|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 19 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Looking after your bills
"Why? What's the problem?" I asked. "You know. It's an error on our part. The authorities have disconnected our telephone." "Oh I am sorry to hear that. But if it is disconnected, how am I to contact you?" "The disconnection is from one side, for we are unable to dial and get a call from our side. But you may call us, for we can get your call." "In other words what we say is that the incoming calls are allowed, and the outgoing calls disallowed. Isn't it?" "That is precisely what has happened." My friend apparently looked like taking the whole scene in a lighter vein. "How much did it come to?" I asked. "Roundabout thirty two thousand rupees." "It's a big amount, and for how many months." "For about four to five months I think." "Oh that's too bad. Why didn't you pay that monthly?" "To be honest, we didn't take the whole thing so seriously." "Oh this looks like a case in postponement of things, or to use a high flown word, procrastination." "Yes in a way it is like that. I was postponing things in a little way. But in the end, it looked like a big event." "Yes postponing things bring ill results." "I know. But things happen that way without much realization on our part." "So what are you going to do now?" "I am trying to pay the whole bill." "Can you manage?" "I have to think ways and means of doing it." "But I think the wisest thing should be to pay in instalments." "Can't the bank pay the whole amount?" "That's not a bad idea. But then you got to raise an overdraft, for which there is an interest added." "What are the other alternatives?" For a moment, both of us stopped talking and went on thinking the ways and means of paying the telephone bill. My friend and his wife were retired teachers. They have some of their children and grandchildren visiting them from time to time. Perhaps they may have created this problem. "I think the younger generation takes these things very easily. Perhaps they may have phoned their friends and well-wishers allowing an accumulation of money. We never know how things happen." When I said that, my friend denied. "My children are very kind hearted. I suppose there are other callers, my past pupils as well, who go on talking for hours. Perhaps it may be lesser calls and more talks. That may have been the problem. "Anyway it's good to cultivate the habit of using a few words when one takes a telephone call." "There is also a category of callers, who go on repeating what they say without realizing that they got to pay money for it." Then we went on talking about the ethics of telephone calls. The cost benefits of using a telephone. There are moments, when a telephone is a disaster. But it's useful as well. Before we departed I realized that my friend is faced with more than just one problem. In fact, the other day when I phoned him to ask what he has done regarding the telephone bill, he took it easy and went on talking in a manner as if he had all the time left with us. He may have done this when he is a caller to other. I realized that the fault lies within us. We should realize that every single thing around us is user-oriented and money involved. There is absolutely nothing given free. Perhaps the blessings of the Mother Nature, are given free one could say. But I am not too sure. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
"I am sorry for I am not in position to contact you over the
phone. Will it be possible to contact me from your end?" Asked my
teacher friend in an apologetic manner.
