DT
PT
Subscribe To Print Edition About The Tribune Code Of Ethics Download App Advertise with us Classifieds
search-icon-img
search-icon-img
Advertisement

You searched for " muscat "

All
featured-img_1507783

World

Explosion at Iran port kills 5, injures over 700 as N-talks resume in Muscat

featured-img_1482512

World

US-Iran hold talks in Muscat to resolve differences "through dialogue and diplomacy"
featured-img_1385946

India

Amid diplomatic tensions, Jaishankar meets Bangladesh’s Hossain in Muscat
featured-img_1385476

Delhi

Amid diplomatic tensions, Jaishankar meets Bangladesh’s Hossain in Muscat
featured-img_1385411

World

In Muscat, EAM Jaishankar meets with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser; discusses bilateral ties, BIMSTEC
featured-img_1377635

World

Bangladesh Foreign Adviser likely to meet Jaishankar in Muscat next week
featured-img_1351048

World

Union Minister Piyush Goyal visits Shiva Temple in Muscat
featured-img_1349597

Business

Union Minister Piyush Goyal attends Republic Day celebrations at Indian Embassy in Muscat
Advertisement
featured-img_1325483

ThoughtForTheDay

ALBERT Einstein told the world, “Everything is relative”. A clever tweak to this truism popped up on my phone the other day: “For some people who amass power and wealth for their relatives, ‘relative is everything’.” I chuckled at this satirical jab as I recalled an incident. It happened more than a decade ago at an ATM booth located in a fuel station complex on the outskirts of Muscat, the capital of Oman, where I worked for nearly 13 years. As a white-collar professional, I had maintained a self-imposed minimum balance of Rs 50,000 (in equivalent local currency of Omani riyals) in my account, mainly to cater to emergencies like an unforeseen trip to India. However, during one month, I incurred several unplanned expenses. As I entered the ATM booth and withdrew money, I knew that my bank balance had dropped to Rs 30,000, breaching my safety net by Rs 20,000. This realisation made me uneasy as I stepped out of the booth. Just then, a young Indian expat worker in a blue coverall hesitantly approached me. “Saab, I don’t know how to operate these machines. Can you help me?” he asked, holding out his ATM card. “What do you want to do?” I asked. “I want to deposit money into my account,” he said, holding two one-riyal notes amounting to Rs 350. “This machine is for withdrawal. You’ll need a CDM — a cash deposit machine,” I explained. Watching his confused look, I quickly reassured him, “No problem. I’ll help you.” Guiding him to the nearby CDM, I deposited his money. As I handed back his ATM card, he hesitantly looked at me and said, “Saab, I need one more favour.” “What is it?” I asked, my impatience growing. “I want to withdraw five riyals from my account,” he said, his voice faltering. I was perplexed. “Withdraw five riyals — in other words, just Rs 875? Is he up to some prank on me?” I said to myself. “Then why did you deposit two riyals just now?” I asked him. His answer floored me. “The ATM doesn’t allow withdrawals of less than five riyals, and I only have three in my account. That’s why I deposited two riyals, so I can take out my entire five riyals.” Moved by his financial plight, I immediately took him back to the ATM and withdrew his five riyals for him. Driving back home, I felt a surge of conflicting emotions. Just a few minutes ago, I had felt bad for not being able to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 50,000 in my account. Now, after meeting this worker, I understood how blessed I was. Indeed, Einstein was dead right about relativity.
featured-img_1060715

Jalandhar

Thrashed abroad, Nakodar woman returns traumatised, empty-handed from Muscat
tlbr_img1 Classifieds tlbr_img2 Videos tlbr_img3 Premium tlbr_img4 E-Paper tlbr_img5 Shorts