A glimpse of the other side

The other day, I had an interesting conversation with a colleague at work which was a result of a chap in my office asking me for an advance in salary.

It was the morning of 4th of July. I had just walked into my office. Into my room walks this chap and with a bowed head requested if i could give him a certain amount as advance against his salary. I asked him, the reason for the advance. He replied with a long face, that his mother expired in the morning. He wanted money for traveling to the place where his mother was residing and for performing the last rites. There was no question of denying him the advance.

After he left i pondered. "Today is the 4th of July. We just distributed staff salaries 10 days ago. And he's already asking for an advance??? Hmmmmm..... The amount that he requested for was almost two thirds of his salary. So what?? He must have had some savings and that along with his latest salary would be enough to cover his expenses. But then why still the advance??"

I turned to my colleague, who is a native, and put across this thought to her. Instead of answering my question directly this is what transpired in the next few minutes. This lady asked me, "Sir, my monthly salary is 3500. Could you please make a list of my possible expenses and prioritize them for me? I'll help you with it." I picked up a paper and started with the list. The first ones that struck me the basic necessities first - Food, clothing & shelter.

This is how my list initially looked like:
1. Food
2. Clothing
3. House: (Rent + Water + Electricity)

Looking at this list, my colleague commented, "I also go to school. I have to pay my fees." This added another point to my list and this is how it looked.
1. Food
2. Clothing
3. House: Rent + Water + Electricity
4. School: Fees + Books + Other expenses

I looked at this list and was wondering if i had missed out any point. At this juncture my colleague added, "I have three kids aged 5, 3 and 3 months." Imagining the expenses that are incurred while raising kinds i blurted out "No way. There is no way you are going to manage all these expenses within your salary. Its not possible." And then my colleague fired the final salvo, "I have not put savings on the list yet, sir."

This is what my list finally looked like:
1. Food
2. Clothing
3. House: Rent + Water + Electricity
4. School: Fees + Books + Other expenses
5. Children: Creche + School + all other expenses that you can imagine
6. Savings / Reserve

I looked at the list and said myself, "3500 and so many expenses!!" I thought I had received my answer regarding the advance when it then struck me that this lady was married and her husband earned too. On telling her this she smiled and said, "That's why I can manage my house." I was still wondering what this lady was getting to, when she pointed to another young lady colleague and asked me, "Do you know that she is a single mother of 3 and supports a family of 4?" All i could exclaim was, "What!!". My colleague went on, "Now imagine the same expenses & responsibilities on her with a salary of 1700, which is half of what i get."

I got my answer.

Dear Sudeep, welcome to the real world...