A New Card !

This week, I got a new ATM card (debit card) from my bank. Unsolicited. I wondered why for I hadn’t applied for one. Private banks and their efficiencies, I thought. Only after receiving it did I realize that the ATM card I held was expiring this month. After 6 years of being in my wallet!

As I replaced the old and worn out card, with the spanking new glitzy card, I looked at it again.

It had stood by me, through thick and thin. (When the bank account was full & empty). It stood by me, in all my years of incessant travel, getting swiped in many countries and practically in every state of India. In swanky malls to dusty smaller town cities. The Pizzas, Pastas and Parathas ! Not to forget the Podi masal dosas !The miles of petrol, rail & air tickets…

I ran my fingers over it one more time. Fond recollections of the special occasions where I had used this card ran past me. With bosses. Friends. Girls as friends. Wife. Parents. Marriage. Brothers marriage. Parents anniversaries. My anniversaries. Credit card payments. Bill payments. Well, Well…

Of the times of happiness / relief, when it used to show if the money has gotten credited or debited. I thought of the times when the card would have shed a silent tear as I swiped it to glory and indulged in earthly pleasures!

Well, for all the hard work of enduring so many swipe machines across geographies irrespective of time, its going to take a well deserved rest. I put it in a cover, and placed it as part of memorabilia.

The bank advises me to break the card into two, and destroy it. I couldn’t get to do it. To my bankers, the old ATM card was a spent force. For me, it may not carry money. But carries a treasure trove of memories!

I looked at the new card. It was valid till 2011. I wondered how many changes life would have taken by the time we step into 2011. For a brief while, all the plans that I had made for the next so many years ran past me ! I ran my ‘old’ fingers through the new card again. To feel the newness in the card.

A sigh escaped my lips.

Time will tell.

8 thoughts on “A New Card !

  1. Swatantra says:

    Your feelings are nice!! That’s the irony of life… we miss more when the things gets depart!!

    Wishing you many more nice memories with the new card!!

  2. Jeevan says:

    We should thank the new technology that this ATM has made the way easy to drop money form banks. The decision of the private companies and TN government to distribute monthly salary through ATM’s make the people feel little safe that they no need to fear of taking the money in the hand and can drop as they need. I too have my dad’s old ATM card, because it looks nice:)

  3. Keshi says:

    yep…years pass by and we dun even realise do we. ATM cards have made life much more easier and safer, true.

    btw I hope thats not a scan of ur real ATM card. It shows the number n all. Be careful 🙂

    Keshi.

  4. KK says:

    Happy spending with your new card!!

  5. Our very life depends on plastic money..thru thick and thin….

  6. Kavi says:

    Swatantra : Old is gold they say !! Someday, this will be old too !

    Jeevan: Take care of the card. Its your dads !!

    Keshi: Couldnt help agree more !

    Psst…this is not my card.

    KK: Well, well, if only you had said, spend and there is a benefactor who’ll pay !

    Gautami: Well, they say, Man was Gods best creations. And man paid God through Credit card !!

  7. Anonymous says:

    Congrats! Yeah, its better to relish the beauty when its fresh! Happy Spending!

  8. priya says:

    Kavi: Good for you and as u said, it stays with us as long as we can repay it.
    I never use ATM cards for other purpose than withdrawing money. People take it for granted when you swipe it and gotto be careful. My most of the cards are all credit cards and here u can just walk with few dollars in your pockets coz ppl’ accepts cards everywhere other than bargain/dollar stores.

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