Deposits of Happiness

Friends, I got an email one day which had a very beautiful story. It was so good that I felt sharing with everyone and to preserve it for life. Here is that story...

After the wedding party of Monica and Hitesh , Monica's mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook with a deposit of Rs.1000.

Monica’s Mother requested Monica to take the passbook and keep a record of her marriage life.
“When there's something happy and memorable which happens in your life, deposit some money in the account. Write down what it's about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in. I've done the first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh. When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you've had”, Said her Mother.Monica shared this with Hitesh when going home. They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.
These were some of the transactions that followed shortly;

• 7 Feb: Rs.100, first birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage.
• 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Monica.
• 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali.
• 15 Apr: Rs.2000, Monica got pregnant.
• 1 Jun: Rs.1000, Hitesh got promoted.
  ..... and there were many more ‘Deposits of Happiness’ !!!!!

However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn't talk much. They regretted that they had married. They were nasty to each other and no more in love.
One day Monica talked to her Mother - 'Mom, we can't stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can't imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!'

Her Mother Said, 'Sure, girl, that's no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can't stand it. But before that, do one thing first. Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first. You shouldn't keep any record of such a poor marriage.' Monica thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account. While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked. Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce. The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Monica. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000. And a line next to the record: 'This is the day I notice how much I've loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you've brought me.' They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.

Do you want to know how much money they had saved when they retired? Well …. We need not know this and believe that money should not matter any more after they had gone through all the good years in their life…after all these were their “Deposits of Happiness” !!!!!
"When you fall, in any way, Don't see the place where you fell, Instead see the place from where you slipped. "Life is about correcting mistakes."

India is Interesting

October 24th. 2008. Its been almost 1 complete year to me after which I was returning back to INDIA from New York. I have been counting days right from the month of July in which I have booked my tickets to go to India. On the final day I boarded in the flight and reached India. On my journey to India, there has been several incidences which I found very very interesting. Some of the incidents have really left there prints in my head. Some of them is while coming back to New York after my vacation.

When coming back, my dad and mom decided to come to Mumbai with me to see off me. We took the train from Bhusawal (a small town in India where I am born and brought up) to Mumbai. As the train reached Mumbai CST station, several porters (coolies) came and asked us whether we need their service. We were having 3 big luggage bags and one small hand bag. My dad asked one of the porter how much will he charge to pick all this up. The coolie said Rs 60/- (almost $1.25). Dad bargained with him a little. The coolie said "saaheb, boni ka time hai jada nahi lege aapse" and finally the deal was made at Rs 40/- ($0.80). I was wondering how will the single person pick all the luggage when it was difficult for we three to carry (my parents and me). But the porter started putting the luggage bags on his head and the hand bag on the shoulder and started walking. Its not that I have not seen this type of scene before. I was familiar with all these things as I belong to India. But this time there was a difference. There were several questions which has started coming to my mind.

That coolie started talking with was on they way out and finally tooks us out of the station. He also helped us in getting a taxi. I gave him Rs 50/-. He was returning me Rs 10/- just when I said him "rakh lo... (keep the change)". I asked his name and he told its Vitthal Patil. He was happy to get the tip (giving tip is not very common in India). Vitthal raised a lots of questions for me. With Rs 50/- which I gave him, he will be hardly able to manage food for himself for a day. And if he has a family of 4 then he would have to carry luggage at least 10 such times in a day (for their food and other expenses). What kind of life is he leaving when he is not able to add any quality to it?

I always use to have complains about my job, the work that I was doing, the disappointments when the appraisals were less etc. But looking at Vitthal, I realized that its not my job which is tough but it is Vitthal's job of carrying the luggage of the passangers on the head for the whole day and just getting few rupees in return. It would have been more frustrating for him when he was not able to little wishes of his family, buy gifts for them during festivals. No ones job is easy but thinks twice before you complain about your work. And the most important thing in life is to be happy with all what you have.