CLICK - The experience

October 2nd. It was a relatively quieter day with less traffic and I left with my colleague for office. After a not so great day at office and whatever followed, we finally left for home. After finishing dinner I went with Praveen (my colleague @ Kingfisher Airlines) to his residence. We sat watching TV. After the usual zapping we settled to watch an Adam Sandler - Kate Beckinsale flick titled 'Click' (got to know the name a little later). Warning: What follows is not a movie review.

It’s a story of a guy who’s happy go lucky what with him laying his hands on a Universal remote which will control his universe. He started using it to make his fantasies real, then forward things he was not too excited about etc etc. With nothing better coming on TV we continued watching. And soon we were into it completely. What kept us gripped is a simple, entertaining storyline which is a trademark of all Adam Sandler movies. While he's happy with the remote and the advantages he has he soon realises life is running too fast and soon getting out of hand. Daughter has grown up and goes partying, wife's got grey hair etc. In another fast forward his wife has married another person and he’s in the hospital for obesity treatment...another fast forward and his dad is no more. And some sequences later he's himself on his death bed. His kids meet him at the hospital upset and move on. Worried that he may never meet them again he runs out of the hospital and ultimately dies amidst his ex-wife and kids. And there was a timely commercial break after that. Expecting movie credits after the break we both wondered what the flick was all about...was it an Adam Sandler movie etc etc. We were in for a surprise. After the break we see Sandler happily sleeping in a big retail outlet. He suddenly wakes up to realise all that has happened to him was a big dream. Happy that he's still alive...happy that he still has his parents around him, happy that his kids are still as young as they were before, happy that his wife was still next to him he’s overcome with joy.

The whole sequence also makes him and along with him the audience realise that he got a second chance to enjoy life. And not let it slip by.

After a hectic day we, Praveen & me watched a movie which was...I wonder what would the right words be...amazing? thought provoking? inspirational? As many thoughts flicker around we both discussed that in a short span we were made to realise what was happening around us. In all a very simple yet beautiful movie. Would recommend it to all of you who haven’t seen it yet.

Just hope to keep it in the back of my mind and approach life accordingly.

Value of a Rupee!

Born into a family of farmers, both my parents had an upbringing in a rural backdrop. Appa took to engineering diplomat and followed it by joining the Indian Air Force. Amma did her B. Sc in Mathematics. Situations didn't allowed her to study further. Even in the Air Force appa had a humble beginning. I still rather vividly remember the stories both appa & amma told us (me & my younger brother) about their upbringing and along with it the value of a rupee.

These stories were repeated right through our childhood and our upbringing. While it may sound like we know these stories by heart but still we would listen to them with the same amount of enthusiasm & eagerness. When on our summer vacation both appa & amma will show us places they stayed, played and studied...the trail they followed to their school and college etc etc.

Right from our early days we were taught to value money. We both also realised how they have and are struggling to give us a good life. We would never complaint about anything...never ask for anything unduly. I still remember I would ensure the stationery would be used wisely..would take care of my shoes to make them last for almost 3 years etc etc. Every year after the half yearly and annual exams the gift was an outing and lunch at Haldiram Bhujiyawala (Nagpur). We did well in our studies. In my 6th standard appa got me a BSA SLR bicycle which was with me for the next 7 years!!! And appa-amma would be happy to note that. During summer vacation whenever we visited our relatives as a custom we would be given money which we promptly would give to appa telling him to deposit in our accounts and give to us when we ask for it :)

If am not mistaken it was in 10th standard that we started getting pocket monies. And my first pocket money was a Rupee. Initially I was not keen on taking it but then I took it. Would buy tit bits or chocolates once in a while as otherwise this money would get collected. Amma would be surprised that once in a while I would spend 10-15 rupees on some household expense and curiously ask where it came from. She would be very touched to realise that its the pocket money which appa gave us. In 11th standard the pocket money became 2 rupees. And that year I remember came an icecream-walah who would sell rose bars for a 50 np and milk cream bar for Rs. 1.50. I would save up money to buy the milk cream bar on alternate days.

Growing up I always noted that appa used to meticulously note down the day's expenses, category wise... item wise. When on his trips he would make a note in small pieces of paper and then enter them in his diaries once hes back. I would ask the purpose and he would sit down and explain the importance of keeping track. Growing up I somehow always thought it was a waste of time....at least the detailing. I would jokingly ask what would be the spends on tomatoes in his married life and he would claim he can give an answer! Appa always wanted me to have the habit. I would never bother...

Soon I finished my graduation and shortly my MBA, both from Madurai. I started my career at Lintas, Bangalore at a small salary. At that stage Appa always (even now) had only one thing to say...work hard, earn well, spend wisely. Given I was only 22 yrs old I always thought let me become serious about money & life from the time I was 25. Time flew and I was 25. And I did taking life a bit seriously but failed. Salaries started increasing as years went by and so did my expenditures, though I was not the spendthrift types. I somehow couldn't do the 'send half the salary home at the starting of the month'. But yes, I managed to send money once in a while which will at least take care of all the investments on my behalf. And then salaries were never good...they are not even now.

Now am 31, married, with a different sent of aspirations, ambitions, dreams etc etc. After a great struggle I managed to push myself to the limits and invest in a flat. My wife, Reema has stood right next to me in all this. I know she has her own dreams and aspirations, which she of course doesn't share. And with the funds becoming tight is when I started realising the value of every rupee. Days and months of proper planning went into purchasing of the flat. And that had to be followed by strict financial control...I wish I had done it before...but then its OK. Its never too late as they say.

As I was putting my thought down I was constantly reminded of the AIG TV commercial 'Kid - meri pehli salary'!

Today am at a stage of life where I value a rupee much more than I would before...