Around 10’ in the morning, Wednesday, 20th March, I boarded the metro from the Hauz Khas station, New Delhi
“Hey, would you please scoot a little?”
My words went unheard to her ears. Asked again, this time a bit louder “Excuse me…would you please allow me to sit?”
She was asleep with open eyes or what that didn't respond this time as well.
Taking a moment and giving it a second thought…Without uttering a word, I poked my finger to her upper arm and simply gestured towards her to let me sit.
“Oh yeah, please. Sorry, I was lost…” she finally replied.
I reverted with a smile. “Thank Yuh" and delved deep into the newspaper taking a sip of coffee in my hand.
“SC Raps SBI yet again…; Zomato launches pure veg…; Govt to Respond to a Score of CAA Petitions…” As I was glancing through the crunchy headlines, heard a feeble “International Day of Happiness...whao, lovely” close to my ears.
Before I could shift my attention towards the bottom anchor that read the same, “What according to you is happiness…Mr. amm…Beige T-Shirt?” the girl sitting adjacent to me, who was no ears a couple of minutes ago, asked in a zealous tone.
I looked at her in awe and asked in a perplexed tone “What, who…”. “Happiness, Mr. Beige T-Shirt”. She reverted in a calm tone as if we had been discussing the same for a long.
“Mr. Beige?” I murmured looking directly into her eyes.
“Yeah, Mr. Beige!” She responded with the same determination.
“Well…that’s…interesting. Did you like this Beige?” I asked getting comfortable with the situation.
“Damn yes, it suits you.” She smiled.
“So…Ms. ahem…Royal Pink, what according to me is Happiness”. I reiterated her question in a minced tone.
“Bang! Yes!!!” She responded vivaciously with an enchanting grin on her face.
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“Happiness is…amm, sitting here in this lively place, reading my favorite columns in the newspaper, embracing my taste receptors with this hot cappuccino, and…ahem having a lively discussion on happiness with…amm, a pretty girl like you sitting next”. I answered keeping a poker face.
“Ohkay Mr Beige…that’s how witty a way of explaining. Btw, what did you say…pretty…girl? Who? Me?”
This time I preferred to remain silent and simply allowed my ‘body dialect’ to answer.
"Anyways…thank you. I got what you meant. Could you please elaborate more on this? I would love to listen."
Taking a couple of minutes, completing the intriguing Zomato news story, comforting myself into the seat, and taking the last sip, I faced her and started speaking.
“Let me break it down in points for you to better understand and to not feel overwhelmed”.
Happiness is doing the things that ought to be done:
Everyone wants to know the quick recipe for success. The one above doesn’t just cook a palatable dish all-dipped in success sauce but also brings much delight to your life. The quintessential solution for most of the problems lies in doing what is ought to be done - neither a bit less, but more the merrier. Be it studies, forming a good new habit or breaking a bad one, living day-to-day life and completing daily chores – the above holds true everywhere. From an upheaval task say studying 12 hours a day, to as tiny as keeping your study table in order - your heart knows it well, what ought to be done, at what time, and in what manner. Start doing so and you won’t just marry success but also give birth to the desired offspring of happiness.
Happiness is being punctual:
How many times you are denied platinum opportunities just because you fail to be up on time. Most of the time, it’s not an hour, or 15 mins, but merely five minutes or even less. Being late not only obstructs your way to success but sabotages your inner peace and puts you in a state of constant pinching anxiety. Don’t believe it? Start a wonderful trip of thousands of miles being late in the very first, and witness your mood, if not the entire trip, getting completely ruined for the hours and days to come. Missing an important flight from the IGI Delhi with a narrow margin of a mere 5 minutes has been sabotaging my inner self deeply with the poignant weapon of repentance since then. I requested in the humblest tone in the kindest of words possible, but all went in vain! And you know the reason? I didn’t leave my comfy Guest House bed on time, couldn't stop fondling with the snooze button and completely forgot I had another ‘leisureful makeout’ waiting for me in Hyderabad. As a result, I couldn’t catch the flight that cost heavily to my pocket as well as to both my personal and professional life. Kick out procrastination from your life (read how to do it here), be sincere with yourself, be on time anywhere and everywhere, and take the crucial first step towards happiness.
Happiness is keeping your body and mind in good shape:
It's been over four months I have religiously engaged myself in brisk walking, jogging, yoga, pranayam, exercises, strictly refraining from using elevators etc. But there still exist days when the lethargic guy within me dominates over the active and healthy version, and it’s not just that very day that gets ruined, but many more days after that. Skip your morning fitness routine, keep lying in bed becoming a prisoner to laziness, eat the food your body doesn't allow, keep working in a compromised posture, have more cups of caffeine than you normally take, and witness your overall well-being going for a toss. Adding to the misery, this feeling of down won't just subside in a day but will keep deteriorating with time and hampering your state of mind until you reinvigorate yourself, that itself is not a facile job at all. The quintessential solution lies in not going loose on your zeal & motivation and not breaking up your good streak even for a single day, and abiding with the apex standards of consistency (read it detailed here). Failing to do so will put all your hard work and smartness down the drain and malign your overall happiness.
