A change for a change 🤑🪙

This is a blog written in a lighter vein. A simple observation which made me laugh.

We are all aware how “PAYMENT GATEWAY APPS “ are ruling the roost all over the world.

Google pay, Bhim, Paytm, Phone pe, Razor pay, Mobikwik, PayZapp to name a few. These apps have made our life easier. The first and foremost thing is our wallet has become lighter. There is no longer a need to carry the currency and coins . Before these apps were there, to give an exact change when shopping was a pain in the neck.

Iam so much used to these apps that I forget to carry money with me. These apps have made the financial dealings easier, no doubt in that. But ,here in India the touch of currency and coins still play an important role among many individuals. Shopkeepers, cab drivers always feel the currency given to them instantly is like freshly baked cake . This makes them happier than the transfer of the money to their account.

Recently when I was out I witnessed a funny incident . Like I mentioned these apps have made the wallet lighter as we carry very less or zero currency and coins with us. It was a busy road . Traffic choc-a-block. There was a temple on the main road. There were lots of people thronging to the temple. Hustle-bustle to the core. Usually outside temple there are some people who sit asking for alms, food and money from the devotees who are visiting the temple.

As I slowed down near the temple, one such person came closer and extended his hand. Instinctively, I reached for my handbag… and froze. No purse. No coins. No currency. Just my mobile phone smiling back at me.

For a fleeting second, I actually wondered whether I should say, “Google Pay chalega?” 😄
The thought itself made me chuckle. Technology has indeed advanced, but charity at least for now has not fully caught up with QR codes and UPI scanners outside temples.

I smiled apologetically, folded my hands and moved on. But the incident stayed with me. It made me realise how dependent we have become on digital transactions. Our phones have replaced wallets, but not every situation is ready for this transformation.

In a country like India, where faith, tradition and human touch go hand in hand, currency still carries an emotional value. The feel of a note placed in one’s palm, the immediate exchange, the silent blessing it cannot yet be replicated by a “Transaction Successful” message. With such thoughts in my mind I went inside the temple.

While returning from the temple, I noticed a gentleman handing over a ₹100 currency note to a poor person sitting outside. I was genuinely impressed by his generosity.

“Wow,” I thought. He was smart enough to carry some cash despite the presence of all these payment apps. That’s something I should also follow, I told myself.

As I continued observing, something amusing happened. The poor man looked puzzled on receiving such a large amount. With a perplexed expression, he said,

“Thank you, saab. It is very generous of you to give such a good amount to a poor person like me.”

The gentleman calmly replied,

“I want change for this ₹100 note. That’s why I gave it to you. Ever since these apps have been introduced, I hardly carry any cash or change. People must be giving you money regularly, so I thought this would be the right place to get change.”

To my utter surprise, the poor man, with a slightly amused expression, immediately pulled out a QR code and said,

“Even I accept money through these apps. So please give me whatever amount you wish to donate. I don’t have any change to give you.”

I couldn’t control myself—I burst into laughter. The gentleman turned around, noticed me laughing, and soon joined in. Meanwhile, the poor man stood patiently with his QR code held out, fully ready for the transaction to be completed.

Payment gateway apps have undoubtedly made life smoother and faster. Moments like these remind us that while technology simplifies life, it also quietly transforms human interactions. I realised that I was completely wrong in thinking that technology cannot replace the warmth of human connection. It certainly can sometimes in the most unexpected and humorous ways.

This small incident completely changed the way I looked at it.

Have you ever come across such humorous situations???

If so, then it would be nice to read about any such funny encounters in the comment section.

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