So I went about shopping for it. It was around 8:30 in the morning and it was slightly drizzling. I took an exact change of Rs. 20 /- it did not occur that I should take more. I thought that would be enough. So I went about to every shop to check for brown bread. The first shop, did not have brown bread, but they had normal bread.
Next shop, no bread. As it was raining, the guy who delivers bread to the shop was late today. I left him cursing the delivery guy to the next shop. The next shop: as soon as I said brown bread, the guy was delighted to pick it up and give it to me. May be he could not sell it. I did see the expiry date before buying it.
Then came the interesting part. He said the bread is Rs. 21/- I had only 20 bucks. I was left scratching my head. I told him, I have only 20. He gave a look at me, as if I am someone who is asking for a loan. I was indeed. I told him, I will give it back. He was not impressed. I just thought to myself, does Rs. 1 /- really matter. God knows how many such one rupees I would have given away here and there every day.
I was totally taken aback by the amount of importance he put in that one rupee. I have seen auto-drivers, shop keepers many a times just make a twitch and let go rupee one. Not this time. It was around 3rd shop from my home. So I had to walk all the way again to give him the money. I would not take that route for work. I could have just let go, as it would not matter a lot.
But I made a decision to walk all the way back again to give him the money. I did go back to do it. When I returned home, I felt that now I will be able to digest the brown bread properly. Not with the knowledge that this bread is not fully payed for or my conscience pricking me.
