THIS OR THAT ?

                                                                                       Picture credit- tenor.com

It was just another normal day, but never remained that way, as it soon transfigured itself into a loud alarm, waking me up from a state of deep ignorance and shaking off me, the hint of discomfiture about the creation. This moment of light, instantly forced me to jump off the most dangerously crowded train, in the station called “LIFE”, which has blinded a huge truck load of us from noticing and journeying in the classic vintage express, that is certain to take us through the “splendor “of this sheer existence. 

Oh! Do not be perplexed, it’s not a travel blog but at the end, shall surely buy us a ticket for a silky smooth journey of life. If this intrigues you to understand which train to get off and which one to board, hold on and look through its prologue to get to its worthwhile epilogue.

That normal day, my father and I had gone to drop our dearest Oldie uncle (If you aren't aware of him, refer to my blog titled "The Antidote  " https://sahanaaswathanarayana.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-antidote.html) back to his residence, when he forced us for a cup of coffee and all our humble denials went in vain against his affectionate intimidating smile. While we were heartily enjoying his handcrafted coffee, we noticed an old figure from the window in the veranda, a wee bit less old than oldie uncle unlatching the gate. As he entered the house, oldie uncle warmly greeted him and introduced him to us as Mr Gopal Krishnan who happened to be his neighbor.

The very second Gopal uncle took his seat; he impatiently sparked up a conversation with me by shooting a cliché question, “What are you doing girl?” As he missed asking my name, I casually replied,” I’m Sahana…..” and before I could continue any further he jumped in and said “what’s there in the name Sahana, everything lies in what we do and that commands the demand for your name.” As I was a person who was journeying on the other side of this opinion, I hesitantly responded with a smile and continued to answer his first question while he restlessly cut me in again by saying “ The house diagonal to this, is the one I own and live in, which is worth 30 million in today’s times.” And when I inquisitively peeped outside the window, what I witnessed was a breathtakingly ravishing old fashioned mansion which looked nearly 4-5 decades old. Once again with a hurry to pour out everything he wanted to for a reason unknown to us, he began “Since a very long time, I am known in the neighborhood as “Doddamane (Bungalow/ Mansion) Gopal”. You see, even today my house beams with the same charm as it did on the day one. Not to miss, the façade of my house possess a regal tinge which has never failed to turn heads”.

This time my father joined in and asked, “You seem to maintain a splendid garden in your mansion Gopal Sir, I suppose that’s where you find immense solace, it must be such a pleasure to spend time there isn’t it?” Beaming with pride Gopal uncle added “Undoubtedly sir, that’s the jewel of my house. You see when I was serving in the postal department; I had the opportunity to visit the houses of my higher officers where I witnessed magnificent gardens with royal sit out areas which was a matter of prestige then. And that’s when I realized prestige earns reverence and reverence fans your vanity. If you desire to be wanted and deserve to walk with your chest up, make your pride shine bright and that’s what I did.” My father responded with a light nod as he could not resonate with Gopal uncle’s reply.

By now I had realized Gopal uncle never asked the question, for me to answer rather, he wanted to answer. Irrespective of what we spoke, he simply wanted to say what he needed to, not to forget, the reason was still unknown to us. With a sense of curiosity to understand the frame of mind behind his journey so far, I casually continued the conversation “How many of you stay in your pride possession uncle, all of you must be so fortunate to experience its grandeur every single day?” Once again gleaming with self- esteem he began “Ha Ha! There are ten rooms totally and the vast area of the house is capable of even hosting a wedding. In today’s date I am the only one living there as my wife expired half a decade ago. If you had met her, she would have made you aware of how well she was taken care of by me. I was a modern husband. She was a very good singer and I never wanted her to just be contented in pleasing only herself with her talent. So I ensured that she made it her vocation. After she began imparting light music lessons, it not only promoted her stature in the society but also nourished her self- regard as well.”

