Sometimes life's smallest things teach us biggest lessons. Other day when my taps suddenly stopped delivering water I felt my world is crashing down. When I entered my new flat what flattered me most was twenty four hours uninterrupted water supply. It was a new flat. So at least for some years to come I should not have water problem. Supporting my belief our bore well faithfully served us for two years relentlessly. I was happy to keep only one bucket in each bath room and feeling proud of my bathroom's enviable size without realizing what made them look so big. It was their minimal accessories and containers which made them look so big. For me it was always heaven to have running water round the clock.
It happened when I hardly had one bucket full of water at home. I turned my tap to take bath. My tap began making strange sounds but was never ready to release a drop of water. It took some time for me to realize that either my tank was empty or bore well stopped functioning. Fuming for not being able to take bath I came out and my afterwards inquiry revealed that worst has happened. My bore well does not have enough water to serve all the 16 apartments. There began my woes. Urgent meeting called by our flat owner's association secretary finally concluded that since there is no enough underground water available they have no alternative but to cut the water supply to few hours. Few hours ! I had my first disappointment looking at the minutes book. That means I had to finish all my water related work within those supply hours and store some water for dry hours. Reluctantly I signed.
What is water related work ? On pondering over for sometime, things became clear to me . Every domestic chore is almost water related. Without water supply practically there is hardly any work that can be done at home. For washing clothes, cleaning utensils, moping the floors, cleaning the bathrooms to do every damn thing water is the major determinant. I have to reschedule my work according to the water availability and accordingly call my servant whose availability on those hours is a matter of doubt.
Next day I was expecting few hours of water supply as promised. It was a shocker. Few hours promised supply lasted for few minutes. "What we can do ? since underground water level is low the pump is incapable of drawing more water " that was the answer I got. It was a earth shaking in the first instance. Secondly I don't have so many containers to fill the water for the day's use. Even if have there is no guarantee that supply will last till fill all my containers. Will that quantity sufficient for my usage ? Suppose it is not how long I can post pone my work? Tankers..availability of tankers..their expenses at one point I thought if I should change my house. I know is not so easy. Few minutes water comes and few containers are filled and couple of hours later I am left with no water. My world went upside down. Never in my life I thought I would be spending half my productive hours thinking about water. I was desperate.
What best solution I can think of in the present situation ? I stormed my brain to find the answer. It struck me that I don't have enough big containers. I can resolve this problem by buying few more tubs or buckets to fill water. Immediately thought put into action bathrooms were crowded with all types of containers, buckets, tubs etc..etc..making them awkwardly cramped.
All said and done it is not like having 24 hours water supply. Dip some tumbler to wash your hand , pour some water to clean some thing, it involves some labour and succeeded by lazy reluctance. Water need to be used cautiously. Days are spinning with great difficulty. Water shortage began to stay as a routine matter at home. Day by day to my surprise I started finding all the containers filled with water by me remained like as they were. I noticed that I began to consume only 50% of what I was consuming before. No more pouring water on hand with a tumbler a drudgery rather a means to use water only as much as you want. Strangely I also started realizing the value of water. It is so precious. I should spend it as carefully as I spend money. It is high time that we realize that water is invaluable and one day it may become dearer than money. It has to be conserved and spent discreetly.
"Madam, suddenly our bore well restored it's 100% water output and is giving more water. So 24 hours supply restored" our watchmen knocked the door and told me. I should be jumping with joy. But I was not . Actually the announcement did not send me to raptures. It hardly made any difference. I am going to spend water as frugally as I was doing during my limited supply days. Now I know the value of each drop of water. This is the biggest lesson I have learned from the simplest experience of life.
"Can you revert back to limited hours supply" I was the only one in the meeting who proposed as above in the midst of of all with raised eye brows.
Next day I was expecting few hours of water supply as promised. It was a shocker. Few hours promised supply lasted for few minutes. "What we can do ? since underground water level is low the pump is incapable of drawing more water " that was the answer I got. It was a earth shaking in the first instance. Secondly I don't have so many containers to fill the water for the day's use. Even if have there is no guarantee that supply will last till fill all my containers. Will that quantity sufficient for my usage ? Suppose it is not how long I can post pone my work? Tankers..availability of tankers..their expenses at one point I thought if I should change my house. I know is not so easy. Few minutes water comes and few containers are filled and couple of hours later I am left with no water. My world went upside down. Never in my life I thought I would be spending half my productive hours thinking about water. I was desperate.
What best solution I can think of in the present situation ? I stormed my brain to find the answer. It struck me that I don't have enough big containers. I can resolve this problem by buying few more tubs or buckets to fill water. Immediately thought put into action bathrooms were crowded with all types of containers, buckets, tubs etc..etc..making them awkwardly cramped.
All said and done it is not like having 24 hours water supply. Dip some tumbler to wash your hand , pour some water to clean some thing, it involves some labour and succeeded by lazy reluctance. Water need to be used cautiously. Days are spinning with great difficulty. Water shortage began to stay as a routine matter at home. Day by day to my surprise I started finding all the containers filled with water by me remained like as they were. I noticed that I began to consume only 50% of what I was consuming before. No more pouring water on hand with a tumbler a drudgery rather a means to use water only as much as you want. Strangely I also started realizing the value of water. It is so precious. I should spend it as carefully as I spend money. It is high time that we realize that water is invaluable and one day it may become dearer than money. It has to be conserved and spent discreetly.
"Madam, suddenly our bore well restored it's 100% water output and is giving more water. So 24 hours supply restored" our watchmen knocked the door and told me. I should be jumping with joy. But I was not . Actually the announcement did not send me to raptures. It hardly made any difference. I am going to spend water as frugally as I was doing during my limited supply days. Now I know the value of each drop of water. This is the biggest lesson I have learned from the simplest experience of life.
"Can you revert back to limited hours supply" I was the only one in the meeting who proposed as above in the midst of of all with raised eye brows.
1 comment:
Good one attayyagaru!! After coming back from India that's the first thing I noticed about myself, spending water a bit more carefully. After being here for so long I almost forgot what a gift 24 hour water supply is and it should be treated as such.
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