recession and youngsters!

Everyone’s talking of recession. Be it jobs, pay checks, a much-wanted vacation, a shopping extravaganza, a beauty therapy, a movie in a multiplex, an evening in the mall, a new pair of kurtas, a much-awaited tatoo…everything gets ‘verbally’ delayed or postponed “in this time of recession”. Apparently, even the blind man’s cut down on the choice between the blue pill and the red pill (see Comment #19) 😀 !

But how true is this??? A few excerpts from real-life experiences!

You: What a surprise! How come you are in a bus??
Friend: Recession, re! No money. Wallet’s almost empty.
You (nodding in agreement): Yea…I know. So, where you off to?
Friend: Am meeting an old ‘friend’ (winks) in CCD at 5. Haven’t seen each other in a long time. So, thought could catch up over a coffee.
You: Uh…uh. (Cafe Cofee Day’s the only place for a coffee??)

You: You sure you wanna come in my car? I thought you hated car-pooling. Friend (sheepish smile): I do. But well…one has to change with the times. When the wallet’s empty, that’s when saving becomes important! 😀
You: Hop in! Where can I drop you?
Friend: At the mall. Have some shopping…and am catching a movie with my girl! (beams)
You: Uh…uh. (Mall and multiplex??)

You: Dude, can you lend me 5k? I’ll return it in 15 days.
Dude: Jeez, no! I just bought a car.
You: What? In this time of recession?
Dude: Yea! Dad wanted me to buy a house. But what good’ll that do now,when I’m staying with them? A car’s what I need now. Helps us friends hang around and go places together. Anyway, it’s an investment. So, rather invest in somethings that’s most useful now!
You: Uh…uh. (Investment?? Car over a House? Really?)

You: Hey buddy! How’s it going?
Friend: Not too good. Mom called up yesterday too. She’s vexed that I’m not sending home any money! What does she know about recession!
You: Hmmm… but maybe you could…
Friend (cutting you short): Hey! Check out my new hairstyle! I coloured it too! Spent a fortune on it at L’oreal! Phew!
You (gaping): But you just said…well, never mind! (After a pause) Oh, it’s stunning!

Has Recession hit only the Management, that hard? Because even though lay offs and salary cuts are happening, Coffee Days and Baristas and Pizza Huts and Malls and Multiplexes and Branded Outlets and Fancy Restaurants and Boutiques and Professional Salons and are all always full of people!

And more interestingly, they are always full of young people! Is there something that makes these Hargrave-types so confident of a brighter  (financial and economic) tomorrow?

So, how many of you are saving? And how? Would love to get some tips…because I seem to be one of those indifferent ‘youngsters” (though I have no confidence in a financially better tomorrow; this is just how I am). 😀

Four women…and the cycle of life

ONE→ — she was a goddess! She had the heart of a…well…I can’t find a single person / thing to compare her with. Love seemed to be the very reason behind her existence…and love is all she ever had in her. From my earliest memories, I can only take out snaps of her angelic face…with that never-fading smile. I could never determine if they were wrinkles or laugh-lines that blanketed her face.

She was always concerned about every living thing’s welfare. Meet her for the first time in your life…and you’d still be asked the one question which was so characteristic of her: “Have you had any food, my dear?” There was not a single person who hasn’t felt warm being asked that. There were only good things she had to tell about people.

She was everyone’s darling — a hot favourite in that neighbourhood. The perfect woman: which put heavy demands on her daughter 😉 .

When she died at the age of 94, even the plants in the house seemed to wilt!

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Two→ — born the eldest in the family and followed by two brothers, she was a pampered sister; a disciplined daughter; a liberated wife.

Her childhood — in the role of a daughter — was a supressed one. She longed to wear glass bangles; but when she finally got  a few and wore it, her dad smashed them all into bits. She longed to dress up, but  feared her dad’s reaction to it. She longed to be liberated: and that’s when she got married.

The husband danced to her every whim; gave her all she wanted; treated her like his goddess. But alas! She never became that loving wife he thought (and expected) she would. Money became the reason and the ‘everything’ of her existence. Even when her seven kids grew up, she treated them all on the basis of who was richer…and who gave her the best benefits.

Throughout her life, all that ever mattered to her was money…and her own well-being. Anyone / anybody who came in the way was treated like dirt.

