MONEY LEAKS

This is an open blog where I would like to share my views and like you all to give your views too. This is a spin off from my previous article-LOST AND FOUND=PURSE
Now the main ‘money leak’ I have found is the mobile usage. All mobile companies aim at college goers and bring in heavy offers in calls, sms etc. but even then the cost never goes down. Though it’s cheaper, we talk more to compensate for it. I myself have experienced it. I changed to airtel as it was the cheapest. Ironically, my monthly bills haven’t shown a negative slope. But these days’ mobile phones have become the only means of communication for us. Even face to face talks are on the decrease. People who don’t talk much during class hours might be talking/ advantages being convenience,’ any time of day’ chatting, privacy, escape from silly rumors etc. my friends, in this era, reducing phone calls is directly proportional to reducing contact with people. So where do we strike a balance? I request you to give your suggestions openly.
Next line of leaks comes in the form of luxury. In my college since personal vehicles are prohibited, these do not contribute much but even then becomes a problem when taken in large scales. Most of us take auto rickshaws for walking distance or to avoid the crowded, slow public transport. One advantage of using the buses is that we get a clear picture of the place and route rather than the auto which is a cunning servant. Not only does it intoxicate us with luxury, it also blinds us with complacence. We do not feel the need to know the place, way etc. Just tell the driver and this “magic carpet” takes us to our destination. Walking has its benefits both physical and mental which I need not elaborate as it’s known by all.
Another way of money wastage is the canteen or dietary outings. The biggest tamasha is that we are bunking from mess for which we pay and go to a place where we pay highly for food which is poor in quality.
These are the ones I feel where money leaks take place unnoticed. But how to solve this? I request my friends to give other ways of leaks and solutions in the firm of their valuable comments.

LOST AND FOUND=PURSE

Our life is full of incidents-big or small, happy or sad, important or unimportant but there are some incidents that completely change our outlook towards life.
Trouble was ringing in my eras the day I took my driving test. And it gave a loud bang the day I received my driving license in my hands. The sinister in disguise was the postman who delivered the registered post in my hands. When I held the license, the symbol of authority, the sign of maturity, it was happiness that was plashed all over my face. I do not know whether it was an adrenaline rush or a mere “break the rule” feeling that urged me to take my brother’s mean machine onto the road. As it came into life under me, I felt exhilarated. Not even bothering to change from my “domestic wear”, I slipped my license into my purse and slid it into the side pocket of my pants. I hit the pocket road and with a cry, “it’s my life,” I fired the gears and launched my pulsar 150cc to the roads of unlimited opportunities. Though this infant had problems walking, like trouble during shifting gears and maintaining the bike at normal speed, I managed to turn the wheels and keep it moving. I became the part of the road and the road, a part of me…. I felt immortal.
But my excitement was short lived. As a customary safety precaution, I checked for my mobile phone, purse and found it missing; the sole identification of man-the purse was missing. Thor, the thunder god threw his hammer at me and stark images of reality slapped on my face.
Analyzing the facts in chronological order, I understood it had fallen just five minutes back from the side pocket; a blunt search would fetch it back to me. I searched once by bike, slowly on cycle and finally on foot but lady luck turned her back on me. But she gave a kick when my mom called and enquired about my “well being.” I told her everything, prepared for the worst and tried to hope for the best. When I reached home, she was waiting and I knew death would be the best thing that would happen to me but I was sure death will come only slowly, very slowly…
Mom uses a different technique- a characteristic mental torture without even a single dose of physical punishment. All juice of life was squeezed from me and I was left in vegetative state.-no feelings, no emotions, just living…
But my eyes were always on the road, waiting for the angel in the form of kind person who found and returned my purse.
Now the contents of my purse:-thousand rupees, ATM card, driving license, ten thousand rupee cheque (with no name and date.) actually a bumper lottery for the one who finds it. Though I went and cancelled the cheque, the purse like my heart was still heavy.
The next day too was not different. But mom cannot be blamed. It was her hard earned money. Also I disobeyed her by taking the bike alone. My safety was also at stake. I called up my driving instructor to help me get a duplicate license. However angels come in all forms and shapes. He said he friend had found a purse and within minutes the stilled life of mine gained momentum. He and I went to this guy and thanks to almighty; I got it back with all its contents. Only expense was a brandy bottle for my instructor’s friend.
This experience though humorous was an acid test for me. I myself, who didn’t look much into money making, thought of ways to save these thousand rupees. When I looked deep, there were many “money leaks” in the trivial matters of life. Economic use of phone, bus alternative for auto, no merry making with friends can save little but significant. Money is important whatever people say. Unless we make our own money, we have right neither to waste nor afford the luxury of our parents’ money…

Sleeping beauty

'yawning'-an unconditioned reflex through which the mind replenishes its lack of oxygen.this is a small narrative about a small incident which occured in a small surgery class of mine.
Our classes officially begin at 8 30 am but by the time it actually begins,our minds are filled with cobwebs of boredom. Interestingly,this surgery class was so boring even for the book worms to keep their eyelids open. Yawns Communicated from one end to another. The message was simple-'I want to sleep.' by the time these reached me, I had sent hundreds myself in all directions. My hands were shaking, the writings metamorphosed from being legible to merely scribbling. Mountains, hills, modern art was taking birth. I was shifting from reality to virtuality,a rift which was traversed smoothly like cutting butter.
The professor was catching hold of students in the first row while the rest of the rows including mine were involved in activities far more interesting than learning. As i found myself drowning in the sea of slumber, i wanted to check on my neighbours about their welfare. If i am going, i have to make sure others are in too. The girl who was sitting in front was so much engrossed in the subject that she hadn moved a muscle in the past hour. Though i would have liked to inspect her face personally,it would have been awkward to do so. The one who was sitting left was trying to find a comfortable position to rest her neck. The boy on the right was constantly shaking his head as if trying to shake away the spirit of somnolence. Suddenly the eyes met,glances were exchanged-yes, the sir caught my half dozed, watery, reddish eyes. With his baritone , he ordered me to get up and join him in the front. Like an obedient pet, i gathered my mortified self , stood up and started to move with my belongngs. Suddenly he shouted, 'not you but thou, sleeping beauty in front' the poor lass who had already undergone cycles of REM and NREM sleep from the begining of class found it hard to interpret what the sir had said and was lookin here and there for clues and answers. After a few seconds when her brain started to function normally, she stood up ,the petite sleeping beauty who was awaken not by the prince's kiss but by the harsh thunderous voice of her professor. She moved without the slightest sign of disobedience, her face now filled with myriad of emotions, to the princess's throne up in the front where everyone could watch her with "awe." My joys grew no bounds and laughter was roaring inside me only to be released in quantums of smiles. She sat there, our sleeping beauty,so innocent her face, her eyes wide open, listening to every word said with a smile..a typical mona lisa smile..whose meaning i still wonder..
This narrative is dedicated to Neethi ,my classmate who is the heroine of the story, the petite sleeping beauty