How often do we say thank you and really mean it?
To God, to people who serve us or to mother nature...
How often do we thank God for the eyes we open in the morning? For there are many who couldn't see the brightness of the sun today.
How often do we thank God for the air we breathe? For there are many, who are putting a lot of efforts to breathe and there are many again, who just took their last breath.
How often do we thank God for the people around us? For there are many who are alone and fighting depression.
How often do we thank God for the home we live in? For there are many who have no roof.
How often do we thank God for our job? For there are many educated unemployed.
How often do we thank our maids, our help and other service providers? For there are many who are in dire need of help but have to manage all by themselves.
We are busy complaining and comparing and forgoing happiness ourselves.
Today it has been scientifically proven that expressing gratitude makes you a happier person.
Faith
After collecting their bags, Rishabh and
Daman went to hire a taxi while Tania and Disha waited near the exit with
luggage by their side. When the boys were approaching their girls, Rishabh could
effortlessly notice the contrasting personalities of the two females standing a
few steps away.
Rishabh and Tania had been together since their
first year while Disha and Daman, already in a relationship, had met the duo during
their internship. Their night duties and a zest for clubs and night life had brought
them together.
Tania was soft, plump and fair skinned with
hazel eyes, almost like the furry overcoat in her hands. With her chubby
cheeks, dimply smile and a compassionate heart she had been the spirit of the
hospital. Disha, on the other hand had a vivid sex appeal. She too, wore jegging
with nude peep toes; her white translucent shirt with a tiny golden heart shaped
pendant hanging just above the cleavage made her look sensual.
Within an hour they were in their pre-booked
private beach resort in Phuket. Tania had booked it after an intensive search
for a quite beach resort within their budget for their weeklong holiday.
The resort was truly a
paradise for the couples. With their cottage doors and windows opening to the
sea on one side and pool on the other, the couples were already thrilled.
“The lunch is ready so
please freshen up and join at the restaurant,” said the manager handing over
the keys to their porter.
“I really want to take out
my clothes and swim,” said Disha, gaping at the Europeans enjoying in the pool
bar.
“Me too Honey! But let’s
have our lunch first,” said Daman putting his arms around her waist while Disha’s
eyes were on Rishabh who was looking around with Tania just a few steps ahead.
The moment they stepped into
the room, Tania kissed Rishabh, who was still brooding over Disha’s changing behavior.
Rishabh also kissed her in reciprocation and then rushed to washroom.
Tania took out her diary and started scribbling, with a gentle smile on her face.
“What are you doing now? I
guess we are on a vacation, right!” asked Rishabh, the moment he came out.
“Ofcourse! We certainly are!
You know, how much I have yearned for these holidays,” said Tania with a beam
and got up with her diary folded in her right hand to kiss her beau.
“This is my gratitude
journal and before I forget, I want to write all those things, I am grateful
for. I am just trying to remember the magic of the day till now”.
“Magic!” Rishabh wondered.
“Daddy’s permission for a
trip with friends, riding an airplane which is a wonder in itself, a power nap
refreshing me for the day, safe landing, a sunny day after cold foggy days of
Delhi, a pre-nuptial honeymoon with the most handsome doc, a beautiful silent beach
resort within our budget, an awesome cottage by the sea, all four of us
together….in Phuket. I have already counted ten blessings, which are no less
than magic for me,” said Tania with a smile and coiled to the writing desk behind
to put down her diary.
“Hmm! U know your attitude is
what pulls me like a magnet to you. But everyone today, wants to have fun and
so work on their goals to go for vacations,” said Rishabh.
“Wrong! Not every girl is
getting a permission from her parents, planes can crash any time, many can’t even
see or experience the sun, there are many who can’t sleep properly where as I
managed a great sleep in the plane, many love stories end up before they are
born, many can’t afford even a budget resort forget the sea view or pool view,”
said Tania asserting herself. “I am more grateful when I talk about it and you
are also one of the manifestations for me.”
Rishabh came from
a small town of Uttarakhand and was living in a hostel. His
extremely fair complexion behind the black beard and an athlete built up with
ever shining inquisitive eyes had always made him stand out in the college group.
Tania, on the other hand, had been a
day-scholar. Her mom was very fond of Rishabh ever since Rishabh had saved
Tania from an accident. Rishabh’s family was also under the magical spell of
Tania although they met on rare occasions.
Suddenly the phone bell rang.
“Are you both ready?” asked Daman.
“Oh yes! We will be out in a
few more minutes,” replied Rishabh and kept the phone.
While Tania changed, Rishabh
found himself sandwiching between a nymph and a desirable seductress.
Soon four of them were in
the restaurant. They occupied a table near the portico with floral climbers
till the square open roof tops. It was a breath taking view. The pool had umpteen
Europeans swimming in it to tan their bodies. They were all basking under the
sun and happy escaping the severe winters of their respective countries. At the brim of the pool were the sculptures of
mermaids, painted in pink, blue and golden, pouring water into the pool from
the pitchers in their hands. Just behind the pool, they could only see the huge
serene and clear blue and green sea. The beach in between was not visible from
the partly open restaurant. Tania and Daman were enjoying every bit of the
picturesque scenery while Disha creeped her chair just opposite to Rishabh.
Rishabh, now felt trapped
almost like a monkey with its fist in the trap which can’t come out unless he
releases the bananas or the nuts inside. Disha’s oomph factor, quite visible in
her red strappy dress with blood red lipstick and penetrating eyes were, no
doubt pulling him.
