New Delhi, July 19 -- I still remember the day I turned 18. My father had a mission: "Open your own bank account," "Apply for a PAN card," "Get a driver's license." I did it all-partly out of excitement, partly because I was the obedient eldest child. Once the account was set up, he began giving me pocket money and insisted I deposit it every month. And like the dutiful child I pretended to be, I made those bank visits, mostly.

What he didn't know was that I always skimmed 10% off the top, kept a little for myself before handing over the rest. I wasn't being rebellious, just a teenager tasting the first flavours of freedom. And freedom, of course, came with its own expenses.

Withdrawing money wasn't easy either. Sure, there were ATMs, b...