An Extraordinary Conversation between Autowala and CA- Part II

I am overwhelmed by response I received on my previous Blog An Extraordinary Conversation between Autowala & -Part I (Those who missed the first part, please visit above link). A Big Thank you to ALL for taking out time for reading it. Here is the thought provoking concluding part; I hope, You will relish reading it ………

A First Phone Call

‘Hello Sir Ji’, Nikhil this side, You can recall, your passenger of Golf Course Road, a Writer’, I called up.

‘Ohh Yeah, Kahiye Nikhil Ji’,  He replied uninterestingly.

I said , ‘Sir Ji Aapki Story ne to Aag laga di, I have got more than 600 views in 3 days. And now everyone wanted to know more about you.’

 ‘Ji Mai kuch samjha nahi’, He replied.

 ‘Arey Sir, I told you, I maintain a Blog on which people visit and read my creations. I wrote a Story on you and it was a Big Hit.’, I explained. 

‘Sach keh rahe aap !, Can I read that Story, ?’, He asked.

 ‘Of Course, I will send you the link, you can get the print out of it’. Sorry I will have to leave now, will talk you later’, I replied.

A Second Phone Call

‘Hi Sir Ji, How are you doing ?

‘I am good. I felt good, you called me. I got print out of your blog with help of my daughter and read it twice. I must appreciate that you remembered each and every part of our conversation and penned it exactly the same.’, He said.

‘Yeah, that is what I wanted to show- an authentic reality.’

‘Okay, Tell me, What you wanted to know ?, He asked.

‘Your Story’

‘I am sharing my experience with you because I feel good. There were many passengers who took my number with a promise to call me but Nobody did.’  He shared.

He went on, ‘The theme of my story is ‘Money’. I was good and respectful for everyone as long as I have had money to spend on my family, my children. I gave my family a decently good life with all facilities, education of Son & Daughter in Convent school and above all care and love.

I interrupted ‘Convent School ?’

He replied ‘I told you, I gave them best life I could give as if I was world’s best Dad. I used to work very hard. Soon, I started incurring losses in my different businesses I ventured into.

I used to think, why am I used to lose in every business I did ?  Whether I was unlucky or I did something wrong. You know I gave exams for 10^th class, but somehow my result was never declared. I went to Mumbai to become a Photographer, but there also I could not succeed. This series of failures continued in my life. But still we always keep hopes even in worst situations that one day something good will happen, but that day never came in my life. Then at last I compromised and accepted my fate as God’s gift and became an Autowala. 

I nodded, ‘Yeah, right, Life is not same for everyone.’

He went on, ‘It was 4 years back, tragedy of my life started. I became bad in eyes of same people to whom I gave all care, love and life for 16 years. I expected a simple favour from them in return-  ‘Support’. But I didn’t get any.

I said, ‘I am sorry to hear You lost money in all your endeavours, but I suppose any genuine relation or good family is not dependent on money but on kind of respect and love you gave it to them. They should have supported you in difficult times.’

He said ‘Wo kehthe hai na, Kisi se itna pyaar bhi mat Karo ki wo sir pe chad Jaye.’

He continued, ‘4 years back, when my daughter was in 9th Class, she fell in love with a boy.’

I shockingly said, ‘What ? At such an early age.’

I thought I still didn’t fall in for someone when I am already 25, how come she ?

He said, ‘Yehi to, Although my wife and I were not in favour but since my daughter was adamant, we had to surrender and she is getting married next month. This happened because I could not give those facilities which that boy would have given.’

He continued further, ‘At the same time, My Son became part of the company of Hooligans. And my wife doesn’t understand all this. My Son doesn’t listen to me at all. He is still in the same bad company. I am living in Gurgaon away from my family since last 1 year. I visit there only in Weekends. Nobody is bothered whether I remain at home or not. They don’t need me.

  

So Nikhil Ji, for me there is no more reasons to even live my life. My family doesn't need me.’

I would like to say one last thing. Its money which made me world’s best Dad and its money which made me where I am today.’

I said, ‘I have had no answer. I can’t say what is right and what is not. But I would say only one thing You did nothing wrong if you gave your family a super-good life, lots of love. After all Everyone lives for his  family only.’ I salute You.

I just hope your story makes a phenomenal and ever lasting impact on people’s lives.’

He ended call, ‘Thank you for listening me. I felt good.’

I whispered’ Anytime……’

  

An Extraordinary Conversation between Autowala and CA

Last week when I went to Gurgaon, I didn’t know a rare short ride with Autowala from Metro Station to Consultant’s office would become the story of my next blog. Sometimes, things happen in life for no reason just because they were destined to be. Here, we go:-

After getting down at Sikandarpur Metro Station, I made quick inquiry of fare from nearby auto-drivers but somehow didn’t convince with them. I recalled my Dad’s good old advice to always scout for some far away autowalas to get better deal. Soon, I found the one and approached him.

I asked, ‘Bhiaya ! Golf Course Road.’