Suddenly, Daman clenched his
hand onto the table with his eyes still stuck to the vast sea and said, “Guys I
am going to buy some vodka and wine and enjoy the evening here inside the pool.
What say? No sightseeing, no clubbing. Let’s celebrate here for tonight.”
All the three immediately
agreed with a “wow” and so after the lunch, Daman went out for some liquor
shopping while Tania ran and jumped into the hammock on the beach.
“I don’t want to tan my
body. I am going to my room guys!” said Disha while Rishabh’s eyes silently chased
Disha although he chose to relax on the wooden recliners at close quarters with
Tania.
Tania was basking under the
sun and enjoying the gentle touch of sea breeze. She was thankful for her dream
of the sea on one side and Rishabh on the other. Soon, she was asleep. Rishabh
was waiting for this; he suddenly got up and sneaked to Disha’s room.
Disha was relaxing right
there on the bay window. Her smooth, saucy legs turned Rishabh on. He didn’t
want to waste the time. He jumped right from the window.
“I was waiting for you,” she
said in a husky voice into her ears while Rishabh hushed her and kissed.
The moment he was to open
the zip of her dress, the door bell rang. Rishabh stealthily jumped out of the
window.
Can’t believe it! You were
waiting for me….curtains closed, much wavy locks, sensuous foot rub? What a
beautiful kick! Incredible Phuket!” shouted Daman throwing his bag.
“Oh you and your gratitude
journal! Looks like we’re on your gratitude trip!” said Rishabh irritatingly, the moment he entered the room.
“Look who is talking! I
looked out for you on the beach and when I didn’t find you, I came back,” said Tania
with a shock in her eyes. “By the way, I was thanking God for our beautiful
future!”
“Which has not even set in!”
Rishabh said spitefully.
“Why?” Tania gets surprised.
“We are already in our honeymoon. What else do you need to start? Come here and
sit,” she flipped her pages without enquiring further.
“See just six months back, I
had thanked God for my dream trip to Thailand and to a private beach resort in
Phuket. Isn’t it a dream come true?” she showed her diary to Rishabh with date.
Rishabh read her journal and
couldn’t believe his eyes. Tania was right and then she showed her a few of her
dreams manifested in the past one year, her mother’s health, her brother’s
dream job and her results.
“Believe me! God has
abundance for all of us. You just need to have faith,” said Tania with a
smile.
Rishabh gazed at her in awe.
He was certainly learning more about Tania, huddled over her dairy, in her
denim shorts, red puff sleeved top and long straight tresses, she was
definitely a fusion. Her thoughts on couple’s compatibility before marriage
appeared strange in front of her deep faith like a good old granny.
“Her aura always touches my
soul. How can I ignore such a beautiful personality, inside out?” said Rishabh
to himself.
In the evening four of them
sat together in the pool bar and enjoyed the cocktails, mock tails, pizza and
swimming too. Rishabh tried to ignore the seductress in the string bikini, revealing
her petite body.
“Daman my back is burning.
Can you please check?” said Disha with her eyes again on Rishabh.
“There’s nothing honey. Let
me rub some ice,” replied Daman and picked an ice cube to rub at her smooth
dripping bony back. “You are tantalizing me!” he said in a low voice.
“Let me enjoy the weather,” said
Tania and swam towards the other end of the pool which meandered till the
corner of the vast resort. Rishabh followed Tania.
After the Christmas and New
Year bash filled with music, dance, drum, wine, beer, fun, food and frolic they
were all ready to leave Phuket. Rishabh still ….a pendulum.
Their return tickets were
booked from Bangkok. The taxi was booked and they happily bid Phuket a goodbye.
As they drove their way, the darkness slowly covered the blue and orange sky and
the stars slowly took over their positions, the four travelers were enjoying the music. On the Phuket- Bangkok
Highway near Suratthani, the driver requested them to put some holy chants in
his broken english.
“Why?” asked Tania.
“Madaame, this is accident zone and pirits….you know gosts…. stop
caar causing accidents. I am Buddhist, I want to put …chanting,” replied the
cab driver.
“Are you mad!” giggled Rishabh
“Don’t make fun!” said Tania pinching his arm.
“Let the music run. We are doctors and don’t believe in ghosts,” said
Rishabh reproachfully.
“I don’t understand why do you like this metal?” said Tania
in a teasing tone. “Let him put chanting for some time.”
The moment Rishabh turned to
reply; the taxi took a blind turn in order to save a creature crossing over and
toppled upside down.
Unable to open the doors and windows, they all shouted but in
vain. The breathlessness suddenly increased. The three doctors tried their best
while Tania prayed for help and imagined that help had arrived, thanking God
for the same, repeatedly deep inside her heart.
Driver and Disha had already fainted. Daman and Rishabh had also started
losing hope when two men on a bike crossed the overturned car. They stopped and
drooped to peep inside. Tania gesticulated for rescue.
None of them could believe that they had survived a fatal accident.
They thanked the good Samaritans who left almost like a bubble. While Tania and
Rishabh brought Disha and driver back to their senses, Daman checked the car.
The magic was still in the air or the angelic touch, the car turned on.
Daman drove the car now with driver by his side; Rishabh took his
window seat with Tania by her side. But this time, holding each other’s hand firmly
with faith multiplied. The near death experience had turned everyone grateful for
their magical retrieval.
“Thank You Tania!” Rishabh mumbled in the ears of his lady of
faith and felt fleshed out with love and faith.
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