Joy of paying digitally

Yesterday I purchased something which cost ₹9. Anyways I did not have cash and was wondering if the shop accepts digital payment.

To my surprise, shopwala said okay and flashed a QR code from his machine. I scanned the code with BHIM and paid without any effort. 

This scene would have been different a couple of years ago. When I had to give a change, the treasure hunt from my bag will start off. The hunt will continue in many compartments of the bag and will take a minimum of 5 mins. If this hunt resulted in finding the change then okay.. Else the shop keeper will say ask the neighboring shops. Then I will take a ₹50 or ₹100 currency note and will embark on a different hunt. This time with other shops. Sometimes they will give the change and many times they will demand to buy something in their shop. So I would end up buying something which I may not need.. 

Also, before demonetization, most of the shops in my area accepted only cash and have good discounts. Since there were not many malls nearby, spending Sodexo coupons was much difficult. After many hunts, we found one store which accepted it.. though it sold at only MRP prices, we ended up buying at this store.

With demonetization and then the pandemic which encouraged no-touch shopping many of the shop keepers were forced to switch to digital payment.. This is one of the better side-effects of covid.

Random Records - Story of Face Mask - Discomfort to Comfort and vice versa!

It happened about ten years back! I had a colleague who was also commuting a long distance with me on the office shuttle. He was super allergic to the pollution in Bangalore and was in persistent cold throughout the year. As per his doctor’s advice, he started to wear a Face mask during the commute. Firstly, in those days the face masks that were available for general use were not aesthetically good. Secondly, people were not used to seeing people wearing face masks outside of hospitals. Bus mates thought it was usual. Some were very amused by his face mask also sort of made fun of him and thought it is like using a sword in place of a needle. Some got awkward to sit next to him. The discomfort was mutual for my colleague as well as for others.

2020 surely reversed this situation! Now it awkward, offensive, and of course unsafe if someone does not wear a face mask.

I had two such experiences this week. In a Doctor's clinic, A lady was sitting with her helmet on. This looked strange but the fact was that she had forgotten her face mask at home, and this was her only alternative. Else she was not allowed to walk in!

I went for a 'just in time' shopping to a nearby shop in my two-wheeler. Since it was close-by I did not use a Helmet, but I had forgotten my face mask as well! I did not want to go back home, so I used the cloth bag as a handheld face mask while walking to the shop with much discomfort avoiding stares from other people and security.  Alas! the security caught me and asked me to wear the face mask. He let me in only when I convinced him that I will buy one at the shop and wear it there.

I bought one immediately in the store and wore it in a jiffy. That is when all around me felt comfortable!  what a change in perception!

Random Records - The need to talk and 3Cs

Of late, when I meet people  (face to face) one thing is coming out loud and clear. Everyone seems to say that there is "no one to talk". I heard this in the houses with two, four, and even six people.

With so much technology around us, how is it that there is no one to talk to??? Everyone is just a video call away! A Facebook post away or a WhatsApp message away...

So why are people complaining about "No one to Talk"

When I reflect on this, I presume that it's the people with common interests and "responsive" - will only make it a wholesome conversation.

3Cs - Common theme and Common thread and Compassionate ears are all that's required for everyone to feel belonged. The lack of someone to talk to is one of the side effects of the pandemic as well.