I was longing to get my hands (or ears rather) on a Bose headset for a long time. I had lost my favourite silver one a while ago. As they say, everything has a time and place. My typical visit to a Bose shop would involve looking at the different models, checking out the price tags, turning the Bluetooth on and listening to music. I usually get anxious about the price and I must have window-shopped several times. It was one of my dream headsets and it normally comes in standard colours ( Black, white and silver) I guess.
That Saturday morning, my wife and I decided to do some errands. I was carrying my special pen and my favourite cap. Somehow I was anxious that I would lose them. We were in the mall when I decided to note down something and I checked for my pen. It was not to be found. My wife also checked her bag and my bag so that I didn’t go mad. I told my wife to go ahead so that I could go back and check in the car. For the next few moments I was very anxious. As soon as I opened the car I saw the pen at the edge of the car seat. Lucky me. I saw the look of that security guard who had to check me twice in a matter of 10 minutes. The lady who was operating the scanning machine was all smiles.
One wonders what is so special about a black pen? Different people have different fascinations with things. For me, pens and devices top the list. That is why ever since I lost my silver colour Bose headset, I was on the hunt for a new one. With the pen back in the bag I felt secure and I was walking in front of the Bose shop. I saw an offer that was quite inviting. Would I be late to get to the shop my wife is shopping in or should I just check out a Bose headset one more time?
I went inside the shop and stood near the Bose Ultra headphones stand. Suddenly alarm bells went off. Ajinkya (original name retained ) with his neon coloured glasses was alone in the shop and he was doing his best to fix the fire alarm, which he did after a few attempts. By this time, he recognised my attachment to the headphone set and started working out a special offer. He shared with me a set of old headset device brands which I could exchange to get me closer to the zone of a possible buying range. I ran the math and understood the double-digit discounts in the offing maybe for the long weekend. A sort of a now-or-never scenario was unfolding in my mind. As they say, ” Quiet the mind and the soul will speak “. That soul was Ajinkya speaking and empathising. That offer was tempting and I was praying in my mind if I could spot those old headsets in the house. I told him that I was going to come back soon. I checked out the stocks and he mentioned not to worry about it.
My wife was in another shop and I told her about the offer and we decided to have a coffee and then work out the next plan. The filter coffee and snacks were very good. I decided to go home and look for the old headsets. I walked to the nearest metro station when I realised I had lost my cap. In a rush I ran back to the coffee place to find it on the chair I was sitting on. I rushed back, reached home and then the exercise started. My first thought was: “If I have safely kept something in a place, it is the most difficult place to find out“. I searched the entire house, and in the next 15 minutes got at least some broken piece of an old Bose headset which has gone beyond its use. Finally, it emerged out from the bottom of a container. The kind of joy I experienced was beyond words. I realised I had given the old Bose headset to my elder daughter and once she left for higher studies, she had packed it to throw away as part of her room cleaning expedition. It was supposedly part of the electronic waste which she had decided to get rid of from the house. That day, I took it back from the bottom of the waste lot and kept it with the thought that someday I would be able to repair it. Sometimes there is a gift hidden in the garbage. This one made me understand not to underestimate the value of things even after their utility is over.
I packed it secured it in my bag and took a bus instead of the metro to the mall. I had gathered a couple of ten rupee currency notes. I checked with the bus conductor whether there is a provision to pay through UPI. That look of disdain from him was a rough one for the ride. Sometimes you try to save pennies before you splurge. I must have increased my surface area of luck. I got my pen back, and cap back and this time it was on the colour of the headset. Ajinkya’s colleague was handling another customer and she too wanted the same headset. It was now a question of black or the special edition. Ajinkya politely told her that I had come early in the morning and had booked it. In fact, during my first visit, he insisted that you should go in for the special edition headset. I thanked him and I gave him a very good rating on Google for him and the store. After all, people like Ajinkya are limited editions.
I was wondering how did I go after the deal to get the headphones. I felt that today it was within reach with the special discounts. I liked the colour and since it was a special edition it was worth the wait and worth the price. Some moments come into your lives when you decide to spend your money on an experience.
I wanted a new way to write a blog with the new headset and I am sure this is going to be a part of my system of blogging. “Everything has a time and place Dasa” ( a favourite Malayalam cine dialogue from yore ) was the apt one for me.
A special edition is priceless and timeless and now I can continue blogging with ….
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