40 Stress Busters for Executives

by Atul Sharma

  “What? Isn’t she happy with this match?” asked Vijay.

  “It’s not the question about her happiness alone. We have to see the family also. They are very polite and respected people.

  Anyone who knows them says that your girl will rule in that house,” said Kamal.

  “Rohit is a very nice boy. If you meet him, you’ll definitely like him,” said Rajni.

  “Why’s Sushma objecting?” asked Neha.

  “She says that Rohit is not very handsome. Moreover, she wants to marry a professional and not a businessman,” replied Rajni.

  “Then why don’t you give in to her wishes?” asked Neha.

  “We can’t let go such a brilliant match,” Rajni said and showed them Rohit’s photograph.

  “Let me talk to di right now, Raghav said as he dialled Sushma’s number.

  “Hi di! Congrats. But you should have cracked this news to me,” said Raghav.

  “Raghav, I am not feeling the way I presumed. I wanted to marry a handsome hunk but Rohit is not my type.”

  “I saw his photo. He isn’t that bad as you are saying.”

  “Khud to jaise Miss World hai na!’’ Rajni shouted from behind.

  “Di, good looks catch the eyes but good character catches the heart. Take some time and then make up your mind.”

  Bauji spoke to Sushma.

  “Beta, you may get many boys who’ll promise to bring sky at your feet but not many who’ll respect you. I’ll tell Kamal to proceed only if you agree but take a decision in which you don’t have to repent later,” advised Bauji.

  “Don’t force her. If she agrees only then go ahead,” Bauji advised Kamal and Rajni.

  Nandini called Raghav some days later. She sobbed on phone.

  “Raghav, nanimaa is no more,” Nandini cried.

  “Oh! Very sad! Please calm down Nandini. I know what pain you are undergoing. Still I’ll request you not to cry.”

  “How alone she would have been feeling! Alas, I was there to console her! May God give her the courage to bear this pain!” These thoughts pervaded Raghav’s mind after he spoke to her.

  Bauji took Raghav to their Giri river land one day.

  “Dadaji, how much land do we own here?”

  “Almost double the area of our villa,” Bauji showed Raghav the exact boundaries of their land.

  “What do you plan to do here?” asked Raghav.

  “It’s a prime location. It can fetch a very big amount if I decide to sell it. Jagdeep was persuading us to start a mineral water plant here.”

  “He must have thought that there is abundant water resource here,” opined Raghav.

  “I am not inclined to any such proposal,” said Bauji.

  “Why are you averse to this idea of optimising our resource?”

  “Because I want to realise my dream of setting up a charitable home here,” Bauji said with a shine in his eyes.

  “Charitable home! What kind of?” asked Raghav.

  “A home where the old people who have been shown the door by their children can stay. A home where the small children who have lost their parents as well as their roof can live under the parental supervision of these elderly people.”

  “Dadaji, your dream is as great as you are.”

  “I feel that this will not happen during my lifetime now,” Bauji said with a tinge of pain in his voice.

  “Why are you losing hope?”

  “I couldn’t fulfil my dream because I waited for that moment when I’ll have plenty of money to start a big project here. Perhaps I should have started a small project here.”

  “It’s still not late,” said Raghav.

  “Raghav, can I ask a favour from you?”

  “Favour! What are you saying, Dadaji? Just order.”

  “In future if you find yourself financially sound, please fulfil my dream,” said Bauji.

  “Dadaji, your dream is my ambition now,” Raghav said hugging his grandfather firmly.

  “Do it only if you find yourself in a position to start it comfortably and don’t repeat my mistake. Start it as a small project. It doesn’t matter if you can’t help a hundred people. Instead help ten people only but in a proper way,” advised Bauji.

  

  4

  Happy Birthdays

  “It was a rainy day when you were born. But it was not rain. The sky was crying because it lost its most beautiful Angel.”

  “Nandini, the result is out. You have topped with 78% marks,” informed Raghav.

