff, which fortunately matches with the extremely high quality standard of my mother that I am allowed to eat there. Occasionally, with careful management of my funds I also get to treat myself with an ice-cream at the Gianis outlet. So I have now spent about two to three hundred rupees on food. And now comes the entertainment part, apart from friends, of course, a PVR movie ticket costs Rs.150, which is apparently a lot. So, I usually end up bunking my morning classes to watch an affordable morning show at Rs. 50 only. So, I spend about two hundred rupees on entertainment. Popcorn included (ever heard about such expensive entertainment?). How can I forget those scary numbers I see in the ever increasing phone bills? I end up spending Rs.500 on them! The Right to Speech should surely be banned! What SayJ?
So now, when I total up the expenses I find myself short of a complete hundred rupees! So I really got to think of the extra ways to collect this cash. For a starter, now that you have read my views, how about a penny for my thoughts? Aprami Jaggi,2nd yr,ENE
ATM PRO
Let alone a pro, I don’t even qualify to be a Semi-Pro in that.With mum’s ATM card deep inside my thin and light wallet, out I go at 7 in the morning. To do what? Bring some serious cash back home. *Dear lord, why didn’t you conceptualize teleportation before the Star Trek guys did????? It would have been so much simpler just to do Home—Whoosh—ATM--Quicker Whoosh-- Home!!*
Hyderabad is known for its serenity and sluggish lifestyle. Yet right after leaving the guest house, all I see is suspicious guys at every alley or corner, giving me a hurried look and some even forming a smirk. The closest ATM being close to half a km away, I increased the pace of my steps and with a deep sigh, reached its door. Scanning 360 degrees with attracting attention takes just 3-4 seconds, but I take a full 10 seconds to try and gather every suspicious activity around me. The door opened… I slowly step inside… shut the door at the rate of knots… The card is inserted... Oh No! The wrong way! I snatch the card and re-insert it, with the feeling that time has slowed down. A long wait follows (probably 5 seconds)… and finally the dreaded message appears on the screen: “CANNOT PROCESS THE TRANSACTION”. After rushing out of the door, I again look left and right, almost expecting someone to jump on me with a knife and taking away my precious ATM card. After waiting for 2 minutes thinking about where to go next as well as about when to duck if a knife is suddenly flashed, I head towards the main road. The stores are slowly opening up, with more and more people starting to appear on the sidewalks (for me they look more like knifemen). I see the second ATM just a few paces ahead. With an already confused mind as to whether I should jog towards it or decrease my pace further, I unconsciously walk at the same pace as before, and reach the door. I take a deep breath this time. Where the heck is the guard? Great! Just what I need! No guard, no security, almost like an invitation for the dreaded knife to come out. I step in slowly. Close the door. Card out. Insert. Wait! What in the world is wrong with them? Why isn’t it working? IDBI ATMs! Nothing but ads! Now what? The next is like half a km away, more like half a light year away! Gathering all the courage I could muster (not much really), I started my walk. Crossing the road is the easy part, will just have to run across! Done! Great! I can see the signboard now... if this doesn’t work, I’m suing ICICI! Of course, if I reach home alive. Wow!! It is like ‘the best sight’ in the world! Just one aunty inside and another waiting outside! Never felt so good to wait in a line! Tap tap tap.. tap tap tap.. thud thud thud.. The guard rail feels like a bongo now. I can feel my pulse rate coming below 100. 1 min.. 2 min.. tap tap thud thud.. Now the red saree woman is giving me a suspicious look!! 180 degree turn, deep thought: ‘Now is THIS a trap?’ nah… she’s a foot shorter than me, I can at least hold her off! Finally! The Yellow suit woman is out. Red saree woman is inside.. thud thud! thud thud thud!! My turn! My turn! I rush inside! Wow! Ac is nice!! Insert card.. NO, I DON’T WANT THE RECEIPT! JUST GIVE ME THE FRIGGIN MONEY! A deep grrrrrrrr… roar… n voila!!! Hello Mr. Gandhi!! Count! Count! Again count! (A deep sigh! ). Now, should I take an auto, or a taxi? I come out, and see neither! And I am not going to wait even a minute for it! So there I go again, eyes darting from left to right, I cross the road. I walk with my hand brushing against my wallet every other second. I take the longer route, just because it’s the busier road. Final 100 yards I almost run!
OPEN the gates u fools! What are guards for? No tip for this guy for sure! Climb up the stairs. Good morning fellow colleague! What’s up?? Oh nothing, just a walk to the ATM. WHAT? There’s an ATM in the office complex itself? Someone, please hold me now! I’m going to faint1.
Rishabh Mukherjee,Alumni,PSCT,2009
Flight of the phoenix:Wings of imagination
As one enters a new phase in his life, a period which encompasses best of both worlds: on one side the freedom and enjoyment of being youth coupled with a realization of your destiny. Excitement is rife as one awaits the discovery of college life and explores the fun and power of collaboration and peering. Gliding through the limitless welkin of passion and desire there is concurrence of talent and opportunity. As the road ahead diverges and presents undulating scope and variety, one needs to focus and converge on every single opportunity. With a range of festivals and events calendared for the coming year, it is subscribed to be a euphoric commencement to each person’s impassioned destiny. As innate philosophy of every change reflects upon cardinality of every stage, it’s a transcendental transition. From skits to mudras, classrooms to lecture halls, meals to mess everything’s animated with prime finesse. From remembering the nostalgic threads of school days to the new fabric of college life, it’s a wrap of intensity and rapture. Today as we trudge into an arena of more desirable span of life one wonders the classy conception of tomorrow. With its inviting vista and a novel beginning of ever more zestful and brighter things to come, it is cheers to life
