The Ten Rupee Note...

One fine day I was out for a tea break, sitting in a restaurant near my office, searching for a piece of paper in my wallet and while fumbling for that I saw a decade old ten rupee note there. I exactly do not remember when did I keep the same in my wallet but I am sure from its texture that I kept it long time back, hidden, so that I do not spend it.

The note has our national emblem on it, unlike the smiling Mahatma on today’s notes.

A smile flashed on my face on seeing that note and I eventually rolled my memories back to my childhood days when the ten rupee note really had a value and meant world to me!

In the 1990’s when I was a kid, the ten rupee was a big thing for me because my pocket money used to be twenty rupees a month. I believe, pocket money was, just an additional incentive given to me because all my justified demands were fulfilled by my parents. I could demand anything anytime provided that has to be justified!

I think when I used to get that two ten rupee notes from my dad, I felt as if I have won the world! Every month that used to be the happiest part. For me twenty rupees were sufficient because my dreams were big but desires were low. I could get everything I want and yet save some money from those twenty rupees. In my opinion, every Indian who belongs to middle class has the fundamentals of money management in blood. How to spend and where to spend, you do not need to teach! I was well adept in spending the money I got.

I remember I always used to keep ten rupees in my pocket. It was a symbol of pride for me to just pull my collar up in front of my friends. Moreover, it was for safety also, just in case if it is required for anything, for example if my bicycle gets flat tyre etc. I would occasionally eat samosas from my school canteen and that would cost one rupee each for a samosa. The swankiest of the pen or the pencil at that time came for five rupees. Poppins, my favorite chocolate at that time, cost 1 rupee. So perhaps ten rupees meant that I could get anything for me!

It is said that richness is a state of mind and depends on how much you define richness for yourself. For me having ten rupees was the definition of being rich.

I came back from my reverie when the waiter came back and said, “Sir, your tea”. I had my tea smiling on the wave of memories that I just had. When I went to the counter to pay the bill, it was ten rupees! I took out a five hundred rupee note with a sense of pride, paid the bill, took the change and came back.

I was wondering on the contrasting picture I just witnessed. At time, I could get everything for ten rupees and now I could just have a cup of tea! At time, ten rupees were the world and a thing to treasure and now I do not have count of ten rupees that I waste on unnecessary things! My salary doesn’t give the joy those ten rupees used to give. Actually, the dwindling value of ten rupees was wondering me!

It didn’t take me long time to realize that I was wrong. Ten rupees still hold a lot of significance. A few days later, I went to my native town where we have our ancestral home. The house got opened after a long time so naturally there was lot of dusting and cleaning that needed to be done. We called a local labor to do the cleaning activity. My uncle promised that if does a good job he will be given ten rupees! The poor fellow agreed happily and I could clearly see the glint of ten rupees in his eyes. He toiled hard for couple of hours and did a good job. My uncle gave him ten rupees and he was ecstatic. I called him separately and gave him another note. His happiness knew no bounds. It was comparable to what I used to have when I get two ten rupee notes in my childhood. I was happy to know that the note still carries weight!

For me, a ten rupee note could have only earned a cup of tea but for that fellow it might have meal for a day!

God Bless!

Cheers!

Adi