Shasak

Write about your approach to budgeting.

In my teenage years, I learned that presenting a monthly budget before my father was not as easy as reading budgetary proposals in any parliament.

Nostalgia crossed my head. I had moved away from my parents to Ahmedabad for further study. It was not a ‘click away’ time and a Money Order by post was the second option to meet personally for a money exchange. The sudden monetary need would be a perplexing situation, alas!

College life took a little adventurous and mischievous shape and extravagant spending needed to cover up in a month. But no worries. We were the smart guys! The bulky books for the college semester were sold el cheapo prices on Gandhi Road. No harm in using second-hand books. What a joyful invention! The next monthly budget session was a popular budget at home compared to that of the finance minister V. P. Singh at the centre.

We had a Modi, the smartest fellow in our team who would go detect every corner of the town and fetch other study materials at a fair price. This hilarious Modinomics made a populous scheme; stretching one end to the cheapest and the other end to increasing inputs for affordable living; a lesson for Mr V.P. Singh too. Believe me, Modi magic is still relevant as my spouse is an expert in bargain-basement.

Memoirs of the college days have a vast practical impact on the present. The period gave clarity towards the realities and responsibilities of life. Importantly, nerves of steel developed to sustain adversities and uncertainties of destiny. Thanks to Bachchan Karbhari Pandya Maddy and Jaggo as we called them and of course, champion Modi with others.