She is now 90. Health is deteriorating; beauty has faded; all that remains is the arrogance, self-indulgence and love for money!

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Three→ — probably was born as an angel and sent down to earth for the welfare of a few select earthlings!

The one person in the family who lived for the family. Right from childhood, she took it up on herself ‘to care’. Everyone was always treated like kings and queens by her. Even when they (almost always) forgot to care for her welfare, she’s never had a complaint.

She is beautiful, angelic. And has a heart that matches her face. Love seems to be the very reason behind her existence…and love is all she ever has in her. From my earliest memories, I have felt only the love that overflowed from her heart.

No matter how people treat her, she is always available and ready when they are in need. Nothing ever deters her from helping someone — even while she’s in the worst conditions.

She is everyone’s darling…and will always remain so. She’s the kind of woman every woman would love to be: which places a lot of demands on the daughter 😉

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From the cycle of life depicted here, Four→ is likely to follow Two→. But she’d be damned if that happens. Knowing her, am sure she won’t let anything lead to that!! She loves Three→ and that’s who she’d love and strive to be like.

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This is the story of four consecutive generations in a family…

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Oh! By the way… Four→ is me.
It’s too early to really write anything about 😀 😆

ICICI — hum hain na(hin) !!

I recovered from my ATM card loss recently and realised that I’d been dumb enough not to have applied for a new one…but well, my indecision on the date of my arrival at Trivandrum made me wait a lil’ longer — lest the card comes to Blore and I be at Trivandrum.

Well again, as always, 45 minutes prior to my journey, I realise I have no money on me — had to pay for the ticket and then fill my purse with a lil’ cash (last trip home, my mom opens my purse, gives me a tragic-cum-dirty-cum-pitiful look and says “Rs 5 is all you have on you??”…ahem, that hurt! 😀 ). Anyways, I rush into this ICICI Branch, see their tagline ‘hum hain naa’ and feel reassured…till I reach Counter 1.

“Hi, I’ve lost my atm card and I’d …” “Have you blocked it, Ma’am?” “Yes. But I need to withdraw cash right now. Its an emergency.” “Sorry Ma’am, you cant do that.”

Now, did I hear him right? “Listen, I am leaving the city in half an hour and I need cash urgently…” “Ma’am, do you have your cheque book?” “No, I dont…” “Then you cant withdraw cash, Ma’am. Ma’am, we are open till 7; you can come back with your cheque book and withdraw later…” I’m getting pissed off here! “Look, sir, I’m leaving the city in half an hour. I do not have the time to go home now!” “Sorry Ma’am, then you cant withdraw cash.”

Oh my god!! These people are unbelievable!! “Look, is there another option?” “Yes Ma’am.” And then silence. He’s blinking at me! Hmmm…ippo technique pidikitti… (now I understand the technique)…one has to ask question by question and get their answers 😀 😀 … I am actually seething by now! “And what, may I ask, is the option?” “Ma’am, you can pay Rs 28 extra and get an emergency cheque leaf…” What the f***?!

Then I am directed to another counter. I hardly reach there before a bright face looks at me and says “May I help you?” “Listen, I’ve lost my ATM card, but i need to withdraw some ca” “Sorry Ma’am, you can’t.” I look at him with an expression that screams “WHAT THE F***!?” “Look, will you let me complete? Your friend there said I can get some kinda emergency cheque…” “Ok. Please wait Ma’am. This is your call slip. When you are called, please go to that counter.”

There are no other customers in that bank…but yet, I have to ‘wait’ for my turn! Ah, the counter screamed my number! Bless you, Counter! I walk over to the lady there and start off “I lost…” “You may please check the counter number, Ma’am.” GRRRRRR! I’m supposed to be at Counter 6, but am at Counter 5…grave mistake!! (The two counters are separated by a very clean, totally transparent glass pane which is half my height!) Why couldnt the b**** just say “Next Counter, Ma’am.”?? But no, I have to walk back, ‘check’ the callout display and figure out which Counter!!

When I finally reach the right Counter and explain my plight, her majesty says “No Ma’am. If you do not have your ATM card or your cheque book, you cannot withdraw cash.” I started losing my cool totally. “What the bloody… Look, lady! I am here for the damn emergency cheque. I’ll pay you 30 or 50 instead of just 28! Just gimme one of those.” “No Ma’am, since you have unused cheque leaves at home, we cannot issue an emergency cheque. This is our policy.”