Happiness is keeping a camaraderie with people:
How surreal it feels to pass a gentle smile and greetings to your passersby and get the same in return. How often do we come across people (irrespective of men or women. Not to be confused with attraction towards the opposite gender) who make us feel happier and pass just like a cool breeze in the sweltering heat. Be soft to everyone, speak in a gentle tone, and ask their ‘howabouts’. In the last half year of my life, I have made a transition from being a centre-ambivert to a far-right extrovert who talks to and makes friends with as many people as possible. I must say it’s doing wonders for my personal and casual relationships both, and filling volumes to my happiness tank. This, at any cost, doesn’t mean that I am exhorting introverts to become an extro, I do find them way superior and admirable in many places, and still proudly possess some traits of them. The gist of my say is to at least maintain a healthy relationship with potentially good people. Try asking them about their life, give them sensible compliments, and get the same in return, along with loads of inner happiness. Did you read this relatable post?
Happiness is forgiving people at least for their inadvertent mistakes:
Hold grudges, keep prejudices against people, ghost them, and make them suffer. All these above will certainly keep punishing another person and gradually eating up his/her peace, but to some extent, you won’t deny that it will keep hurting yourself as well. No matter what the other guy or girl, senior or junior, family member or friend has done to you, forgive them for their bad, mistakes, or any kinda errs that unintentionally complicated your life, if not for their good, at least for your own. (However, don't let them take your humility and magnanimity for granted. Forgive them only if they genuinely regret their mistake.) Trust me, the returns you gonna get in the form of bundles of happiness with this will dominate over many of your materialistic returns. Always remember, “to err is human, to forgive is divine”.
Happiness is wholeheartedly sipping a beverage you love:
Once in a day I consume hot beverages - coffee/tea feeling next-worldly content and extracting the best out of every sip as if they are my liquor, weed, or any other intoxicant, you name it. Why? I still remember the day when one of my closest seniors told me the ideal way to smoke a cigarette and make the best peg. Gladly I didn't let these become a part of my life and eradicated them completely (Not to judge those who do. Have some of the dearest friends of mine addicted to these. My affection, respect and love towards them is and will remain the same as long as their state of trance isn't damaging the tapestry of our bond). Try doing it once, with a beverage or anything, close your eyes while taking every sip, and let it titillate your senses (a 100/100 taste is a prerequisite though). Try this, get rid of stress at least for the time being, and get happiness as a treasured reward. (Don't forget to read this take on Tea)
Happiness is exploring the nature as if that's a panacea for all your downs:
I have long been and still do drive miles away from my place every time I feel down. My love for driving has gradually made me realize that the steering in my hand is a powerful anti-stress pill (however I always practise utmost cautiousness with the side-effects coming in the form of accident and so should you). No matter how abominable or distressed time you're going through, take your vehicle, or go take a long walk/jog or anything…but just move out of your place, explore the countryside, and get yourself completely immersed into the delicacies of nature. While returning your way you'll certainly get to pluck flowers of happiness.
Ultimate happiness is having gotten a partner from heaven's land:
The above seven points even if collectively taken together and meticulously followed, still hold inferior weightage to the one thing that I am gonna mention now. Have someone in your life, not 'sometwo/somethree…', only 'someone' for whom you could even give up on your oxygen-like 'caffeinated' intoxicant (read my post on smoking); who forgives you for all your unintentional mistakes no matter how challenging; who sits on the front seat, holds your hand, and miraculously turns a hatchback into a premium sedan; and last but not the least who prays from all her/his soul for you to be ever-healthy and happy. (Whether you have got a partner like her/him or not, find it here)
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| Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash |
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As I sighed deeply after a long monologue, none of us spoke for the next couple of minutes. It was all silence between us with her eyes gazing into mine.
"OMG, this wisdom!!! Man, I am running out of words to explain how impressively these lessons will help me in the expedition of life and the quest to happiness."
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“I should better leave now. Must say it was phenomenal talking to you Mr Beige. If you don't mind wanna ask you out on a dinner this Happiness Day and make it even better". She said with a genuine smile on her face and glittery eyes.
“Ammhmm…sure, I'll let you know Miss Royal Pink. Thank you for listening so patiently. It's a rarity these days. Hadn't you been a wonderful listener and such an amazing personality, I couldn't have expressed it like this. Take good care of yourself, I'll see you sometime super soon". I concluded with a lively smile, a firm handshake, and a gentle pat on her upper arm.