Never Expect Anything....!!.....
Never expect anything and believe me life would load you with beautiful surprises in full measure.
15 days back we were in Delhi for shopping. We took our car and set for Connaught Place but as expected the roads were packed with traffic jams. Therefore, we decided to park our car at a nearby metro station and took our tickets. Zipping our silver tokens we set searching for those red, blue, green and violet lines leading us to the point of boarding. Metros were puffing and panting at utmost speed just like a fully loaded gun ready to hit it's target. No slightest space is left unoccupied. We kept on staring the zipping and zooming creature fiercely roaming around the station, in a look out for a little less loaded one. It was peak hours and everybody seemed fully exhausted after a daylong work. You could see even a fat uncle rolling his stomach at full speed to make a slightest possible space where he could fit himself. He didn't even mind holding breath in his round oversize belly till his stops came. So in a way the entire scene was quiet interesting and we were really enjoying ourselves. But in midst of all such commotion something happened unexpectedly. We never imagined it to get happen neither me nor my mom or anyone else in my family.
All of a sudden a very good looking lady with dark kohl eyes clad in red suit came from the direction opposite to where we were facing. And without losing any second she covered the eyes of my mom in full excitement. But my mom looked bewildered rather than surprised and was unable to guess the stranger. We all thought it to be some sort of confusion as the crowd was at its zenith. But the lady kept on stressing my mom to recognize her. Me, my dad and my brother were watching this scene in full excitement.
But the moment that lovely lady left the eyes of my mom opened and the minute she turned her back to see the unknown lady, tears of joy rolled down her cheeks. My mom hugged the beautiful lady in response. We could feel the happiness from the lines of their faces. And to much of our amazement they both were smiling and laughing at each other repeatedly in full excitement. But our curiosity was accelerating at a speed greater than the metros leaving the station.
And again they could be seen laughing and hugging each other. Tears were rolling down their eyes continuously. And both of them glance at each other with an expression of utmost surprise. Surprise..??... Yeah, surprise as they never expected to meet each other. And that too after a long break of 30 years. Didn't I tell you in the beginning that never expect anything and life would gift you beautiful surprises you have never got before.
My mom controlling her happy emotions told me that she was Aunt Alisha her childhood friend whom she got to meet after 30 long years. Aunt Alisha hugged me too. And I thought world is too small and sometimes you get to meet people whom you have left behind in your race called life. It was a matter of destiny that we were at the metro station and God made my mom to meet her childhood friend whom she was searching ten days back on face book but was unable to find. So in a way, God knows everything and therefore, you need to put halt to your expectations to really enjoy His surprises. And one such evidence of this lovely surprise is what my mom got unexpectedly. Happiness could be seen from the dazzling faces of my mom and Aunt Alisha.
Then we along with Aunt Alisha boarded a little less loaded train. Aunt Alisha was so used to this crowd that she holding my hand tight told me- "go with the flow darling". And consequently, it is with the crowded flow we got in. And as the metro left the station, my mom and Aunt Alisha were busy memorizing their old childhood care-free days at Bright lands school and their cricket matches and tournaments they used to play while they were graduating from Maharani College. Then they talked about their current life.The life that is now loaded with of all sorts of responsibilities that they hold towards their husband, family and kids. Everything was sounding so interesting and amusing for us.
Then my mom, inquired about aunt's life after marriage and her passion for cooking. And Aunt Alisha smilingly told my mom that she was extremely happy in her new life. And recalling her old days before marriage Aunt Alisha told her, how she used to cook all sorts of delicacies and cuisines at her mother's house. And how everyone at her mom's place use to relish on dishes prepared by her but, sadly she said her own mother never appreciated her for the food she made. Rather she used to tell the faults and ways to improvise it to make the dish better. Aunt Alisha use to get frustrated with such kind of rigid attitude of her mother and was always left upset in the end. Therefore, whenever she used to cook she tries to put her 100% efforts in a hope to get appreciation from her mother. But sadly, it never happened.