He said, ' 70 bucks.'

I bargained, ‘It’s too high, I would give Rs. 50.'

He replied, ‘No,  My price is fixed.’

I  replied- ‘Okay, Let's seal at 60 bucks.’

With a smile, he said ‘Bhaiya you came at wrong place, I don't bargain.’

I knew I was at the right place and sat in his auto on his terms.

While driving, he explained, ‘ I follow a fixed retail shop concept, I am not like others. I don’t know whether am I right or wrong but I am like this only. I feel there should be a Metering system so as to no need of bargaining.’

I said, ’ While Delhi has metered autos, even then they don’t follow it and  I was surprised to hear that you follow it even without having it here.’

I noticed how many times he has spoken in perfect English and his different thinking certainly made an impact on me.

I complimented ‘You have a good command over English, how come ?’

He said, ‘I know, everyone says that.’

I continued, But I want to add one more thing. Your unconventional thinking, different approach of doing work, your command over English, shows that you are capable to do something more big than what are you doing.

He replied thoughtfully’ ‘What else I could do more ? I am doing my work perfectly. It’s better to do small things perfectly instead doing big things imperfectly.

I, at my philosophical best, argued, ‘That’s fine, But then you will never be able to do big things, you atleast have to try for that’.

He, said, ‘Everyone works hard, but only those, who are lucky, become successful.        

I disagreed and said, ’There is nothing like Luck, it’s a bloody misconception, What makes someone successful is his ability to think and do big. I can’t believe that you can’t think big.

He said,  ‘I am sorry, but I disagree with your viewpoint, may be we are thinking in different ways. If you are saying, Okay, I accept that I failed, I did all wrong things in life, I took wrong decisions, I couldn’t achieve anything big.

We both remained silent.

He broke silence and said, this time in English, ‘You are my past'.

I was shocked to hear that. I asked, ‘What do you mean by that ? Will you elaborate’

He replied’ Ye samjhlo ki mai bhi aapki tarah tha, mere bhi sapne the, mene bada karne ka sochta tha, mene bahut mehnat bhi ki, par mujhe har business me sirf loss hi loss laga, ab jake me mai thoda bahut thik kar raha hu, shayad mera bad luck tha ki mujhe autowala hi banna tha’.

Before I could say anything, my stop came. I paid fare and headed for meeting. But few seconds later, I stopped. Something stopped me, I felt there was something more in his story, that ‘You are my past’ thing stuck in my mind. I returned back and said ‘I am writer and I write blogs.

He understood my intention and immediately said, ’You want to write on me. Write. I am not bothered whether you write on me or not but I am happy you atleast bothered to hear me, hear my story. That’s nice of you.’

I said,’ Sure, I would love to know more about you, but I have to go for meeting, so I will contact you over phone’.

While giving his contact info, his last words in english were ‘Hopefully You will call me.’

Every often, we hear, read, come across success stories, rags to riches stories, startup stories. Frankly, these stories either inspire you or make you jealous. But what about those stories which made all possible efforts but still faced failure. I just felt this conversation is worth penning, reading hearing, sharing……..

                                                                                                                             To be continued…….

Trapped in Questions of Life ?

Last Sunday when I woke up, everything was usual except some iterations doing rounds in my inquisitive mind. All of a sudden, I could see myself entangled in web of innumerable questions. On first instance I could not figure out what sort of questions I was part of, reasons why they have stroke.

On other side, tinkering voice in ears had a clear indication that it was raining. Not every often, A Summer Sunday comes with rain. Ideally I could have avoided those questions and enjoyed the day in its simplest sense.

Not every often you find yourself stuck in web like thing. Although, I wanted to run away from these questions, but when You are fond of going into mechanics of Life especially when you are sort of writer, You can never avoid it.

I quickly started searching for Place of Peace. Yeah seeking a peaceful place today is toughest thing and searching for it is even more stupid. A quick mind Google took me towards Terrace. Terrace always attracted me since beginning. Then if it is a rooftop of my Grandma’s home at Ajmer or it is Top floor of my hostel at Indore or it is Terrace of our apartment at Noida.

Well those questions have nothing to do with this Blog. The intriguing thought is this Irony –

We don’t let any stone unturned in quest to run after unstoppable time, to match with fast-paced world, to meet our unending demands, to fulfill our material desires. But we always try to run away from ourselves. Yeah it may sound strange but true. The reason may be to avoid intriguing questions in life, to defer problems in life, to leave the life on destiny. Some feel it safe to remain simple. But whether running from Life, its complications, questions will sort your life or rather make it more complex and directionless. There is no point to run away from problems, the more you defer the more it will follow You. Face it , accept it and find solutions. It’s funny that everyone wants to seek peace but without seeking answers for their own life. 

 Here ‘not running away from problems’ doesn't mean to stick to your failure or problems and making untiring efforts. I am emphasising on analysing it instead of avoiding it and even there is no qualms in quitting because only then you can see and explore all together new set of opportunities and options.

