Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

My little friend Dhanu has started understanding the days of the week.
These mornings the first question he asks is "Appa, what is the day today?" or "Amma, what is the day today?" based on whom he sees first. And we have to tell him the day.
The same happened today. As usual, as Dhanu got up, he asked "Appa, what is the day today"
"Tuesday", I said.
"What...", he paused for a moment and said "Yesterday you said its Monday."
"Yes, yesterday was Monday."
"And today you are telling its Tuesday"
"Yes, today is Tuesday."
Then Me and his Mom went on to tell about the days of the week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday and weekend days - Saturday & Sunday and that he needs to go to school on weekdays and weekends are holidays.
Then he asked "Will my music teacher come today."
"No, he will come only on Monday & Friday."
He said "Hiyaaa... Jolly..." and sped away for play.

New Year Resolutions

That was the last working day of that year. I was sitting in my class and that was the last period of that day. I was in my 10th class. Vasantha miss, who was handling that class stood in front of the class and asked this question: "What is your new year resolution?"

That was the first time I heard that question in my life. She went on and explained, "every year we need to set and get used to some good habit in our life." She explained how a habit followed for an year becomes a habit for life-time. She listed out some of the resolutions that she took over the past couple of years and her last year's resolution was to wake up at 4:30 AM in the morning and explained how it had helped her to complete her house-hold works, help her kids and husband and get prepared for the day.

That gave us a clear idea what a new year resolution is. Then she asked each and every one of us to say what our new year resolution is. As usual it started from the first persion in the first row. Without much time to think or prepare each went on to say different things. Like "I will do my home-work regularly", "I will dress neatly", so on and so forth.

When my turn came, I told-though I was thinking about various things in my mind-"I wont tell any lies". The whole class started laughing. After that I didnt notice what others said, but instead went on to think how I am going to implement and keep up that resolution. I went home conciously thinking that from tomorrow-from the new year day-I should not tell any lie.

Its new year and I kept myself away from telling a lie. I was surprised to realize the number of opportunities I got, where I normally otherwise used to lie - small, medium and large. Towards the end of the day, I decided to keep quite without talking a word so as not to tell a lie and thus to keep up my new habit and thereby my new year resolution.

But nothing could help me on the second day. I had to tell a lie towards the end of the day. The next day when I went to school, I almost forgot about my new year resolution and I was very well back to my normal life. Vasantha miss came in the afternoon for the maths class and asked her usual question "How many didnt do your homework? Stand up." I totally forgot about doing my homework in the holidays and I was one among those who stood up. She asked each one the reason for not doing the homework and punished them based on the reason ranging from one to several bangs in the palm with two wooden scales held together.
When it was my turn, I told "Miss, I have done the home work, but I forgot to bring the home work note to the class", in an attempt to get the minimal punishment. She looked into my eyes and then said "ok" and went away. She just believed my words and didnt punish me at all.
After that I definitely make a resolution every year and follow it sincerely for the first few hours on the first day of the year, and eventually forget it. One day I want to meet my Vasantha Miss and apologize for that lie and hope a day comes when I will be able to keep up the first new year resolution of my life.
- spgr.

Nagerkoil Trip - 1 - Introduction

Last week we had our much awaited trip to Nagerkoil. As a writer(???), now its my duty to write about it. I actually wanted to write a couple of very interesting blogs on the trip, but I think I have a long way to go for that. Anyway, let me try my best here.  

Unusual Mobile Recharges.

Some 3 years back when I was standing in our office corrider, having tea, at about 7 PM in the evening I got a top-up message in my mobile. The balance rose by 196 rupees. I checked with my friend and she confirmed that she didnt put any top-up for me. Within moments, I got a call from a number, looking very similar to my number, except the last but 1 digit changed.


The voice at the other end said "Sir, Did you get a top-up of 196 rupees"

"Not sure, I need to check..."

"Actually I was trying to put a top-up to my number, but by mistake, it topped-up yours..."

"I didnt get any top-up message..."

"Please check Sir, I will call you back in a few minutes..."

I started thinking what to do in that scenario. If I say yes, he will ask me to put a top-up for him for the same amount. I dont have Rs. 196 with me. So I have to arrange for that first. Next, my office is situated in a Special Economic Zone and to reach a recharge shop, I have to either go in my bike, spending my petrol & time, for about 3 kms. In those days, we didnt have the online recharge facility. Recharges & top-ups have to done in shops.

I thought why I should strain for some mistake that he did and let this be a lesson to him so that he is more careful in future. After five minutes, I got a call from the same number.

"Sir, that top-up was actually from me..."

I interrupted... "Sorry, I didnt get any message on top-up nor my balance has increased..."

"Please check again Sir..."

"I checked... No update... Please check again from your end again..." I cut the call.

There were repeated calls from the same number a couple of times after that. I never attended. I just ignored those calls. Calls came from different numbers. I made it a point not to attend a call from any unknown number for the next one week. The calls stopped after 3 days.

One day we got a call taxi. There was one person extra, for whom the cab driver asked Rs. 30 extra. I agreed to pay him. But when we got down he forgot to get the extra amount. Since I was also in a hurry to get down and enter the railway station, I too forgot. But I remembered when I went home, and called to that cab driver, since his number was in my call register and reminded him about not having paid the thirty rupees. He asked me to put a top-up a top up to his number. I religiously went to a nearby kiosk and recharged him, as I do not want to worker to get stiffed.

Another day I was travelling in train with Family. A middle aged man, strongly built, was in the berth opposite to me. When the TTE came, he showed an SMS for ticket. It was 1.5 years back and the system of showing SMS or softcopy of the ticket didnt exist at that time. The TTE refused to accept it for a ticket and demanded a hard-copy of the ticket or a penalty of Rs. 50 for ticketless travel.

He checked his shirt pocket, pant pocket, bag's pouches, purse, etc. but couldnt get any money. He showed his empty purse to TTE and said that he has only card, and didnt take money from ATM, since he was late to train and was hoping to get money from ATM on getting down.

TTE refused to accept any explanation and said that he has to either pay Rs. 50 or get down in the next station. Also he brought a RPF to monitor that he gets down in the next station. The RPF asked him to check again his bags for Rs. 50. He tried to help him in non-monitory ways. I was in a mixed mind whether to help him or just ignore the situation as if nothing has happened. Finally I decided that, if he asks for help, I will give the Rs. 50.

When the train neared the next station, he came to me and tried to say something. I immediately took my purse, pulled out a 50 rupee note and gave it to him. He said thanks and confirmed that he will give me back on getting down. We both have to get down in the same station.

In the morning, at 5:30 AM when the train reached our station, I was thinking how he will be giving my Rs. 50 back. I cant leave my family and go with him upto ATM, being the early morning hours, we all wish to reach home as soon as possible. I immediately took out a sheet of paper, wrote my number on it and gave it him and asked him to put a top-up of Rs. 50 to that Airtel number.

Reached home and relaxed and almost forgot about it. At around 10:30 AM, I got a message that my number has been topped-up for Rs. 50.

- Pavala.

My Next set of Watches.