Time passed and years went. Finally, Aunt Alisha got married in a very reputed family. And interestingly, after her marriage when she cooked for the very first time in her in-laws house. Her mother-in-law was in tears after eating the food cooked by her. And she told Aunt Alisha that never in her entire life she has ever eaten such a tasty food. Aunt Alisha never expected such a response as she has never got a least appreciation from her very own mother before marriage howsoever, she craved for it badly. So in a way, this shows when you never expect anything, life itself present you with beautiful surprises you never thought of. Tears rolled down Aunt Alisha's eyes and hugging her mother-in-law she told her, that she learned all this from her mother only. And it was she only who taught her the best of all cooking styles and recipes. Aunt Alisha in her emotional tone also told her, that without her mom she would have never expertise these exclusive culinary skills. Then after a week, when Aunt Alisha went to her mother's place for the first time after marriage, the first thing she did was amazing. She hugged her mother and kissing her forehead in full affection asked her- "mom why you never appreciated me for the dishes I used to cook here before getting married, while other members of the house use to relish the food made by me?" And Aunt Alisha's mom lovingly smiling on her question said- "Alisha my daughter I love you more than anyone and therefore I want you to be the best in every sphere of life. I want you to be a perfectionist rather than an average doer. If I would have appreciated you earlier, than believe me you would have thought that you are perfect and there is no scope for further improvement. Therefore, each time you make a dish it was always better than what you made before. And in such a way you were mastering yourself in the process. I want you to learn the message of life hidden in this process of development that- never expect anything and life would bring you sweet surprises in full measure. And that's why when you cooked without a least expectation at your in-laws house you got happiness as a beautiful surprise you never felt before. And today my darling, when you have tasted the true essence of life I want to tell you that-"you are best cook and I love you and your dishes to the core of my heart."
As Aunt Alisha was telling this to my mom somewhere I was smiling in my heart and drawing a parallelism between this sweet incident and life. And then I realized the fact that, our life too is filled with endless expectations that need to be put to a halt strongly. But suddenly, our train stopped and we realized that finally, we have reached our destination. It was again with the flow of crowd that we came out, all laughing as Aunt Alisha looked at me smilingly. We really enjoyed the journey together and it was one of the best surprises that came to my mom unexpectedly, I say. My mom and Aunt Alisha exchanged their mobile numbers. And finally, bidding adieu to her we again moved in our respective directions.
This surprise meeting has surely left a deep imprint on my mind. I got a lesson of life that-
"never expect anything and life would load you with beautiful surprises to be cherished life-long".
What I think is, in this selfish world of give and take, everyone expect something or the other from the people around them. Then whether it's the matter of feelings, emotions, love, relationships or some materialistic pursuits everyone expects endlessly. Nearly all individuals, expect return for everything they give to others.
But sadly, in this selfish race of give and take man's expectations are not coming to a halt rather they are growing day by day. It is the result of these unending expectations only, that every man wants equal return in terms of love, respect and care they possess towards others.
But I really want to ask you- don't you love surprises? If not, then unfortunately, your life would only be a burdensome one, mounted with the load of everyday give and take ratio. Your life would lack all kind of love and happiness for sure.
On the contrary, if you really want to lead a happy life then say "no" to your expectations and say "yes" to surprises. Live your life in such a way that you give 100% in whatever you do, without making expectations whether it's a question of your work, love or relationships. Never expect anything and feel the transformation in your life. You would surely be surprised that now your life would be an enlightened one, freeing you from all sorts of burdens.
Don't you know that it is your expectations only that leads to a deadly life, worsen relationships, broken hearts and frustrated life-style. It is the root cause of all sorrows and unhappiness. So in order to get rid of this unhappy state, say bye to your expectations forever and feel the difference.
Amazingly, your life would be a golden one illuminating your heart and soul with pleasure, that is eternal as you hold no complaints and grudges against others. And moreover, your soul would be a free one, soaking away all the goodness of the world as it now expects nothing. Your heart could now feel the liberty and solace never felt before, as from now it no more depends on others for its eternal pleasure, peace, joy and happiness.
So put an end to your expectations, for a happy and peaceful life waiting for you with arms wide open my friend. Thanks to Aunt Alisha, for giving us such a lovely lesson for life carrying eternal essence of joy and happiness.
Author :
Deepshikha Gupta