  “How have you fared?” asked Nandini.

  “71%. Good score, isn’t it?”

  “What good? You have got seven percent less than me. I told you before the exams to work hard on some subjects. I prayed to God to make you the topper but you let me down,” Nandini shouted.

  Raghav wondered for a moment that was it Nandini, the friend or Nandini, the mother.

  “Why did you want me to score more than you?” asked Raghav.

  “You won’t understand. I want you to remain a step ahead of me,” replied Nandini.

  “Yaar, what sort of girl are you? Students don’t want even their siblings to overshadow them and you want me to fare better than you. I think God used different clay when He made you.”

  “Promise me that you’ll do better in the second year,” urged Nandini.

  “I promise,” said Raghav. “Believe me, I’ll not let you down.”

  “I trust you,” said Nandini.

  “Nandini, you kill me when you say this.”

  “Raghav, ‘I trust you’ is a better compliment than even ‘I love you’ because you may not always trust the person you love but you always love the person you trust.”

  “Nandini, thanks for making me a part of your life. The most beautiful thing in you is that you are unaware of your goodness.”

  25th June – Raghav’s Birthday

  Nandini called Raghav at 12 a.m. and sang the birthday song.

  “Happy birthday to you, Sweetu. May God bless you with all the happiness of the world,” Nandini wished.

  “I am overwhelmed with your gesture. When are you coming back?” asked Raghav.

  “After ten days.”

  “I’ll start the countdown now,” said Raghav happily.

  “Raghav, any special plans for today?”

  “No special party but a special gift for me today.”

  “Special gift! What?”

  “Dadaji is presenting something to me today. Guess what it is?”

  “Don’t test my patience. Please tell me quickly.” Nandini got anxious.

  “Honda City,” said Raghav.

  “Honda City!!! Are you serious or joking?”

  “Surprised na. Even I was taken aback when I learnt it two hours back. Dadaji, papa and maa had planned it before. They have got all the paper work done. We’ll go to Shimla tomorrow morning to get it from the showroom. I can’t wait any longer to drive my dream car.”

  “Sirji, will you also give me a chance to sit in your dream car?” asked Nandini.

  “Reach here soon. We’ll go for a long drive, only you and me.”

  Raghav got a call from Sushma when they reached back home in their new car.

  “Happy Birthday Raghav,” Sushma greeted him.

  “Thanks di. I have ‘breaking news’ for you. I have just got Honda City car as my birthday gift.”

  “Great! My wonderful brother deserved it. I also have an ‘exclusive news’ for you,” said Sushma.

  “What?”

  “I have decided to marry Rohit. I met him and found him very polite and caring.”

  “This is the best gift you have given to me. When will the marriage take place?”

  “Probably in March.”

  “Now my di will become someone else’s
treasure,” Raghav spoke poignantly.

  “Don’t say like this. I’ll cry,” replied Sushma.

  Nandini messaged to Raghav as soon as she reached Shimla:

  “Tired of old greetings? Here’s my refreshing 1! I’m back.”

  “So the princess of Delhi has returned to the queen of hills,” Raghav said over phone.

  “Hey Sweetu! More than the weather of Shimla, it’s the thought of meeting you that has refreshed me up. We’ll meet in the University tomorrow.”

  They met. Their eyes wanted to capture each other. Were they still friends or was love in the air?

  ‘‘Best friend ji! Kuch kahoge bhi ya mujhe hypnotise karne ka iraada hai,” Raghav spoke bringing back the voice network between them.

  “Raghav, I missed you a lot. There wasn’t a single day when I didn’t remember you.”

  ‘‘I trust you,” Raghav said bringing a cute smile on Nandini’s beautiful face.

  “Copycat!!! So now you’ll steal my words,” said Nandini.

  Nandini presented a birthday gift to Raghav.

  “I-Pod!!! Wonderful! Superb! Fantastic!”

  No compliments were enough as Raghav was overwhelmed.

