Bring the change ..

"Change cannot be given to you every time. You must bring the change." 

These lines feel so great in one sense but on the other side of the coin, we often get to hear this from shopkeepers, bus conductors, taxi drivers, fruit sellers etc. Shopping Malls escape these lines through card payments or chocolates. The problem of getting change from vendors is really a fundamental problem in India. Many a times, we are bound to accept toffees in lieu of change. In this post, I shall describe a few funny incidents that happened with me for this "change problem".

During my college days, a xerox centre near our college always used to offer chlormints instead of giving change. I had to accept their chlormints against my will on several occasions. Many of my friends also faced similar situation at the same xerox centre. The staff at the centre never returned the change to the customers. Being near the college, the xerox outlet used to have a huge rush of students almost the entire day but even then they had no intention to provide change to anyone. One day, it so happened that I had got two photocopies done. So I had to pay 2 rupees. I gave them a 5 rupees coin. In return, they gave me three chlormints. I was determined not to accept these and fortunately I had five fresh chlormints in my pocket then. I was overjoyed with the golden chance of revenge ! I took back my 5 rupees coin from them and gave them 2 chlormints as the payment for the photocopies. They were shocked with the taste of their own medicines and reacted "How can this be taken? Give us cash".   I replied, "We accept your chlormints instead of cash. Why can't you?". With no other excuse left, they were wise enough to give 3 rupees change  immediately !

Once on a hot and humid day, I was on my way back home from college. I felt too thirsty and went to a nearby tea stall to buy a Pran Litchi drink. The drink was really refreshing. Next came the payment part. The cost was 7 rupees and I gave the cashier a 10 rupees note. So, it was time for a change again and as usual I was asked to buy something instead. The stall didn't have chlormints or any other toffees but it had a few lovely sweets. I opted for my favourite item "Laddu" but there was a problem again. The laddu cost 5 rupees per piece and my quota was of 3 rupees only. I didn't have extra 2 rupees change too. I asked if he could provide me change or if there is any other sweet costing 3 rupees per piece. There were none. I and the cashier kept looking at each other for sometime. Then, he decided to give me a discount, saying "Ok, please have it". I got the laddu. It was quite tasty. A profitable "change deal" indeed !

It was time for a haircut. I went to my regular salon. The haircut was done as I wanted. The hairdresser brushed my head and shoulder clean with an unclean towel. It was payment time again. The bill was 35 rupees only. I gave him 50 rupees but he returned only 10 rupees change. I asked him for the remaining 5 rupees. As usual, he  didn't have change and I didn't either. Then came a weird offer from him - "Shall I do haircut of another 5 rupees?". The true essence of his offer is best felt in Hindi - "Aur 5 rupiya ka kaant doo kya?". He laughed as he said this and I laughed too. I left saying that I will adjust it in the next haircut. I don't remember if the adjustment was done or not.

Sometimes, the change problem is harmful for your health too. Once I had to accept a 5 rupees Haldiram mixture pack from a grocery store instead of change. Back home, I took the packet for evening snacks but as soon as I had a little quantity of the mixture, I felt like vomiting. Yes ! The product had expired three months back ! This change deal taught me a lesson - "Never forget to check the expiry dates".

In order to deal with the problem of change, we need to be smart enough to find change. My father is really an expert in the art of getting change. Once we were on a bus journey to Shillong. On the way, the bus stopped at Ladrymbai for the passengers to have lunch. After the lunch, my father went to buy Paan but again there arose the change problem as he had only hundred rupees note whereas a Paan was just 5 rupees only. He then went to a beggar and gave him the 100 rupees note. I was a bit surprised to see his generosity. The very next moment I heard him saying to the beggar to keep 3 rupees and provide him 97 rupees change. I laughed a lot but appreciated his clever way out. The beggar agreed but he was blind and so he asked my father to take the change from his begging bowl. My father took 97 rupees from his bowl in a combination of 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 rupees. The trust shown by the beggar on my father pleased me.

The problem of change will remain. Even though it's quite troublesome at times, it's also a source of some funny experiences as well as some life lessons. Let's deal with it !