Paanch Rupaiya Ki Kimat Main Kya Jaanu!!
(What do I know about five rupees)
Late Evening.
Vishwavidyalaya metro station.
Walking on the pavements of the University Campus, crossing the Chattra Marg, and the red lights, I was just taking a stroll to kill time. Thought I’d save a few pennies and lose some calories at the same time. But just walking half the way, as my destination was vijaynagar, I walked up to a rickshaw.
“Bhaiya, vijaynagar?”
“Tees rupaiya” (Thirty rupees)
Usually it is just twenty rupees, so I disagreed and continued to walk ahead as I didn’t mind walking a bit further as I wanted to kill some more time. It didn’t make a difference to me. But then the rickshaw wallah called out-
“Accha, pachchees rupaiya” (Twenty-five rupees)
I thought it still to be a bit high up the price but then I thought I better take the rickshaw as I was also a bit tired.
The streets are a little empty and dull without the usual student crowd these days. Some of the roads have been reconstructed. The new arrivals are settling themselves around. Families are out for dinner.
I arrived at Vijaynagar and took out three ten rupee notes to give to the rickshaw wallah.
The rickshaw wallah opened his wallet to place the thirty rupees.
I stood there watching him and waiting for the change. He turned to the front pocket and was about to open the tiny button, but my consciousness took the better off me.
Just a month ago I had a spiritual vacation where I realized the importance of compassion to all sentient beings and I was conscious and determined to practice it on my return. But living in a city of constant noise and confusion, the mind tends to clutter easily. Now that there wasn’t the easy comfort of the hostel, I had been living with a friend but my expenses were still high having had to spend so much on food. But coming back, that morning I had an exam and was really tired.
I thought what am I doing? That five rupee might mean so much more to him than it does to me. Perhaps it could be valuable to his children. He must have children.
“Bhaiya aap rakh lo. Thank you.”
I joined my hands to bid him Namaste and he looked at me with a confused expression.
I turned around and found the value of five rupees!
Late Evening.
Vishwavidyalaya metro station.
Walking on the pavements of the University Campus, crossing the Chattra Marg, and the red lights, I was just taking a stroll to kill time. Thought I’d save a few pennies and lose some calories at the same time. But just walking half the way, as my destination was vijaynagar, I walked up to a rickshaw.
“Bhaiya, vijaynagar?”
“Tees rupaiya” (Thirty rupees)
Usually it is just twenty rupees, so I disagreed and continued to walk ahead as I didn’t mind walking a bit further as I wanted to kill some more time. It didn’t make a difference to me. But then the rickshaw wallah called out-
“Accha, pachchees rupaiya” (Twenty-five rupees)
I thought it still to be a bit high up the price but then I thought I better take the rickshaw as I was also a bit tired.
The streets are a little empty and dull without the usual student crowd these days. Some of the roads have been reconstructed. The new arrivals are settling themselves around. Families are out for dinner.
I arrived at Vijaynagar and took out three ten rupee notes to give to the rickshaw wallah.
The rickshaw wallah opened his wallet to place the thirty rupees.
I stood there watching him and waiting for the change. He turned to the front pocket and was about to open the tiny button, but my consciousness took the better off me.
Just a month ago I had a spiritual vacation where I realized the importance of compassion to all sentient beings and I was conscious and determined to practice it on my return. But living in a city of constant noise and confusion, the mind tends to clutter easily. Now that there wasn’t the easy comfort of the hostel, I had been living with a friend but my expenses were still high having had to spend so much on food. But coming back, that morning I had an exam and was really tired.
I thought what am I doing? That five rupee might mean so much more to him than it does to me. Perhaps it could be valuable to his children. He must have children.
“Bhaiya aap rakh lo. Thank you.”
I joined my hands to bid him Namaste and he looked at me with a confused expression.
I turned around and found the value of five rupees!
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