CHEQUE MATE

My first transaction at a bank was when I was an 8th standard student. I was sent to the State Bank Of Travancore branch, Kayamkulam with a cheque to be encashed. There I did what I was told to do. I gave the cheque at a counter and I was given a brass coin. I was shocked as I was told that when I give the cheque they will give me Rs250. Rs250 of the sixties !! And I am give just a brass coin. I thought I was going to collapse. Sensing danger the man at the counter pointed to the cash counter without saying anything, The man wearing a thick glass could not talk as he had a mouthful of 'murukkam' (pan). Years later I thought of this man when I watched the movie 'Poochakkoru Mookkuthi'. The manager of the hotel where Mr Cherian Nair (Kuthiravattom) tried to get clandestine accommodation, was a look alike of the 'pan man' at the counter who gave me the brass coin. (It was only much later that I came to know that it was called a token and understood the working mechanism of that wonder coin). At the cash counter the man, without looking at me, stretched his hand towards me. I was confused. I thought it was for me to stretch my hand towards him to get the money. He remained in that posture without uttering a word. Those days bankers were like that. They seldom talked and never looked at the customer. There was no question of their ever smiling. (This continued until the new generation banks came to the scene.They had a wonderful appearance, deceptive or not, I do not know). Anyway realizing my illiteracy in banking procedures the man snatched away the brass coin from my hand and handed over Rs 250 to me.

What happened next was the most funny of all. (that day it wasn't any funny to me) After getting the money I remained there not knowing that the transaction has been completed and that I can go. I waited there for somebody to give me permission to leave. I might have waited there for an hour. Then I slowly walked out of the bank turning back frequently to see whether any banker was following me. I could breath easy only after I had crossed the road and dissolved into the crowd.
                                                 ***********************************
These days I am awestricken  at the smartness of young boys and girls. May be nothing is mysterious to them as they see a lot of the world on the TV right from their childhood. In olden days "Gavaskar CHAKKA MAARA", and it ends there. We, listening to the commentary over the radio had to see all the action in our mind.  A square cut or a catch at midwicket or Eknath Solker's magic at forward short leg.
So I conclude that mystery precedes fear. No mystery, no fear.  I still live in a mysterious world. It is a more romantic place !
                                                   ***********************************