I should have to thank my roommates to make one of my dreams come true. Since school days it had been my dream to maintain an aquarium. I did have one; of course a small one. And today, I have an aquarium worth some thousands J – with a branded water filter, quality sand, a wooden trunk and at least eight varieties of water-plants. At present there are about seven pairs, three different varieties.
It had been more than ten to fifteen years that I had maintained a fish tank. Quite a lot of gap… All of a sudden a huge one now. It was all because of a laundry guy who delayed pressing my clothes, at Chennai.
I was supposed to get my pressed clothes in an hour since when I deposited them. But when I went there my clothes were lying in a corner. Didn’t argue with him, in-spite I was in hurry to a friend’s wedding reception. Gently reminded him about my clothes and peeped into the aquarium at the very next door. I was talking to shopkeeper about the fish varieties and tank prices. To be frank I was doing a time pass. He showed me a bowl – quite attractive tank (a round tank which we see in many movies with Gold Fishes) and within budget. It actually cost 180 rupees but without me bargaining he said he can give that for 120 rupees. Went back home – took bath – dressed up and without any second thought went to the same shop and owned the tank. Left it at my roommate’s house at Chennai.
A month later, the tank reached my room at Bangalore and I think at least a month later I bought a pair of Gold Fish. It was a good looking Golden-Silver breed. I don’t know the exact family name. That night we took a lot of pics of them. Unfortunately, one of them survived only to pose for the pics. The next morning we found one dead. Not even 12 hrs. We didn’t know the exact reason. Was the water bad? Was the fish already sick? Was it… that? Was it… this? Finally, my roommates concluded that it was because I was staring at them with my naked eyes L
September 17, a lazy Saturday evening. We guys actually planned to go to the Auto Motor exhibition at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore. Went crawling in the city traffic. From BTM, we almost reached Corporation Circle. But as usual we changed the plan and took a roundabout instead of a straight road. For a while we thought we are getting back home. All of a sudden the aquarium flashed for me and we landed up in an aquarium at Koramangala. Beautiful fishes – lots of varieties and sizes. The lowest costing pair was guppies – 40 rupees. I thought I will end up buying some pair within 200 rupees. From 200, our budget went to 4k. Came back home!!!
Then started the war within me – a war between [AFFORDABILITY, MAINTAINABILTY and WORTHABILITY] against [LIKES]. Mind vs Heart. Mind became senseless when the heart started beating ‘Fish-Tank, Fish-Tank…’ instead ‘Lub-Tub, Lub-Tub…’.
We visited the same aquarium the next evening. Selected the tank – opted the 60x30x30 one instead of little smaller, good looking but a costlier, 3-piece one. Selected some plants for each of our choices – ended with some ten to twelve plants, eight varieties. After some analysis we opted for medium quality sand instead of a high quality which is once set, is set for ever. An assistant there was helping setup all of these and without asking he had installed water filterL. Finally, he said that the tank was ready and gave us the bill. Now it is all butterflies all around my head. Without the fishes the bill showed 6800 rupees. I couldn’t say no for two reasons – 1. It is already setup for us. 2. The set up looked awesome without even water and fishes. Since that guy didn’t understand my Hindi, I let my roommate bargain. The max we pulled him down was to 6k and little further with 3 pair of light orange guppies as complements. Along with 3 pair of complementary fishes I now have 2 pairs in two more varieties (family of Cichlidae and Barbs). Waiting for a pair from Tetra and Loricariidae this weekend.
