Little Happiness

In three years nothing have changed in this house, the same faded coloured walls, the same ceiling, the same scent of the incense stick lit near the temple. Everything was the same.

Other than the blue coloured drape on the window and the matching bedcover on the bed, which was new, nothing have changed in this house. There was still the same calendar hung in the wall, which I had hung 4 years ago to hide the stain which was mistakenly done by me. Near the door of the living room, the same clothes of Dad was hanging which he used to wear above his clothes at the time of painting. At one corner, bundles of different size of brushes were kept and along with it some petite cans of colours were kept arranged.

Nothing has changed and even Dad was still the same.

After 4 years, today, I reached home. From a busy schedule, I somehow managed to take leave for a few days so that I could visit my hometown. Being in a MNC and working in shifts, it’s a tough work to manage the time. From the last 4 years, this was the first time I came back after I got my job in Tokyo.

My Dad was a painter and my Mom died when I was too small. Even though his income wasn’t sufficient enough for us, he never made me feel that we were poor.

Pratik was one of my best friends in school days. Even though he was rich and he got anything he wished for from his parents, I too was rich in the same way. My shirts were ironed every day. My shoes were polished regularly and my homework’s were completed on time. I never thought that I was poor until one day when Pratik came up to me, when he was shifting to a private school and told “Raj you know what? Your Dad can’t admit you in my private school because you are poor”. I told nothing and kept quite but eventually later I was admitted in the same school in which Pratik was.

Later on, I realized that when I topped in the class or when it was my birthday, Dad used to bring sweets just for me, saying he already ate one. That day I realized that we were poor.

Doing overtime, just to satisfy the fees of my school, he never made me feel that we don’t have anything.

After I finished my graduation and got a job abroad, his happiness knew no bond. We had our dinner at a restaurant that day and he ordered the same thing for himself as mine.

I bought the same spectacles and watch for him after I reached my hometown. I knew he would like it. But he resisted saying he don’t need them. When I insisted him, he came forward and hugged me and kept the things in the cupboard. I know he would keep it preserved and would never use it.

Time kept passing, days went running by and it was my last day at home. I knew Dad was going to miss me badly. May be much more than before. But no matter what, he won’t show it.

We went to one of the finest hotel that day. I ordered the things and waited for the servings. I kept looking at Dad. He had grown old. He was feeling uncomfortable perhaps. I asked him if he was okay, he smiled. I can sense he didn’t like it. His expressions were showing the actuality. After having our food, we came out of the hotel, and then I can notice the wide smile on my Dad’s face looking at the “vada pao” vendor. At that moment I realized that he is happy in this land. With the little happiness in his life, never complaining even a bit and living as normal as possible. Insisting him to come along with me to Tokyo would be inappropriate. I smiled and joined him for the “vada pao”. Life isn’t about the big things you achieve; it’s about the happiness you get in the small little things. That day, I realized that even if you are poor, you can be rich with happiness in your basket. Dad was happy with my success, but was also happy living in the same small village with the little of happiness in his daily life. The next day, I decided to do something in the village for its betterment. To share the knowledge I have gained in these years. Without a second thought, I decided that the best way was to open a school where children’s would be able to learn. As it is said, they are the future of the country. So why not start a little step towards making them a better individual for the future of our country?

Life isn’t static. Find out the things that make you happy and always find time for the things that makes you feel happy to be alive.