Little money vs. more...

As I sit on my easy chair, all the thoughts of our MBA times together are rushing through my head. Me and Pojj, we loved going to the university canteen and eating poha. Or if we were lucky and had 20-30 rupees more, then we would binge on idly and coffee alongwith poha. Ahh, what a luxury we thought.
When Deps, bheep and me would feel rich we would go to Ratnas (dhaba near college) and eat paneer (as deps was a veg) with some butter chicken and naan. I remember we never even let the salad go waste. We always smeered the kheera with lime and added a pinch of salt to it, so the taste was tingling and absolutely fab. As I write this, my mouth is watering. But then there were days when we would feel like spending....just plain and simple, then we would go to Symphony...ahhhh...get the vodka and some peanuts ....which once turned out to be embarassing. Cuz the first time Pojj took me to Symphony (no big deal - just a resturant) the waiter recognized me and said - "Madam aaj Vodka?" Considering it was our 2nd or 3rd date, my cheeks turned red...but Pojj laughed it off and said -"Nahin aaj madam sirf nimbu paani lengi". Phew!! he still pulls my leg for this one.

The little money that we had in our pockets got us bigger pleasures...I remember the turning point of our relationship (more from Pojj's point of view - I was more or less sold out on him) was when he came all the way from his hostel (22kms) and I excitedly asked him where we were going for dinner. He gave me a shy reply - saying he just had 30 rupees in his pocket, I smiled and said, that makes it 50 rupees, cuz I have 20 , so lets go eat the paranthas. Believe me they were yummy and it filled our tummy completely.

And today, we spend on an average 2000-3000 rupees on any decent meal outside. The meal I pay for charges me for the ambience, food, cutlery and service. But I dont relish it as much. May be because the 25 rupees parantha on an empty stomach then gave me more pleasure than what a tandoori chicken and butter naan from a 4 star can now give me. We earn more than 10 times of what we got as pocket money during college and yet it seems to vanish at the end of the month. We have stopped borrowing clothes from our friends to wear for parties /dates...and our wardrobe (no matter how expensive it has become), does not look that exciting any more.

I do not wish to turn back time, but I know for one that me and Pojj both appreciate the little money phase of our life. It has made us who we are now, it has shaped us. So even if we are to face the bad times together, it would not be that bad...cuz I guess - we know how to manage little money better than more. . .