Change' we need!

I put my hand in the purse and take off whatever I get in my hand. Lipstick, kajal, pendrive and what not. I keep hunting for it inside my purse. I am sure I have it. I remember having those precious ones. Ah! I got it. My precious coins which sums up to three rupees. I hurriedly get in to the bus number 19 which takes me to my designation, The T.M.A Pai hall. The conductor as usual whistled before I could even get in the bus. My right foot was hanging out. One unexpected break and I straight away landed on the lap of an old man who hissed at me giving an annoyed look, almost pushing me on to the conductor. He asked for the precious coins and I happily handed over them to him. He said, one rupee more. That is when I realized that while I was struggling to get inside the bus, I lost one rupee. Ah! My precious one. I handed over a ten rupee note to the sternly staring conductor and he said, he has got no change. Another break and I heard his black bag filled with coins making a pleasant sound. I looked at it. He looked away and handed over a five rupee coin. Two more rupees got into his pocket. A old lady got down at the next stop and I was the first one to occupy that seat by skillfully aiming my bag on it and then with a winner look on my face, i sat straight. The boy next to me who was in his twenties, smiled and said, these people collect the coins and make a profit of rupees ten on hundred rupees worth coins. Plus all the extra charge they take with the common dialogue, “No change”.

I reached my stop and was effortlessly thrown out by the crowd. And the bus started before I could even pull out my veil out of the messy crowd. It was my routine struggle. Initially I would fight for the coins but then making everyday a messy one wasn't affordable. I made it a point to carry my coins.

The medical shops hand over the cough drops such as Vicks, irrespective of the customer having throat infection or not. I love the ginger flavour.

The other shops have replaced the coins with Eclairs, chewing gums etc. I wish to do the same. It's like, back to barter system.

The malls usually have the prices like 999. It usually makes no sense as most of the time we don't get that one rupee and straight away asking for it is a little awkward. I remember myself asking for the one rupee in Bharat mall, Mangalore. The person at the counter asked if I would like to have a carry bag. I nodded. He said, then give me rupees two. I said, no change and he handed over a few chocolates to me. I don't eat them. Coolly he says, You have no other choice. Uh!

I like using smart card at food courts in shopping malls, where you can get whatever you want, at whatever counter you want, and never have to worry about taxes and change. If the food court offers a refund of the unused amount on surrender of the smart card, it is one more reason to frequent the place.

I rush at the canteen of Aloysius College, just after finishing my psychology practicals. I order for Chicken chilly with parota which costs 65 rupees. He says, no change. I still remember my stomach growling. I pleaded and said I have no change. He refused to give me the food. I remember a hand from the back placing over a five rupee coin and I quickly got the food. That was sheer joy I experienced on that day!

Such is the situation everywhere. The shortage of coins. The auto drivers and the bus conductors make the best out of it earning extra, placing the excuse of “NO CHANGE”. My last resort was banks. But recently I hear the same dialogue from them too. Ah! Coins, where have you all gone?

Arpita Chipkar from karwar is a student of B A in Journalism at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore

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