Innocence is bliss!!!

Just back from my cousin's wedding, one memory that is etched on my mind is the innocence of kids when it comes to money!!!

The bridegroom arrived at the bride's(FYI- my cousin) house for lunch. All morning my nieces and nephews had been trained to keep a look out for the grooms shoes and pinch it. The shoes would obviously be returned to the groom after a couple of thousand quid changed hands. This money would then used to buy chocolates, icecream and sundry soulfoods for the main perpetrators of the crime(the children).

Back to the plan of action, there were four kids (all under the age of 10, the youngest being 4 year old) on this covert operation (A, V, S1 & S2). Accordingly S1 was given the responsibility to check out and pinch the shoes while A, V & S2 diverted the groom and his entourage with their manifold charms.

When the glad moment arrived A, V and S2 were at their charming best and successfully diverted the attention of all and sundry. Pinching the shoes was a piece of cake for S1 and the shoes were then transported with much efficiency to the designated hiding place.

When it was time to leave and the shoes were not to be found the haggling began. I have reproduced the entire conversation for your benefit. The impromptu committee put in place by the shoe-nappers for aiding in the ransom dealings consisted of the kids, their moms and other sundry uncles and aunts.

Groom: Ok, how much do you want ?
S2(loudly): Ten rupees!!!
Groom (fishing into his pocket for the money, blessing his stars): Here
Moms, Sundry uncles and aunts(proper meelee ensuing): NO, NO, NO... ...he meant Ten thousand...Nooooooo....He meant Ten lakhs...Nooooo...He meant Ten crores...
Groom & Co.: Lets sit and arrive at a number...

Finally it was decided that Two thousand rupees would be paid for the shoes. The money changed hands and each child received Five hundred rupees.

Now A is from Dubai and she has not seen Indian money and thought the groom was pullng a fast one on them. She took the note and marched to the Groom and told him what she thought of the money, you can just imagine the laughter that erupted at this declaration.

While this scene was taking place outside the house... inside the house V(who was the youngest of the lot at 4 years) was trying to get his moms attention by standing on the sofa and holding the 500 rupee note like a banner...

V(standing on sofa): Mom, Mom, Moooooooooooom...will you please tell me, how much money I got???

P.S.: The picture is off Google images and is the closest I could get for V's expression after learning he got Five hundred rupees... hope I am not infringing any copy right laws!!!