May 25, 2023
A silly childhood experience
As a child there are a few things that bring as much excitement as discovering a coin lying on the table, waiting to be spent on your favorite treat. This was certainly the case for me when I found a 50 paise coin at the age of six. I remember running to my nearby grocery store, convinced that I had just made a ground breaking mathematical discovery.
In my mind, I had calculated that one rupee coin could buy me two mentos toffees, and since there are 100 paise in a rupee, I was sure that I could buy one mentos toffee with my 50 paise coin. I felt like a genius, and my confidence was sky-high as I approached the shopkeeper with my coin in hand.
To my surprise, however, the shopkeeper burst out laughing when I put the coin on the counter and ordered “one mentos please!”. I was taken aback, not understanding what was so funny. I assumed that the shopkeeper didn’t know basic math, so I tried to explain my calculations to her. But instead of understanding she just laughed even harder.
Feeling frustrated and embarrassed, I made my way back home and complained to my mother about the shopkeeper’s lack of math skills. My mother tried to hold back her laughter, but eventually she couldn’t help but chuckle. She then handed me a one rupee coin and told me to go back to the store and buy my mentos.
I was confused. If one rupee could buy me two mentos, why did I need a whole rupee just to buy one? Did everybody skipped school or is it that hard to understand? Now that I think of it, it's hard not to laugh. It's a moment that I now treasure for its humor and lightheartedness.
Rupal Jain
Rupal Jain is a dedicated school student. She’s an English enthusiast and learner who has a passion for creative writing. She enjoys penning poems, essays and other forms of written expression. She works constantly towards honing her language skills.
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