Who invented these numbers? They have been sources of worry
for us ever since we were born. Imagine a hospital labor room; the
first-timer daddy is totally nervous and walking up and down the corridor
while his wifey dear is screaming her lungs out in the deep scary room. He
waits patiently not letting the banshee screams get to him. Then the door swings open and the weary looking doctor comes out with a smile. "Congratulations!
You have a son! He's 3.3 kg!" Ah, the relief! Then comes the stressful
reports, birth certificates, noting the time of birth, the day of birth, etc.
His age is counted in days, then weeks, then months and finally after 12
months, the 1st birthday finally arrives!! Where relatives and family members
may give nice little toys or jewellery for the young toddler, the more hopeless
gifters like me stick to money: Rs. 101 (or a bit more if they are not as broke
as I am :D). The years add up and the kid joins preschool. Games and frolic
keep him safely away from the scary world of digits for some time. But then he
joins school and his affair with numbers starts.
