In search of darkness in the era of digital payments

This morning I set out on a simple task: buy a bag of milk.  The sky was bright and clear, and the street was still waking up.

At the roadside shop I picked my milk and pulled out my phone to scan the QR code.  That is when I saw, or rather did not see, the problem.  

The screen was almost black.  Somehow the brightness slider had crept all the way down during the night, and the strong sunlight only made things worse.  

I tried to shade the phone with my hand.  The shopkeeper tried too, cupping his palms around the screen.  Nothing helped.  

I had no cash, so I told him I would be back later and started the walk home, about half a kilometre away.

On the way I kept searching for a dark spot where I could fix the brightness.  Every doorway was full of morning light.  The trees gave only thin strips of shade.  Ducking into a narrow lane felt like it would look odd, as if I were hiding from someone.  It is harder than you think to find darkness in broad daylight without looking suspicious.

At last I reached my house.  Indoors, with the curtains half-drawn, the room was dim enough.  Two taps and the screen lit up again.  Problem solved, though a little too late for the first trip.

I walked back, and finally paid for the milk.

Little lesson of the day: even the smallest chore can fail if your phone and the sun are not on speaking terms.  

Next time I will check the brightness, or carry a few rupees before I leave the house.