Coin procured, I would sprint up to you. “Wait for the wheel to stop,” my father would say with an indulgent smile. I didn’t listen. I knew the drill. My eyes firmly on that red and white wheel, I’d wait impatiently. As it stopped I’d insert the coin and listen intently for the gentle whirring. Then, quite miraculously, out popped the ticket. Those two digits were studied eagerly and carefully committed to memory to be brought out, analysed, boasted about and compared for days to come.
And there was more… turn over the ticket and you could read your fortune. Pure delight. Pure paisa wasool.
You were a friend, back then. A very fascinating friend. We didn’t meet often enough, for outstation trips were few and far between. I’d wait anxiously for each trip and happily watch the figure move up.
Then came teenage and brought with it some serious ‘weighty’ issues. You changed, then. Your flickering lights took on a sinister glow. The turning of that wheel was like a downward spiral of my fortunes. I tried to drive away the memory of those two figures you churned out. Figures that climbed exponentially upward. I had a compulsive need to meet you, even while you broke my heart. I’d walk reluctantly to you with my coin, hoping for a favourable verdict only to come away disappointed. “Never mind,” mum would hug me with a quiet smile. But I wasn’t listening. And you… you looked on, unmoved, unaware of my misery, a diva pronouncing her judgement with heartless apathy, no longer the friend of my childhood.
Inevitably, our friendship faded.
Then, some years back, I bumped into you again… at my gym. You had changed, aged, a bit like me. Gone was the cheerful friendly face that had thrilled me in my childhood. Gone also was the glamourous heartless diva of my teenage – the lights, the wheel.. all gone. There you stood, no-frills yet dignified – a lady, accurate and impartial as in your youth.
The memories came flooding back.. the excitement as well as the dread.
I climbed on, under my trainer’s watchful eye. “We’ve a long way to go,” he said with a gentle smile. This time, I listened.
Since then we’ve renewed our friendship. You’ve mellowed, you’re kinder. Each morning I find myself waiting to meet you with new hope. Somedays you smile, turn your needle down and my day is made. On others, after binge weekends, I see you frown and I glimpse that heartless diva of my teenage.
However, I accept your smile and your frown for I now know you want only the best for me.
Thanks for giving me information about weighing scales. Your blog is very appreciate and helpful. Healthgenie is an online shopping store and it provides wide ranges of personal care, elderly care, baby care, beauty, nutrition, diabetes, wellness and home care like knee support,weighing scale, blood pressure monitor, walking sticks. This article mainly deals about the utility of weighing scale.
Thanks CS. Those machines were sure fun.
awww this was nostalgic.. reminded me of my childhood.. lovely writing 🙂
@Priya: Glad you liked it.
@Smita: Thanks.
lol! what an awesome piece this is so true to all us women 😉
Loved reading this one OM 🙂
@Ghazala: So am I.. I hope I never lose touch with it 🙂
happy that your friendship is renewed 🙂
@Arti: Right.. I've learnt to accept it.
@Nirvana: Lolz.. that's exactly how I feel some days.
@ Bikram: I'm sure the feeling's mutual.. right?
@Anupama: It's an obsession I tell you, this checking weight. If I kept a mchine at home I'd be standing on it after each meal.
@Sugeeth: Right.. that' what it is.
Now what do we call this?
An ode to a weighing machine.:-D
My God, taking weights daily? Weekly is still ok, but daily?
Yes, those weight machines were such objects of fancy during childhood.. your post just made me detest the modern scales: too prim to be true.
I am sure the weighing machine I use , simply hates me , I stand after a Minute of using it , the numbers go up ..
🙁 I know for sure not it hates me
Bikram's
Hi there! Never imagined one could have such an inimate relation with a weighing machine ….. but now that you mention it, I kinda have a love hate relation with it too – could pulverize the chap with my bare hands! 🙂 Lovely post, btw.
Tulika, that was a lovely post! Loved the flow of emotions presented in each passing phase of our life. True friend that machine – isn't it?
@Thanks magiceye.
@The Fool: You too?
@Debajyoti: Thanks for coming by.
little smile, little frown and lots of emotions. a wonderful post!!
Nicely presented the changing relationship with the weighing machine. When I was a kid I also used to love weighing machines.
Lovely post! Plenty of wistful nostalgia!