Then I tore the call slip, threw it into the darned dustbin (wanted to throw at her, but well, I’m not an ICICI employee; so I have some sense and manners!), muttered undescribable prejoratives and walked out.

And now, to apply for a new card, the call centre guys and gals say “You’ll get one from any branch.” The branch ppl say “You’ll get it through the call centre.” Finally the branch people win…I am put through to the call centre gal who takes all my details, makes me hold the line forever and then says “Ma’am, we are unable to process your request. Please call after an hour.” After a few hours, I call again (yes, I need that card badly…and am willing to go through this one last time!), a guy picks up, takes all my details, requests me to hold on since he has to check something and then phutt! he hangs up. I’m left with that irritating automated lady who starts off with “Welcome to ICICI…”

ICICI…my foot!

an atm card, 7744 bucks and a lost password!

Been down in the dumps since Saturday…

Was in the joy of having received some bonus from office and all that on Friday. Planned to have a bash on Saturday…go book shopping, spend the night at a friend’s place and have a happy weekend. Until I checked my bag on Saturday morning. And… Damn! Damn! Damn!

My atm card had apparently deserted me! First call went to the boyfriend, “Why the hell did you take my card? You could at least have told me…now how the hell do you think I can go shopping?!”. The answer was calm and amused “I do not have your card, Priya.” Aah…that was it. “Damn! Damn! Damn! Me, my carelessness and my damn forgetfulness…”

I was in despair. I knew I had misplaced it…but didn’t know when or where—until I figured out that my previous usage had been on July 8^th…well, the obvious things were done—called the bank, blocked the card, realised some ****** has swiped it for Rs 7744 at some African Electronics shop! Damn! Damn! Damn!

“It was swiped in Africa? A.F.R.I.C.A ???” “Ummm…no ma’am…I meant it was swiped in a shop called Africa Electronics.” “Oh.” I was so irritated at the loss that I was quite tempted to be mean to the guy standing at the next counter and complaining, “Look, my card is old…and I need a new one…” Here, I have neither the card nor the money—and this fellow is cribbing about a new card?? Have mercy! For want of loosing my cool, I just pretended he didn’t exist. Damn! Damn! Damn!

Well, nothing much was to be done…I went on with my book shopping, had lunch and met up with friends to catch a movie… I had totally ignored the card and the loss… “What has to happen, will happen, Priya” I told myself. And well, landed up at Lido, met my friends and told them the sob-story. “African Electronics? I haven’t even heard of it” said a friend. “Me neither”, wailed I…when another one piped up “Ah, that shop is right behind my house!” “What???” Damn! Damn! Damn!

And then my brain started working…actually started working! Since that day, I haven’t slept. In spite of all that, i sat through the entire movie (Jaane tu ya jaane na–do watch it, its a happy movie…nice); i went to my friend’s place and spent the night there with 3 others; came back home on Sunday, continued the investigation…and finally on monday, i had two suspects. Hated the fact that it was either of the two… Damn! Damn! Damn!

All of monday, I couldn’t concentrate on my work. Kept solving the situation over and over in my head…and finally, by monday evening, I ruled out one among the two. And I was shocked… Damn! Damn! Damn!

Came home dead tired…mentally, more than physically…and finally sat down with my laptop, logged on to gmail… oops, logged on to gmail…ooops, logged on to gmail…ooops, logged on to gmail…ooops, logged on to gmail…and well, with shock, despair, irritation and much frustration, i realised that my password wasn’t working…it kept asking me to verify the special characters, check caps lock and a lot of other things. All I wanted was to see “Loading scorpria@gmail.com…” and that was the only message which wasn’t coming. Damn! Damn! Damn!

Then the tears started flowing! I cried like a baby…”I’ve lost my gmail id…waaaaahhhhh….i’ve lost my orkut id…everything is gone…my atm card is also gone….waaaahhhh….”

😀 😀 😀 3 sleepless nights, 2 full days of mental pressure and 7744 bucks! I had lost my logical abilities…the ability to think straight, apply my brain and realise that I can do a password recovery!