Is borrowing a Crime?

              After creating the blog i'v opened the memory chip inside me and randomly collecting experiences.This is one of my Best unforgettable experience with my mom.

            I was playing with my cousins and few other friends in the street. I don't remember which game exactly it was but it was something where we'v to run without getting caught. So a Catcher came to catch me and i ran extremely well (like an athlete , not to mention)  that i did not even turn back to see whether that catcher is still following me till i reached the end of the street. On reaching the end i became breathless and noticed that none followed me. (I wonder at my spirit at that age, I did not bother whether I was followed.My destination was the end of the street and I ran till that without any distraction).
            From a distance i noticed that all others were busy in playing while i was coping up to breathe normally. At the end of our street there was a petty shop and that owner is well known to our family as we were living in that area since few years. The Petty shop uncle called me near him knowing that i was tired of running. Me-obedient girl on earth- went near him once he called .He gave me two "murukkus" to eat.

Stop your imaginations  -I am a good girl.

I said : "No Thanks Uncle."
Petty shop Uncle: No ma.U r very tired and its pathetic for me to see you in this situation.Just have these murukkus.
Me: Sorry uncle I dont have money to pay you.
Uncle: No.. U have these now i'l get money from your Father later.
Me: N............ooooooooo uncle( Caught my mind voice?.... Yes I changed my mind this time.But still said no in a hesitant way)
That Uncle too caught my mind voice and he himself placed them in my hands (like compelling.) and asked me to go and play well.

By the time I reached home I ate one murukku and was about to eat the next one. Another important point to be noted is ... by that time all had gone home after playing. I too went inside home happily with murukku and also with a pride that I did not get caught till the end of the game.My mom came and asked"how did you get this murukku? who gave you?"
I smiled and said "That petty shop uncle only gave Ma.He was sad that I was tired. He could not see my plight and so he gave these Ma."
Mom: Where did you have the money for these?
Me: No.. No... I did not have any money.(I said it in a different note which meant Cha Cha..I did not steal any  money) He said he'l get money from Appa later.
Mom: So u have borrowed these murukkus from him .Right?( her voice was Hard and striking my head)
Me: (Completely taken aback at this voice.I thought she would scold if i steal money.But i  borrowed from that uncle and genuinely agreed at that without lying or hiding) Yes Ma...But I refused to get. That uncle only forced and compelled me to have.

Hmmm.. All my cousins gathered in the Hall now where my mom was shouting at me.(We- cousins- are so much united when we watch someone among us being scolded by his/her mother/father). They started cherishing the moment. I was helpless and felt insulted so shouted at my mom in return.(My kind advice to everyone.please keep quiet when your mom is scolding.If u too shout at her in return, I'l tell you what happens).My mom who was about to stop her scoldings ,started beating me once i shouted at her (this is what happens.Better keep quiet and admit mistakes). She started giving me black and blue saying "will you borrow from anyone again? u need borrowing at this little age uh? Go and give this murukku in return to that uncle.Tell him not to give you anything at free of cost and make him understand that your mom or dad won't pay for them later".

OMG! I was crying badly out of pain from what i got from my mother.Added to that now i should go to that uncle and return the murukku(Murukku Poche!!!!) and he'l also come to know that I was beaten by my mom and hereafter he would giggle at me whenever he see me roaming on the road(As if that uncle had no other business except to keep watching me and giggling at me). I wiped my tears and was about to start to that petty shop.

Have you heard of adding fuel to the fire?Yes.My cousins came to do that.You can imagine how i was feeling hard inside my heart and i was walking to petty shop with a heavy heart.My cousins came to console me.How they consoled is the most interesting part.

"Hey Shwetha! Don't cry.Why did you get these free of cost? Its wrong no.U should not do this again.Now don't cry" one of my cousin was consoling in this way. The other one" Hmmm it would have been better if you were caught by me instead of getting caught by your mother".( See his consolation i controlled all my rage and walked without uttering a word). The next cousin." Look Shwetha it would be much disgusting if you return the murukku to that Petty shop uncle.It would be an insult for you to return it back.Definitely he'l ask for reason and can you say that your mother gave you back and blue for getting this murukku and so you are returning it? Look.Its better we'l share and have this murukku. Lets not return it back and we can't see you being insulted in front of a third person. So don't give this back".(We belong to Kurkure family!!! Konala irundhalum ennoda dhakkum!!)

That last consolation was appealing to me and we all shared that left out murukku and thats the end of the story.

Now my question is- "Is Borrowing a Crime?" If so, Our Country- Mother India hasn't been drenched in debts? Why My  Own Mother- Sarala- did not Scold or question anyone regarding this?????????(Erimalai eppadi porukkummmmmm??????)

Anyways i'v not got the answer for the above question till now.But one thing i make sure. Even after all these years ..after becoming a professional I ask my mom before borrowing even Rs.100 from anyone.

Moral of the story : Adi udhavra madhiri annan Thambi Udhava maatanga.
Literal translation: Brothers/Sisters won't help You as A Beating Do!!!

Note: Murukku (Tamil: முறுக்கு) is a South Indian snack of savory crunchy twists made from rice and urad dal flour.