How often do you feel good? In the sense, damn good about things around
you… Life presents some awesome goodies in small, smaller and smallest
packages. The whole point is, can you find them? It can be anywhere – On the
way back home, at work, at school, with your child or even at a grocery store.
Dad once told me that my daughter Akshara has given him lot of
happiness. He insisted many times to me that the child means so much to him.
His eyes smile every time he speaks about her. My otherwise non-expressive
father lets out so much of his hidden expressions when he narrates his
experiences with her. She is a goodie for him! A source of happiness, love,
smile and a reason to break free…
I’m very addicted to attractive and trendy Indian outfits, especially
Kurtas and Salwars. I’m not beating
around the bush; I will say that I simply love them. And, if I see a good one,
I can’t stop myself from buying. With all my addictions intact as I have never
taken any special effort to give it up, I keep visiting all these showrooms
that tempt me to buy. One evening, I landed up in the Max Showroom in OMR Road,
Chennai. I picked up one, another one and another one of the Kurtas, and then
something stopped me. My forever responsible husband’s usual advice on ‘the
need to save’ echoed in my mind. “Don’t keep buying all the time, you have so
many clothes. And, all your dresses look so similar.” Then I remembered his
approach towards me. Save, he says first in a polite tone. Then the second time,
the same word – SAVE, with little more stress. Then looks deeper into my eyes
with almost a given up attitude and a tiring voice – SAVE, it’s good for you.
I tried to stop these trails of thoughts and moved to the other section
of the showroom. An old aunty walked towards me and stood in the same counter
as mine. She pulled out a few kurtas and instantly kept them back. “So
expensive,” she said. “We got stuff for much cheaper price, when we were young,”
she murmured. Looking at her, I thought of my mother. Whenever mom thought that
I was over spending, she used to tell me – “We got two daughters married off
without any difficulty because we saved. If I was spending like you, your dad
would have sent me back to my mother’s house. Don’t you have control?” My
mother’s words hit me hard. I silently kept the kurtas back in its respective
hangers and left the shop. As I walked down the staircase, like a sad little
child, I kept telling myself save, save and save when I was jumping off the shop’s
stairs.
I quickly took a share-auto to go home.
For those who don’t know Share Autos: It’s a sad looking vehicle,
slightly larger than an auto with cramped seats in it. You pay as minimum as 10
RS (INR) for short distance travel. Adjusting myself in those seats, I happened
to look at the girl seated next to me. She looked pretty with her big eyes. I
loved the phone she had - a big smart one with glitters struck all over it. Trendy,
I thought. Suddenly, in a flash, I saw her kurta. Awesome it was and the same
one that I had seen in MAX. It looked nice on her. So it means it will look
NICER on me. I’m extremely over confident sometimes! Now, I was jealous. Super
jealous for a few minutes... So what did I do?
I got down in the next nearest stop, walked back to Max and picked up
the very same Kurta that the girl in the auto was wearing. On my way, I so
bravely fought all those thoughts of my husband, mom and the elderly woman in
the shop. The moment I picked up the kurta, a satisfied look crossed my face
and I walked away smiling to glory. I convinced myself that I had improved on the
saving element, as I had bought only one and not the other clothes that I
initially picked up.
When I narrated this incident to my friend, she burst out laughing and
said I was mad.
All women are jealous, aren’t they? Or is it just me. But shopping
without any guilt is a superb goodie.
A
chocolate for a gift
I have known this friend of mine for some 4 years now. We have shared
excellent rapport over the years and I always enjoy his company. I have heard
many a times from a lot of Faisal’s other friends that he is really good in maintaining
that special rapport with people. Once he came up to me to offer one such
goodie that I would remember for a while. It was a simple gesture but unique in
its own way.
He said: Anju, as you know I had visited Australia a month ago (He
generally speaks with a professional touch to his tone, even during tea. He
can’t give it up, I’m sure.)
I intervened: Yes, Faisal I
know. I met you after your trip.
He replied: Yes, you met me. But
when I came over twice to your work station to offer you the Australian
chocolates, you weren’t there. They are all over now.
Then, he pointed to the
automatic snacks machine at our pantry and said: I’m sorry I missed to give you
the Aussie candies. But, you can pick up anything from here - any good
chocolate of your choice. Because, I really wanted to give you some.”
I smiled at him and said: “Thanks a ton, Faisal. You will travel again.
And I will definitely take it from you after your next trip. Chill! ”
How much time does it take for us to remember someone and genuinely
think about sharing? It definitely doesn’t take a lot of time. Simple gestures
and some kind words take less than a minute, but help in expressing real warm
thoughts.
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