The first time that I ever sat at a computer was a disaster. Not that I was too young and unaware. In fact, I was a fully grown man, in my mid twenties. That was when I got my first chance to see a computer and feel all the awe that was ever so increasingly being associated with it. The year was 1988. I was an engineer by then. A “technocrat”, if you like.

This computer was too large in front of me. (After all, it had a 12 inch monitor!!). I meekly surrendered myself in front of it. Not fully my fault, we were made to feel that way. There was this huge sign outside the room that said “Remove your footwear before you enter the computer lab”. We were made to feel like mere mortals in front of this humongous white box that knew all. It was like we were about to enter into the sanctum sanctorum of the fiercest of deities. I felt intimidated and defeated even before I got to see one in its fullest glory.

There it was. Right in front of me. Towering over me. Awesome. It had “Macintosh-SE” written over it. It had this strange string like wire with a paw like thing attached to it that needed to be squeezed every now and then. “This is a mouse and it helps you to point at things on the screen” screamed my professor, just as he noticed that I was looking at it from close quarters.” Go ahead, fiddle around with it. It won’t bite.”

I started to move this “mouse” around and felt amazed to see a small arrow moving on the screen just the way I was moving the mouse. I couldn’t help grinning and giggling aloud.

But then, to my horror, I suddenly noticed that while the small arrow on the screen was still somewhere in the middle, my mouse had reached the edge of the table!!

I froze.

Should I continue to move the mouse into air? Or should I go down the edge of the table till I reach the floor??

I didn’t know.

And I was too embarrassed to try. Too embarrassed to ask. I looked all around me. My palms were sweating.

And then it happened.

God always comes to our rescue. That’s why I believe in Him.

This time he brought a power cut just when I wanted it most.

“Did you save your work?” came my professor’s voice from somewhere in the darkness.

“I saved my skin…” I thought while I was walking out.