Look-howgood-I-am!
Hooked
By Priya Arunkumar
Ma, money does grow on trees! It does, it does! Technically you are wrong when you tell money doesn’t grow on trees. The currencies come in papers right? And where do you get the paper? Trees ma, trees, she was gleeful. She was totally excited that she caught me on the wrong foot Before I could splutter a few words to justify, she was on to the next line. I want money, ma and it is for a good cause. If only I could make some money… she had a serious frown on her face. I meant money doesn’t come free, it is an expression, I explained feebly Ma, nothing in this world comes free, I know that. But, give me some money, she negotiated. What is with these kids nowadays? They know their words, their way and seem more mature than they should be. They claim they are cool and look cool too. I would have never negotiated with my parents, I still don’t! Clutching a few notes in her hand, she brooded. Everyone wants money and they are all going to kill the trees, she actually sounded worried. Why don’t they stop making paper money? It is not good for the environment. Whoever thought of paper money actually has killed us all… she philosophised. Maybe we should have virtual monies, what say you? I pinched myself; it is time to think before you speak. It is not easy to have a dialogue with the younger generation. They are never impressed. And they have an answer to
everything. When I was a kid, I listened patiently to everything my parents told, from a simple bedtime story to the history to the unending stories of the Indian epics. My dad told us stories of the world, and life experiences that I listened to without batting an eyelid. I loved stories, I still do. I never questioned the credibility of a story, I always visualised the scenes. Probably we came from a generation that was impressionable. And because I grew up with stories, I had an active mind, and it taught me a little righteousness. Even if it meant learning from dead old history! Probably the busy schedules, working system, and the modernity is taking away the time to sit and talk to your youngsters, pass on what you got from your elders. It used to be a ritual, part of every childhood. Not anymore. Childhood is filled with graphics, mobiles, downloads and reminders! The word righteousness sound prudish today, it even seems nonexistent. Not that I am fond of it. I loathe it all too– ‘holier than thou’ testimonies, the long do and don’ts checklists and finger-pointing; but don’t we all need some measure to live by? Don’t you think the art of right living is to develop true goodness without falling into the trap of look-how-good-I-am? Who wants to be a ‘goody two shoes’, ma? If you want to be cool, you need to go with the flow, ma. Well, you can be as you want to be, there she goes again… Sigh! I do sound prudish today, and outdated." priya@blackandwhiteoman.com