There was an unusual silence in the room. My father was disoriented with the conversation; oldie uncle was engrossed in the newspaper as though nobody was around and I was blankly staring at Gopal uncle with a deactivated mind. Mindless of the atmosphere, Gopal uncle quizzed my father, “So sir, you seem to be retired from service. How do you spend your time which is so much in hand?”  Quietly sipping the last sip of his coffee, my father simply responded with a grin as he was well aware that Gopal uncle was not interested in his answer because,  he wanted to answer. Without waiting for a single second, Gopal uncle began “Even though I am 82 now, my energy is same as while I was 42. My wake up time is never later than 5 am. I can miss a meal but not my exercise and that’s the reason I can walk for 5 kms effortlessly even today, I don’t think your daughter also can isn’t it? He smirked and continued,” I worship God twice a day which includes two hours in the morning and two in the evening. Until I was in service, work was worship. So now I ensure to praise my Lord with hymns and chants, after all he has blessed me with everything. Not to miss, every single day you can find unique and rare flowers on the idols. Also I make sure to go through the Holy Scriptures or at least hear discourses on them daily as that’s what keeps us grounded. And you see, every afternoon, I go for a drive in my car, on my own which makes me forget my age, Ha Ha Ha!”  

Glowing with the satisfaction of successfully narrating all that he wished to, Gopal uncle paused for a second and blurted out “Hey girl! You’ve still not told me what you are doing? Now I was about to answer that, even though I knew my answer would not please him but he was destined to miss it, as, this time, not he, but someone else interrupted by calling him on his phone and he had to hurriedly bid good bye to us and take leave. The minute he left, Oldie uncle slowly lowered the newspaper, threw a satirical smile at us and said, “I hope you had a good time”. I threw a confused smile back at him while my father and he shook hands and we departed homewards.

On our way back, I was silently contemplating the conversation we had a few minutes ago and randomly spoke “I don’t think my answer would have pleased Mr Gopal Krishnan. My trial and errors would have further provoked him to guide me to the path of pride. The phone call was a blessing in disguise, isn’t it?” My father calmly replied “Ha Ha! That would have been a tough ride on the wrong side as the path of pride is always a “misguide”. If you choose pride, pleasure will hide, so you better decide whether you want pleasure or pride?” I was amused with the impromptu flow of rhyming words and giggled. My father who was waiting for my answer quickly asked, “Answer me now, this or that? I suddenly became alert and replied “I choose pleasure without any pressure as that’s the real treasure which doesn’t require a measure!”

Now it was my father’s turn to giggle and once he was done, he slid into his league of preaching life’s philosophy and began “Girl! You see there was nothing wrong with the conversation we had with Mr Gopal, the only thing which could have ameliorated the essence of it was the “tone”, of both his narration as well as the purpose behind why he did what he did. Whatever we do in life, the tone and mode of it must be pleasure and not pride. Linking our actions to pride entails all the vicious emotions like insecurity, entitlement, pressure, anger, dissatisfaction etc. Pride also calls for a high maintenance cost as it needs to be kept afloat. Even a slightest diversion in life makes us see the world as a bunch of sour grapes. Pride might make us a leader to the world, but a subordinate to the self. Seeking pride through our actions is certain to get us tied but linking our actions to pleasure,  gifts us with a sense of freedom.  It’s good for us to keep this in mind that we need to  get off the “Train of pride” and quickly board the “Train of pleasure” because now we know it’s free to travel in the latter “

Absorbing my father’s words meticulously and smiling from ear to ear, I asked him “Why dint you share this with us all these days, It would have helped us capture the nuances of an uncomplicated life much sooner?” Sniggering at my innocence, he replied “Because, I was still journeying in the train of pride until a few minutes ago and have just gotten off, thanks to “ Mr Doddamane Gopal”.

Both of us had a hearty laugh at my father’s wit which is as rare as a blue moon. As we reached home, I mindlessly said “Wow! My driving skills have reached perfection, isn’t it? To which my newly enlightened father who was getting off the car, paused, turned around, deeply gazed at me and answered “ Hey girl! You are making my efforts go in vain. Check your tone. Say, you are happy that your driving skills have improved”.   

Silenced by his subtle taunt, I mumbled to myself “practicing pleasure is indeed a pressure but if nailed, it’s certainly an extra feather.

 

Simple thoughts to live well

Give your best, but don’t take pride in it, take pleasure in it.  

Receive the best, but don’t take pride in it, take pleasure in it.  

Be the best, but don’t take pride in it, take pleasure in it.

Live your best, but don’t take pride in it, take pleasure in it.