Just “pick pocketed”!

You are out on a business; you feel for your purse in your handbag; to realize that the cute little thing is no longer there. How will you feel?

The first time I realized the taste of my pocket being picked. Until yesterday, it was someone else’s story. I am always careful; that’s what I thought. Those careless lots will lose their things and anyway they deserve it. I thought people always exaggerate their experience after their pocket is picked.

The other day I went to a temple. I do that very rarely. Not because I am a non-believer or something similar to that. I believe in the universality of God and I can reach God even from my dining table;so why should I go to temple to reach HIM. But then my mother-in-law liked to visit God at his abode and that day happened to be auspicious;full moon day and it was Thaipoosam. A special day to be at any one of Lord Muruga abodes.Due to the occasion, the temple was over crowded. All sorts of people were there- from shouting God’s praises (as if God has a severe hearing problem) to murmuring people. Women, men, children, all age groups!

The last time I opened my bag was to pay our regular 3 wheeler guy- Sekhar. Sekhar is a punctual guy and we hired him whenever we did not drive. Unlike other auto guys, he carries a book to read whenever he had to wait for the passenger. Then the bag was on my shoulder like an obedient pet. We waded through the crowd to see the six castles of Lord Muruga; Palani, Thirutani, Pazhamuthircholai, Tiruchendur Swamimalai, Thiruparankundram are these castles from where Muruga is said to have fought battles. Though these are scattered across Tamil Nadu, replicas of all the six are built in one premise on the shores in the Besant Nagar beach!!!

I did not know when it happened but once I was back from the prayers, I felt for my purse to buy some jasmine strings. I realized that the blue purse is no longer there in my bag. I felt for my cell phone, thank God, it was there. I searched the bag again and again as if the purse was a needle in hay-stack.

It was gone; a tidy sum (since we planned for a dinner too), my Voters Id, train tickets booked for a trip and 3 debit cards. I forgot to keep the cards back into the safe locker at home after using them for shopping a day earlier.

I cursed the person who had taken my purse. I hated my carelessness. I should have checked my purse at home and would have kept the cards at home; I should not have carried that much cash. I tried all possible- useless- explanations to myself so that I would not have suffered the loss even if the purse was stolen. This was despite Krishna saying that it is Ok. We cannot do anything about it; forget it. And Menons, our family friends, asked me to be happy that somebody did not snatch my gold chain from around my neck in the crowd. Ok fine guys. What should I do now? Be happy? About what? Losing my things or for not having lost more than I did?

On second thoughts, I put myself in action. [1] Be practical [2] hotlist the cards [3] worry less [4] learn your lessons

So I learnt a lesson the harsh way and from now, I can advise those people who have not pick pocketed yet, like Krishna does!!! He too had a similar experience more than a decade ago.