The value of my joy

The value of my joy

The value of the piece of item I restored could only be under Rs. 50, but the joy it gave me is immeasurable by any parameter. Here is the sequence of events -

After a week-long trip to Mumbai, I returned to Ranipet on Monday (2^nd May) after an overnight stay in Chennai. As I didn’t have time to charge my Mobil at home I brought my charger along with me to the office.

As I plugged in the charger I felt something is not right and noticed that one of the pins is missing. My first thought was that my charger has become dysfunctional. But it was a relief when I realized that it is not the charger but the ‘multi-plug adaptor’ that is missing a pin.

My sister Kala gave me the Mobil that she was using in Singapore. Being made for use in Singapore, the charger has three sturdy flat pins. I have to use an adaptor to plug it in in India. The ‘international multi pin’ sells at an exorbitant price in Europe and US. But in Mumbai I can get one for between Rs. 50 and 70. As I have a few other electrical goods from US and Australia that needs the adaptor - and I being paranoid about what if one gets damaged – I always keep couple of spare ones.

But recently while delivering a gift to my brother for his birthday, an electrical back massager from Singapore, I had given a multi-pin adaptor along with it. I wasn’t sure whether I still had a spare one. I had to wait till I went home to check it out. I felt a bit lost during the day until I went home and found another plug along with my sewing machine.

But that is not the end of the story.

For a day I even hesitated to throw away the dysfunctional plug, before I decided it is not worth trying to get it fixed.

After a two-day trip to Coimbatore I came to the office on Saturday (7^th May) to check out my mails. After being at it for couple of hours, I ‘shut down’ my computer and as I was about to leave, I noticed something shiny on the floor. I picked it up and instantly recognized it as the metal cap of the pin from my adaptor. I put it safely in a pouch in my handbag.

But I wasn’t sure whether the bin in which I collect my non-biodegradable waste is not emptied out during the week. When I came home I saw Saroja, the lady who does housework for me, working in the garden. When I asked her if she had emptied out the bin, she said ‘No’. I came home, rummaged through the bin and retrieved the plug. Holding the screw with the tip of my nail file I screwed the metal piece on to it. It was so simple. Lo and behold, it is all back in one piece and fully functional. The entire sequence of events is unbelievable and unfathomable to say the least.

Even I cannot describe in simple terms the joy it gave me in finding the piece and being able to put it together.