You’re midway to work, the 10 am traffic has you idling in one spot, and you remember that one godforsaken switch which is supposed to be off– but is it?
It is not uncommon to remember simple tasks only when you are in a situation where they cannot be completed. You, your mom, her mom and probably everyone in your family resonates with that feeling. Much like me. Here are a few commonplace tasks we remember only when we’re out the door:
Switching off appliances
Just switches. Lights, fans, air conditioners, geysers, and everything that requires to be switched off is often forgotten. My mother’s words often resonate in my ears: “If you don’t switch off the (water) motor on time, the thing will burst”, and even “If you don’t switch off the water purifier, the vents will heat up and the machine won’t work.” Nobody has ever argued with mom logic.
A side note: if anything gets spoilt because of your carelessness, you know the payment will haunt you for a lifetime.
Putting on deodorant
Just before you go in for that big hug, you shrug! That necessary deodorant session after your regular bath is a big question in your head now. Did you or did you not spray on deodorant?
Personally, I have forgotten the deo ritual plenty of times and regretted it. I have even rubbed scented lip balms frantically on my pulse points to salvage my public image. When your fresh-out-of-the-bath natural scent is washed away by sweat and you’re amongst people who stand in close proximity for interaction, you are doomed.
Doing the toilet run
Out with friends, during long travels, on dates, in markets, and possibly any place that you can find potable water–you will eventually regret not emptying your bladder at home. The question of hygiene and sanitation in public toilets often leaves many holding in their urine for unhealthily long hours.
A trick I learnt from a dear friend when I was younger is that if you press the tips of your pinky fingers hard, the sensation of the building bladder pressure will decrease tremendously. All I will say is–it works, ladies and gentleman!
Picking up cash
In times of plastic money, we are caught off guard with panwadis, parking ticket bhaiyas, momos-wale bhaiya, and all the other bhaiyas who will need you to pay in cash when you don’t have it! In that moment, the ATM will be too far, friends too busy, and your mom unreachable to bail you out.
Carrying a scrunchie
Ladies, ladies, ladies! I hear you! You know exactly when your hair needs to be up in a pony/bun and when it needs to be let loose. However, it’s only in that moment that you realise your scrunchie is not on your wrist. Where did I leave it? In the car? In the bathroom? Dropped it maybe? The horror, the horror!
Many a time we are left flustered, being completely uncomfortable with our hair only because of the lack of a hairband. So ladies, keep spares in all your bags and pockets without fail.
Carrying water
Carrying water bottles around our necks in kindergarten now seems like a pleasant thought. The reason? Always being thirsty. There has never been an occasion where we haven’t wanted to chug a gallon of water. Even though this takes us back to the ‘toilet run’ fiasco mentioned above.
Being thirsty during smoke breaks, street shopping hauls, and even long drives take me back to the time when reliable, filtered water was freely available.
I would have also gone on to list simple tasks I forget to do, like my dad saying– “please get me a glass of water when you go to the kitchen”. Something I will only remember when I’m drinking water at a friend’s place, kilometers away from him after two days have already passed. All in all, let’s just say that missed opportunities seldom come back.
