Two conversations
There was a new Skoda Octavia in the neighbourhood. It was blue in colour and had all the latest functionalities. Our neighbour uncle, a sixty year old retired banker, threw a party when he bought the new car. We were given "just one turn" to ride it around and uncle seemed to beam with pride when people told him how smooth the ride was. His half concealed embarrassed smile showed how much he enjoyed the "wow!what a car!" We enjoyed the attention too - it was as if there was a new member into our community.
That night, after all the excitement, when we all sat together to have a quiet dinner, uncle confessed, "Let me enjoy life at this stage. What will I do with my money if I don't enjoy with it now?" We all agreed heartily!
Another favourite uncle of mine, a distant relative, was also due for a car change. I loved this uncle for his practical, down to earth tastes, simplicity and friendliness. The Zen that he drove though functional had become old with use and had started incurring a lot of maintenance costs. Uncle kept talking about buying a new car. All of us who knew him asked him to buy a big car, now that he was done with the small one. He definitely would be able to afford it. He would just laugh our request off.
One day, on a silent Sunday afternoon, as we sat drinking a hot cup of tea sitting in the veranda of his house, I asked him jokingly which car was he thinking of buying. He thought for a while and looked at me in the eye and said with a smile, " Innovaa" Wow! I thought and teased him.. "Innovaaa...!!" “Down-to-earth tastes, uh!” I thought, smiling to myself.
"Yes.. " he said.. "If I buy a new car, I might as well buy something that can take the whole family in. At-least we can all go out together on rides. "
I couldn’t say anything after that.
