Last week, I tried to make Chapathis. I know the process, but I called my younger sister who wants to always educate me! :) Whatever I know, she told the same. I started preparing. But at the end, I could ‘invent’ some inverted maps of existing countries and continents. Of course, the taste remained same as the ingredients that made for Chapathi were intact. :) But, why I could not make Chapathis in round shape?

We talk at the end about Chapathis. I got another point. I want some clues or answers why do people behave ‘cheap’ but not ‘costly’ in some instances.

This holds good for many who out there living in the world. I don’t want to blame others so I am blaming myself and my friends.

My room mates and I are not exceptional. We are as normal as a guy who is at the age of 25 to 27 yeras old. Because of our parents interests or pushed by the stream, we all are working for good IT companies. One thing to be noted here is we all are not married. Single. So no control over expenditures (I am talking about a normal guy who is at 25 to 27 years old.) We do spend more on some on-the-moment-wanted-to-buy items. Like…

>> Ram bought costly goggles that costs around 3500/- He never puts on them. Not only goggles many items.
>> Bhaskar brought one USB powered polycorbonate transparent tray equipped with 3 fans, beautifully decorated LEDs and some blah blah blah. This tray is to keep the laptop’s ass cool. He never uses it. (His laptop does not have graphics card. So, heat vents already provided to the laptop are enough.)
>> I don’t want to tell about myself, there is a big list. I am having 3 to 4 hooded shirts, I hardly wear and some extra stuff.
Etc. etc.

These are the some (in fact there are many) incidents we spent money just to live that moment and we never cherished them again. We did not cherish because, we did not want to buy them in need but out of temptation. These stupid money-spenders do behave weird at sometimes – conjuse. You know when? Read on.

>>> House maid, who has been working in our house since more than a year, asks for a ‘hike’ of 100/- (Per head 20/- extra monthly)
>>> Tip to a server. “Rs 5 or 10? Rs.2 is enough.” Big discussion. Comedy is… suggestions came to not give tip at all ‘cos the brought Pepsi after asking 3 to 4 times. So we got hurted. (Per head Re.1)
>>> Auto. If auto driver asks Rs.30 for 4 people (Per head Rs.7.50) we bargain with him to come for Rs.25 (Per head 6.25). So we fight for a difference of Rs. 1.25 (Per head Rs.1.25)
>>> When time comes to choose between hotels (In padma’s meals is 40/- but in Balaji Mess it is just 35/-.) A big discussion to save 5/- (Per head Rs.5)
>>> While having dosas/idli at Prakash’s cuicine :) if any begger comes (Don’t mind whether she or he or a kid) we never give a rupee. If she asks more than once, we try to escape as if she is touching us with her dirty hands and we even feel embarassed to be chansed by her.
>>> Adding water to hand-wash-foamer to postpone buying the another one. One of us once tried to educate us also how to use it with out getting it wasted.
>>> Buying chappal for chit-chat-out-going.
>>> Etc. etc.

Of course, if you add all these per head amount a month it may sum up to some considerabale amount. But not for us (May not be for many of you too) because all these above activities may not happen every month like dining out, going movies etc.

Now, question is why these big-money-spenders behave more than conjuse at times. I could ‘frame’ some answers. Two of them being,
1. At the above said instances you wont get materialistic returns.
2. (Worst of all) You may feel, you are doing a favor at a cheaper rate to him.
3. (Not true) Our conscience may tell, “you have already spent more on goggles or shirts or something, so don’t tip him/ don’t give her 1 rupee etc. etc.”

So guys… I want to know some more answers if you have instances like said above. I am sure you had. Just for fun or realization, talk to yourself and write answers in comments to this post.

Okay… now I come to point, why I could not make Chapathis? The answer is, it was the first time I tried. :)