When I got a call letter for my first interview after graduation , I borrowed Rs. five from a namboodiri ,who was the richest man in the locality .I had been borrowing often during my studies, pawning gold ornaments of my aunt and used to repay with interest .This time he gave me the money without security .I must have risen in his credibility .
With this money , I proceeded towards PUNALUR PAPER MILLS near Kollam.
The interviewer was an Englishman .He asked me ,among other things , whether I ever went outside Kerala .I said no .
Afterwards I got into a motor boat at Kollam .I enjoyed the journey ,my first in a boat .
Some time thence , I got a job at Ajmer in Rajasthan and became busy ,totally forgetting the debt of Rs. 5/
There was a midterm poll in Kerala ,following dismissal of the first Communist Ministry in there and I sent a five ruppe note to my friend , as my contribution to election fund , in an envelop .My friend got the letter but there was no money !
Years later I was posted at Bhavnagar in Gujarat .Our peon asked for Rs. 5/ . Now , I remembered my debt to my fellow nambudiri and gladly treated it as gift .This has happened several times .
My next encounter with five rupee notes ,seven hundred fifty in number,carefully packed in a polythene cover and safely deposited in pant’s safe pocket , was tragic , as the whole thing disappeared during journey in suburban train in Bombay .I just wanted to save taxi charges !
I still have a habit of unconsciously scanning the road while walking leisurely .Even ten paise coin (one tenth of a rupee )will be picked up .One day I saw a paper which looked like five rupee note .It was so soiled and trodden over that none can recognize it .I looked closed . It was a five rupee note ,sure . I was in a dilemma.It will have to be washed and dried .I was loath even to touch it .At last I picked it up with the finger tips .I walked ,looking for a beggar. Even they are scarce when you need them !
At last I espied one , sitting by the roadside .When I showed him the note , he looked at me , angrily , I thought .At last, to my immense relief , he stretched out his palm .
Thank God ! Now we have five ropee coins !
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