You can't always plan things as per priorities sometimes it’s your flow of mind which travels exactly in opposite direction. Sometimes you have to just sit and think about your life where it is heading, whether it is really taking you towards yours dreams or just only towards realities.

You must be thinking What happened on Terrace? Well, nothing special except that I supposedly had answers to my questions, I became richer by my thoughts, I became more geared up to achieve my dreams, I had been more discipline to make this life engaging and many more.

Spending time with yourself may sound silly and crazy but it will sort your life and give you immense peace. We should accept the realities and pursue towards our dreams.

Would like end with my favourite lines from ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobbara’

Quote

‘दिलों  में  तुम  अपनी  बेताबियाँ  लेके  चल  रहे  हो तो  जिंदा  हो  तुम
नज़र  में  ख़्वाबों  की  बिजलियाँ  लेके  चल  रहे  हो तो  जिंदा  हो  तुम
हवा  के  झोंकों  के  जैसे  आजाद  रहना  सीखो

तुम  एक  दरिया  के  जैसे  लहरों  में  बहना  सीखो
हर  एक  लम्हे  से  तुम  मिलो  खोले  अपनी  बाहें

 हर  एक  पल  इक  नया  समां   देखें  यह  निगाहें
जो  अपनी  आँखों  में  हैरानियाँ  लेके  चल  रहे  हो तो  जिंदा  हो  तुम
दिलों  में  तुम  अपनी  बेताबियाँ  लेके  चल  रहे  हो तो  जिंदा  हो  तुम’

Unquote

Choice is Yours

Niks

Driving a Life or Being Driven by It -Unending Dilemma

One day, as usual, I was on my way to home in a Chartered Bus. It was crowded, most of them struggling for place to settle, some for a ticket, few lucky for a seat. Although, full of noises, still a sheer hollowness, Bus was carrying with it. A quick look at travellers witnessed a different sense of expression on everyone’s face. Most of them were lost somewhere in another world, Some were confused in phase to decide what next, few were feeling satisfied.

This made me struck with an interesting thought. What gets us going everyday? What really makes us go to our usual place of work or place of study or place of sport or any other place everyday or so. Every one of us follows a daily routine without break, without questions and sometimes even without reasons. You may not have good day, you may not have achieved something good everyday, you may not have fun everyday, you may not have enjoyed your day. Still you don’t stop doing what you do, you don’t stop going where you go.

With no doubt, You will agree, at the end of the day, we seek ‘Peace of Mind’. However different our life may be, however different the way of our living may be, however difference of opinions or perception we may carry, but everyone wants ‘Peace of Mind’.

But how many of us get it ? And if we are not getting it, why we struggle everyday,  why we make so many efforts everyday ? Again this results into the question- What is that which brings a Life in our lives ?

First thing first, What gives us ‘Peace of Mind (PoM)’ ?

Well, its extent, its parameter, its criteria, its form may differ from person to person. It may be anything money, fame, power, result, love, trip, music, family, etc. It may come in any form, even in a combo package. Even it may be different in different points of time. Point is whether do you achieve your peace of mind everyday. I must say, not really.

You work very hard day in day out, still you may not get what you deserved. You enjoy doing your job or any other stuff, but still you feel lonely. You study hard, but still you have fear of failure in exams. You party hard, but still you miss the life. You make people happy everyday, but you can’t figure it out about your own state of mind. You dream, but something stops you from pursuing it.

So then, how will you get what you want ? How will you achieve your PoM ?. May be its nothing but just an illusion. May be it’s nothing but just a state of mind. May be it’s nothing but a cyclic process. May be it’s nothing just the way to live a life. May be it’s nothing but just a level of satisfaction which varies every second.

Against all these odds, failures, fear, anxiety, confusions, uncertainties, you still drive life or gets driven by it every day.

If You ask me what drives me in life ? I would say a BELIEF that one day I will get that Peace of Mind (Although I am still searching what gives me PoM).

Yes. The whole world depends on BELIEF.

‘Belief that one day you will fly high,

Belief that one day you will get your love,

Belief that one day You will be appreciated for your work,

Belief that one day You will achieve your Dream,

Belief that one day Life will be truly yours.’  

Then why some achieve what they wanted and some could not ? Perhaps it’s that BELIEF which has the potential to do anything, to change everything, to drive a Life. It’s not that people do not have belief. If that been so, we would not have been struggling everyday. What makes the difference is that only a few of us realise the potential of that BELIEF.

And that is where Life becomes different for those ‘who drives it’ and for those ‘who gets driven by it’.

Quote

“माना अपनी किस्मत के सिकंदर नहीं हो तुम,

पर अपने हौंसलो के धुरंधर हो तुम,

माना जो होना है वो रोक नहीं सकते तुम

पर जो पाना है वो पा सकते हो सिर्फ तुम।”

Unquote

Choice is Yours

Yours Niks