HAPPINESS IS IN THE JOURNEY AND NOT AT THE DESTINATION

“Please do not disturb me. I am on a call” Rohit told.

Amulya had come to talk to Rohit but after hearing what Rohit said , she went back. She was upset. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was 10.30 PM. Rohit was busy discussing about the project with his US client. Little pranav came running and sat on Rohit's lap. Rohit looked at Amulya and gestured her to take him away.

She lifted Pranav from Rohit’s lap. Pranav started crying. She pulled him out of the bedroom and pushed him on to the sofa set in the front hall and said “How many times I have told you to keep quiet when your papa is on call”.

“But mama I am going to sleep in few minutes time and I wanted to tell him about the prize I got in English Elocution” Pranav said.

Amulya felt very bad. She realized that her son had won a prize and he wanted to share few happy moments with his father and he could not. She walked up to Pranav and kissed him on the forehead and said “My cute boy. Papa loves you very much and he is working overtime to see that we all are happy”.

“I do not understand. You say he works overtime for us to be happy but are we happy?” Pranav sobbed.

She sat on the sofa and made Pranav sleep on her lap. In about five minutes time Pranav fell asleep. She lifted Pranav and gently placed him on the bed in the bedroom.  She looked at Rohit. He was fully involved in his discussions. After about half an hour, Rohit finished his call and closed his laptop.

He looked at Amulya. She was asleep with her hand on Pranav. He smiled and gently shook her. She got up and went to the kitchen and came out with his food.

Rohit asked Amulya “Why did Pranav sit on my lap?”

She replied “He won a prize in the school and wanted to tell you. But you were very busy with your call”

Rohit said “What to do it was important.”

“Why do you always work late in the house? You finish off your work at office and spend some time with us at home”

“Why do you think I do all this? I do it for you and Pranav. If I work hard I will earn more and you both will be happier”

“Are we happy now?” she questioned.

Rohit was taken aback. He replied “Why are we not happy? I am earning very well and I have given you full freedom to use the money. Show me one person among your relatives who is earning as much as I do. We have a very big house”.

Amulya was not amused. She said “Why do you compare? We do not know the journey each one of them is taking. For that matter look at the journey we are taking. Not really worth it”.

Rohit continued “Look Amulya be happy for all that I am giving you. I am earning so that we can have lot of money with us and Pranav can have a good future. Do not look at small day to day issues. Look at the bigger picture. Look at the destination. Ultimately people recognize your achievement”.

The discussion went on for another half an hour and each of them were sticking to their respective positions.

That night Rohit did not sleep properly. Something was troubling him. He had tried to explain Amulya that he was doing all the hard work to achieve milestones in life and he was making provision for milestone expenses. She was interested in him spending more time at home and appreciating Pranav for winning the prize.

Next day at around 2 PM Rohit was sitting in the restaurant. He looked at his watch and anxiously looked at the door. I rushed in and said “Sorry friend. Am late by about 15 minutes”

“No issues” he said and ordered the food.

“Tell me what I can do for you” I said.

Rohit explained what had happened the previous night and said “I strongly believe in the end result and am of the opinion that happiness will come only after we achieve our goal”.

I looked at him and said “Rohit you are right in your place but not to the fullest extent. Remember when we were in final year engineering we used to dream of good job. Both of us got good jobs. We were not happy.

 Then we started feeling that we would be happy once we own a house . Both of us have it. Are we happy?

 You told me that you would be very happy on becoming a father. Pranav is there with you  and  you are still not happy”.

 

“Sounds very logical please continue” he said.

I continued “what does the pattern say? We should not look for happiness at a destination. Instead we should consider happiness as part of the journey and enjoy every small and big event that we come across”.

Rohit smiled and said “I got your point. This is what Amulya has been telling me”.

I said “Today while going to your house take some flowers for Amulya”.

“I will buy a huge bouquet” he said with pride.

“Look you are doing the same mistake again. You take only one rose and give it to Amulya” I replied.

After thanking me, Rohit went to his house.

It was about 6 PM and Amulya opened the door.

Rohit smiled at her and gave the rose saying “To the prettiest woman in the world”.

Amulya was surprised and loved the gesture. She laughed heartily and said “What a change my dear hubby”.

They went inside the house. Pranav was sitting on the sofa. Rohit said “Hey young man, come and kiss your papa”.

Pranav came running and jumped on his father. Rohit took out one big milky bar chocolate and gave it to Pranav. The kid was very happy and kissed his father and thanked him.

Amulya asked Rohit if he wanted any special dish to be prepared for the night.

Rohit said “Today the queen of the house will not be doing any work. We are going out to a five star hotel and having a candle lit dinner”.

Amulya had tears in her eyes. She could not believe the change in her husband. She hugged him tightly. Pranav hugged both of them.

The other wise stone faced Rohit could not hold back. His eyes became moist. He realized that in pursuit of bigger things he had neglected smaller joys and that he should live everyday with joy and not postpone it to the next day.

He looked at Amulya and said “It is not important to know how many days we have lived but it is important to understand how much lively each day of ours should be. Happiness is in the journey and not at the destination”.