This Unusual caption has very impressionable memory on my mind.
Till Class VIII, I was a Fountain pen user, but there were always some messy mishaps, leaking ink and Ink blots on Pages as well on shirt pocket. One fine day I was Introduced to 0.45 Reynold Fine Carbure ballpoint pen by a classmate. it was love at first sight, Pen was smooth, good to hold, continuous and worked almost like a pilot pen. Reynold was the pen with viscous ink which dried quickly and didn’t leave smudges. Above all it was water proof. Even a drop of sweat on sultry summer classroom didn’t create a poll of mess on the page.
What it wasn’t was cheap. Then in 90s, it was dearly priced at Rs 4.5, however all other options were either Rs 1 or max Rs 2 in ballpoint pen segment.
Those who could afford, there were Chinese fountain pens and higher ups were using Luxor Pilot gel pens which costed an exorbitant Rs 20 a pen. However, I was a Rs 2 Ballpoint Pen user.
It was month of Ramazan when I was introduced to Reynold. So, my next target was to have one. With my own EIDI I bought two 0.45 Reynold Fine Carbure pens.
I excitedly introduced the pen to Pappa, he appreciated the quality and asked about the price. Four and a half rupees, I replied. Very expensive beta (Son), Pen is good but You should avoid using such expensive pens said Pappa. Then he went quiet.
As a child I was conscious of the fact that our family was financially struggling those days, my father was a govt officer, met an accident, his failed spinal surgery made him paralyzed from the lower limb, He was on special disability leave (without pay) then. We were a decent middle-class family but all of a sudden, we were financially broke and were in deep crises.
During those hard times Ammi was managing the house, she was there when all this was being discussed, she said, whatever it takes I will keep on providing you whatever you need to excel in studies. Henceforth, Ammi ensured that I always have sufficient supplies of Reynold ballpoint pens throughout the year. Today when I was in market to buy pen for me. I chanced to see 0.45 Reynold Fine Carbure Pen priced at JUST Rs 8 only.
Ah, 90s, Reynold took first mover advantage and milked school students for an exorbitant Rs 4.5, Convert to 2022 money its more than Rs 50 today. It was indeed very expensive for my generation of limited income family.
Nowadays, there are no dearth of good quality pens available at Rs 5, 10 and 20 for students.
This was for you Pappa, you may not be in this world, but I know the value of money taught by you and wherever possible, I still try to practice austerity. I was extravagant with your limited money. But frugal with my own. Miss you every Moment of life.
