There were times when one rupee was a great amount of money that could buy you enough for a party, or so I have heard. If that was true, then I guess somewhere along the way came times when even a hundred rupees became not such a great deal of money. The small story I am putting up here was somewhere smack in the middle of these two times.
The problem with this period smack in the middle of the two markers I have mentioned on the timeline was that though computers cost only a tad bit more than they cost today, they were still not a common household item yet. This was chiefly because hundred rupees was at this point still a great deal of money, though one rupee had become an insignificant donation to even the common beggar. But for a little ten year old kid sitting on the porch and day dreaming, all this did not make any sense and hence were trivial things. What he could understand though was that computers were a lot of fun. Hence, it just made perfect sense to have one at home. So, as his dad sat on the sofa, sipping on a cup of coffee before leaving for a short visit to Trivandrum to meet his mother, the kid came running to him and said
“Dad, I want you to get me something when you get back from Trivandrum.”.
The dad smiled expecting the request to be the sweet white 'laddoos' that were the usual demand. But what came out of the mouth of the kid next must have made his heart skip a beat, his head spin like a top. It must have felt like he was being asked to build another house like the one he had just somehow managed to pay for completion.
The kid demanded “Dad! Please get me a computer when you get back from Trivandrum!”
The little kids cousin, who was staying with them and having a boring day till this particular moment, felt suddenly like he was at the fair. The riotous laughter that showed up first was followed by a field day, taking the case of his idiotic little cousin and his spur of the moment amazingly stupid demands. The barrage of ridicule only made the little kid even more vigorous in his demands.
All along the Dad did not utter a word and continued to sip on his coffee. The lack of words only stirred the kid even more as now the feeling of impending failure at getting what he wanted was getting more prominent. This meant much more than just a computer now. He had to shut up his cousin. This was now officially a matter of pride. The mere thought of having to bear with consequences of failing in his demands brought him on the verge of tears.
Suddenly the dad rose up, picked up his suitcase and started moving towards the door. The kid went running behind him in his desperation. The dad continued to put on his chappals and stepped out of the porch. He seemed deep in thought. He turned around, looked at the kid gave him a warm smile, swooped him off the floor, gave him a nice big hug and told him
“Wish me a safe journey. I will be back soon”. He then opened the gate and left.
The barrage of ridicule from the cousin continued well into the darkness of the night. But the kid did not care anymore. He knew something that the cousin didn't. The battle of pride he was so desperate to win earlier in the day had been been won hands down by him. The cousin didn't know it yet for he could not have known what the warm smile and the hug meant. The Kid didn't care anymore. He knew he would get the computer. Might not be as soon as a day later when his dad came back from Trivandrum. But it was coming. For the time being he didn't want the computer anymore. Just the sweet white 'laddoos' from Trivandrum would do.
(My dedication to someone who was very close to me, a hero I silently idolized. I will always rue that I did not get a chance to let him know to my hearts content as to what he meant to me. I can only hope that I was deserving of all the selfless love and care I received. Will cherish all the little memories, the laughs, the arguments, the scooter rides standing in the front, all the fun and the games and continue to strive in the hope that I can do justice to this wonderful platform that he has provided me with to face life.)