  “Where’s your new car?” asked Nandini.

  I got it on a special day and I’ll show it to you on another special day.

  “When?”

  “On your birthday,” said Raghav.

  “So sweet but I’ll not celebrate my birthday at home this year because of nanimaa’s demise.”

  “Nandini, I want to celebrate your birthday at some quiet place where there is no one to disturb us. Can you give me a day of your life?”

  “How’s that possible? What’ll I say at home?”

  “You don’t need to frame a story. The classes will begin by then. Come to the University. From there we’ll go towards Naldera side in car. We’ll come back before evening.”

  “Fine. Your plan has excited me too. We’ll now meet on my birthday.”

  

  15th July – Nandini’s Birthday

  Raghav called her at 12 a.m.

  “Nandini, before wishing you on this auspicious day I would like to know the time when you were born.”

  “2:50 p.m. Why do you want to know?”

  “Because that was the toughest time for God. God was preparing to send His most beautiful angel on earth and there were cries from all over as everyone wanted you. Your parents were the lucky ones and I was also blessed to be a part of God’s treasure. Happy birthday to you, Nandini.”

  “I have no words. This is the most poetic birthday greeting I have ever got. Thanks for sparing so much time thinking about me.”

  “I am waiting eagerly to wish you in person tomorrow. I’ll wait for you near the University gate.”

  Nandini looked a divine beauty in the yellow salwar kameez that she wore.

  “Many good wishes to you and co-incidentally here’s a matching gift for you,” Raghav said presenting her a bouquet of yellow roses.

  “Wow! Amazing car!”

  “Ma’am, your most welcome inside the car,” Raghav opened the door of the car for her to sit in.

  Nandini was overjoyed to see flowers being spread on her seat.

  “Shall we move?” Raghav asked and he accelerated the car as well as Nandini’s heart.

  Raghav played the birthday song on the music system. The drive was a pleasure with trees on both the sides of the road and scenic views all around.

  “God is very generous on me today. My birthday, your preparations and this exquisite drive. What else can I ask for?”

  “Happy? I wish that this smile never leaves your face,” prayed Raghav.

  Raghav turned the car towards a slip road and they reached a place which was not too far from the main road but looked like a forest. The view of Shimla from there was pictographic.

  “How did you find such a wonderful place?” Nandini asked in exhilaration.

  “Not many people come here as the road is not metalled but it’s a place where you can find solitude and spectacular views. Let’s sit on that cemented bench,” said Raghav.

  “Nandini, tell me if you are not feeling comfortable as I have brought you to this secluded place.”

  ‘‘I trust you,” replied Nandini.

  “I came here so that no one can disturb us on our day of celebration. I want you to feel very special today. Towards the end of my life when I’ll recollect the best days of my life, I want this day to be on the top of that list,” said Raghav.

  “Raghav, your wish itself has made this day memorable for me.”

  “Nandini, I wasn’t with you when you celebrated your first twenty birthdays. But I still want to be a part of your every birthday. So, I have decided to celebrate every birthday of yours.”

  “Sirji, how’ll you rewind the time?”

  “I’ll take you to the past in thoughts only,” Raghav said and he brought a handbag from the car.

  “What’s in it?” asked Nandini.

  ‘‘A gift for every birthday,” replied Raghav.

  “Nandini, think about the past. Just imagine that it’s 15th July, 1986.”

  ‘‘Nandini Mehra, welcome to the planet earth,” Raghav shouted so loudly that the mountains echoed his voice.

  “Here’s the gift for you,” Raghav said while presenting her

  ‘a rose’.

  “Thanks,” said Nandini. Her voice was echoed not by the mountains but by her eyes.

  “This day is special not just for you and your family but also for me because a part of me arrived on this day,” said Raghav.

  “Imagine that it’s 15th July, 1987, your first birthday. Nandini has filled everyone’s heart with sweet memories. Thus a sweet gift for you – ‘a chocolate’.” Raghav put a piece of it in her mouth.

