Change is the spice of life

It is not what you think about yourself but it is what people think about
you

Ever since, I retired from my job, quite a few of my acquaintances tell
me, “Harish, you have changed!” and some call me my by surname,
Monga”, how you have changed!”. But the fact is that if at all some
changes are visible in my outlook, the lessons have come from
unexpected quarters.
I don’t recollect his original name but we used to call him “Ghanti”
(Bell). This name was put to him as he was given the duty of ringing a
bell in the school. I had been seeing him begging in the main streets of
my town. But people say about him that he would beg during the day
and late in the evening he would take his regular quota of liquor without
fail. Almost every day in the town knew about his addiction but would
still give him something as if it their duty to take care of his need. This
was a routine practice but the best I could do was to gnash my teeth.
One day, it was my mother’s anniversary; I was keen to do some charity
for the need on this occasion. The moment I set out from my home,
Ghanti was the first to meet me. I had soft corner for him because he
could not complete his studies and even I could not do for him more. On
seeing him, I was quite confused about what to do. I thought to myself
that it would not be proper to single him out on this occasion and better
to give him a 100-rupee note. However, I could not refrain myself from
giving him a piece of an unsolicited advice, “Don’t take liquor with this
money”.
Ghanti, as usual, rolled his eyes and kept gazing at me. The he
exclaimed and called me by name, Harish even God does not put any
condition and returned my 100-rupee note. “He” is there to look after
me, he uttered. I was rather stunned as he threw back the note. He was
my schoolmate; though beggar now by virtue of his luck.
This is not the occasion, when I received lessons from very ordinary
people. But still there was an incident, which left a lasting impression,
happened at my work place. Satpal was my colleague who was popularly
known as SP like Superintendent of police. Though very efficient in the
duty assigned to him but he was in the habit of posing himself as well

qualified and conversant with every work. He was simply matriculate.

But I quite often lose my temper with him. But he has his own way of
responding whenever he was asked to some additional work.
On one such day, when I had hardly finished my work and about to
leave, SP entered my chamber and said quietly, “I want to say something
to you if you listen to me”. Anxious to know, I gave a nod.”Why do you
under estimate me?” he said. Unable to understand what he means, I
asked him to elaborate.
Last week, it was your birthday and you hosted a party in the house. You
simply celebrated at your own without calling me. Whenever there had
been a ritual at your place , you have invited me but this time, it looks
our world is different from yours. Was it not possible this time also to
celebrate with me? We need to be a part of happiness in personal affairs
through having differences at office.
Despite his different attitude in the office, I was struck by his candid and
simple approach both to life and to putting across his point to an
impatient person like me. He had shared with me the basic truth of life
which I probably would never have known otherwise.

Frankly speaking, today when I am enjoying the retired life a bonus
period, I can certainly say change is the spice of life and it is not what
you think about yourself but it is what people think about you.