No money for food

"Hi. I am calling to tell you that today we have to submit our examination fee. Carry the exact amount. Those clerks in the college never have change with them", my friend Sneha had called to remind me.

Of course I remembered and had already kept the exact amount in my wallet. I had placed it inside an envelope, so I do not use that money. I was well prepared to go to the college and pay the fees.

At 11:30 I reached my colleague. I went to the office to find out that they were going to start accepting the fees from 12 PM. But the students have already started queueing, so I joined them too. I waited for my friends to join. A few minutes later, Sneha arrived. She confirmed with me if I was carrying the cash. Then we stood in the queue waiting for the office to start accepting the fees.

Our friend Riya had not yet arrived. Both me and Sneha had been worried. Because if the exam fee was not paid she could not appear for the exams. Finally Riya arrived in tears. She had lost her wallet while alighting the bus. She was crying that she had lost the exam fee. I told her that I had extra cash, so she would be be able to pay the fees and she could pay me later. Riya thanked me and took the cash from me. She paid the fees. Then three of us headed to our classroom. After the lectures were over, both Riya and Snehal left. I had to wait in the college because from the college I had to go to the coaching classes which had been nearby.

It was around 5 in the evening. I decided to grab a bite before heading to the classes. I went to the cafeteria to order a sandwich. I took out my wallet to find only rs 7 in it. My first thought was where had I spend the money. But then I realised, I had given the money to Riya to pay the fees. With a significant amount gone, I had no money to buy a sandwich. There was nothing in the cafeteria that could be bought for rs 7. I was hungry and wanted to eat, but had no money.

My last option was to buy Parle G. I asked the cafeteria manager to give me Parle G or Marie. That is when he told me, they had not received the supply for snacks. The only snack that was available was chips which costed rs 10. There was nothing available that would cost less than rs 10. The goodwill of paying fees for my friend was costing me to stay hungry. I knew I had done the right deed, but it was adversely affecting me.

I was hungry and on the verge of crying. I had classes which would go on till 9 pm. I would go home after that and have dinner only at 10 pn. The time to have dinner was still over 4 hours away. My stomach was not ready to accept the reality and kept growling. As I had no money, I had no option. I drank water (that was free of cost) till the time, there was no space left in my belly. I filled the water bottle too. It was water that was going to keep me from staying empty stomach. With restricting my tears, I kept the water bottle in my bag, I headed to my coaching classes.

I had learned very important life lessons that day: To always keep spare cash to help others in need, but never spend it where there will be no money for food.