THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RUPEE

| THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RUPEE |

You look at the sparkling coin and feel proud in having ít. But my shining and glitering face soon gets tarnished (মলিন হয়) by your careless touches and the heartless manner of treating me. I am now an old coin, circulating among you for many years. The lettering embossed (আঁকা) on my back is dulled (ম্লান হয়েছে) and my face is very faint (অজ্ঞান). But what a glorious youth I had ! As I was turned out from the Alipore mint (আলিপুরের টাকশাল) with my other bright companions you would not know me as this same coin. I was then a shining bit of silver with the British Crown on my face. My smart appearance was an envy for others.

My journey to a bank was my first ever-active life. I was soon handed over to a man who cashed a small cheque. He, too could not remain indifferent to my shine. I went of jingling (ঝন্ ঝন্ করতে করতে) in his pocket. My next turn came to a shopkeeper. He banged me on his counter and my clear-ringing note pleased him. He threw me in a drawer where i had to rub my shoulders with the low-born copper and zinc coins.
I felt uneasy; but to my astonishment i heard a whisper from far corner of the drawer, 'Oh my young friend, come this way to us ---'.  I found a fev dull coins, as I look now, were beckoning to me (ডাকছে). An old coin
there gave me good advice --- "Never fight shy of us. A rupee is always a ruppee --- however dull and jaded may the look of me. From the drawer I found my way out in the pocket of a man whose pocket was picked! I felt so heavy for the poor man! But, life is such after all. You gain once and lose twice. After a number of transfers I am now with a miser, but gentleman. He
keeps me in a bag and opens it every day to have a look at me! What more could I expect ?

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