  “As sweet as my friend,” said Nandini.

  “It’s 15th July, 1988, your second birthday. Nandini has started walking by now. This is your gift.”

  Nandini opened the gift wrapper.

  ‘‘Frock! Nandini was amazed. So cute! I could never expect this – a frock for a two year old child. I’ll cherish this gift for ever. It’s the cutest gift that any girl has ever received on her twenty-first birthday.”

  “Your third birthday has arrived. Nandini needs something to play with.”

  The next gift was ‘a doll’.

  “I love dolls,” said Nandini.

  “A beautiful doll watching the other,” commented Raghav.

  “On your fourth birthday you had become this,” Raghav said when he pulled out the next gift from the bag.

  ‘‘Teddy bear! But how come you know that I had put on some weight during that time?” asked Nandini.

  “All beautiful girls do that. I have heard this saying,” Raghav said bringing a smile on her face, another precious gift.

  “Let’s move on to your fifth birthday,” said Raghav and gifted her ‘an imported pen’.

  “It signifies that Nandini has started going to school,” said Raghav.

  “What are you going to present me on my sixth birthday?” Nandini asked as by now she was also enjoying every part of this play.

  “A special gift on your sixth birthday,” Raghav said generating excitement in her mind.

  “What’s it?”

  “See it yourself,” Raghav gave her a small wrapped gift.

  ‘‘Nail cutter!!! Now what’s so special about it?”

  “Nandini is six years old. Your mother told you that you became a nail-eater from that age. So before you start chewing your nails, I want you to get rid of this habit.”

  “Mumma always reprimands me when I chew nails. I’ll save this as a gift from a motherly friend,” said Nandini.

  “Thank God! You didn’t say brotherly friend,” Rag
hav said and they both laughed loudly.

  “Let’s get back to business. What do you have for my seventh birthday?” asked Nandini.

  ‘‘A DVD of your favourite dancing numbers. You always say that you want one DVD which has all the hit dancing numbers. It has all – Hindi, Punjabi and Pop numbers,” said Raghav.

  “Thanks for this. I desperately needed it.”

  “But you need one more thing along with this DVD which I’ll present to you for your eighth birthday,” said Raghav.

  “What?” asked Nandini curiously.

  ‘‘Anklets. I want you to let the world know how beautiful you can dance,” said Raghav giving her a pair of anklets.

  “These will look good on my ankles,” said Nandini.

  “Your ninth birthday has come. This is your gift.” Raghav gave her a box of sunglasses.

  ‘‘Damn smart goggles! Must be very costly?” asked Nandini.

  “But what they cover is invaluable,” Raghav said about Nandini’s beautiful eyes.

  “How am I looking?” asked Nandini after wearing the goggles.

  “What do I say? Simply stunning!”

  “What’s in the bag of Santa Claus for my tenth birthday?” asked Nandini.

  Raghav put a cap on her head.

  “It’s a ‘Himachali cap’. You’ll stay in Shimla till your father is posted here. When you go from here, this cap will always remind you of this place,” said Raghav.

  “Thanks but I have someone more special to remind me of this place,” Nandini said tweaking Raghav’s nose.

  “I have something of your choice for your eleventh birthday.” Raghav gave her a book.

  ‘‘A poetry book! I’ll like it,” said Nandini.

  “You surely will. This book contains some beautiful poems penned by different poets,” informed Raghav.

  Raghav gave her a big packet as her twelfth birthday gift.

  ‘‘A skirt!” Nandini was elated as she liked to wear western dresses.

  “Nandini, do you know how I bought it? I searched for a sales girl of your height in the shopping mall. I requested her to show me a skirt that’ll look good on her. Initially, she stared at me but when I said that I want to present it to my friend, only then she obliged. It was a huge task,” Raghav said taking a big sigh of relief.

  “Why are you looking at me? Don’t expect me to wear it now and show it to you. Leave it for some other day,” said Nandini.