Excuse me..

Based on a true life incident:-

30 June 2003
Dear Diary,
What a day, I repeat, what a day! I had started my 2nd week of 11th standard at my school- Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Mangalore- thinking of the computer class I was also taking & pleading in my mind for the teachers to not give any homework. I soon realised that my teachers were very sincere indeed, piling loads of homework on me! "How am I going to finish all this??" I asked myself..

You see, it wasn't a great day (!) from the beginning. I had missed my usual bus in the morning, got caught in the rain and so on.. You get the point!

Well here I am, school done and walking the small distance from the bus stop to my computer class. I was about to openly curse the rain when this kind looking old man with a smile on his face approaches me:

"Excuse me..."
"Yes?" I said.
"What's the way to the bus stop?"
"Go straight ahead and take that left road past the bakery over there."
"Thank you!"
"Totally my pleasure!"

He drew a bit closer and said sheepishly: "You see, my boy, I am actually 10 rupees short of the ticket price of a bus to Udupi. I don't suppose you can spare a tenner? Don't worry, just come here tomorrow the same time to collect your money back."

I admit I was a lot more trusting then (Read gullible). Also I had just got my President's Award for Bharat Scouts and flashes of the scout law came to my mind - 'To help other people..'- and so before I knew it, I handed him a 10 rupee note. He thanked me and went about his way leaving me in a delirium of good-goodyness!

I had gone but a few feet when I turned around to see that sweet old man. To my utter shock, the old man was running, not towards the bus stop, but towards the local toddy shop! It may seem a minor incident now but then it played a pivotal role in making me the sarcastic skeptic I am today..

Well thats it for another post for I see at the gate entrance of my home, calling me out, a kind looking old man with a smile on his face..
He says "Excuse me..."
"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"