The soft spoken and the splurge

 Dear dad,

Today I had a 'nice' day. 

Well, you already know there are various kinds of nice for me. Like a one where I laughed a lot, or the one where I am so quite and yet so content, a one where I indulged in physical activity which completely exhausts me and gave those happy muscle aches.

Well, today was your kind of nice. A one where I enjoyed the finer things in life, and the one where I felt so proud of the person I have become. 

The trigger for me writing this top notch 'bakar' is the lady who came to do my pedicure at home. 

And she complimented me - Mam, you are very soft spoken. 

Maybe to your astonishment as well as delight, I get this compliment so often, that I sometimes feel right to think as one of my trait. 

And let me tell you, I paid double for this pedicure than what I used to pay till last year. Not in top for her sweetness, but because thats how rates for home service have increased, and I just wanted to splurge. 

Also today morning, being all alone, I treated myself to the kind of morning that feel is so rewarding. A pricey coffee with a pricey piece of bread in a cafe where we don't go very often.

And honestly, I enjoyed it so much. I have told Ravi and my Mehta family several times jokingly, that I like spending money. 

But today, I not only understood, but truly felt, that it's not a joke. I like feeling expensive. 

And why I am thanking you for it? 

First, the soft spoken part - You remember how you used to ask me to talk softly every single day? I still remember when we were having dinner in front of our 27 inch texla, and you asked me to get up and go if I can't talk softly. 

Though it did feel rude at that time, but only now I know how it shaped so much of my routine communication. Having a voice which used to be a replacement for mic during power cuts is not an easy thing to tame. But you did it, and I feel so proud today when I get sweet compliments for my soft spokeness. 

And then, I still remember you took so much pride in the lampshade you bought which costed more than your two month salary.

And that you took us dining in restaurants like Rajdarshan and Paras Mahal. 

What you have taught me is that money adjusts itself according to your wants (not needs) and taste. And it takes good experiences, company and time to think right to build the good taste and vision. 

Normally the materialistic things don't matter much to me, but today when I was in that cafe and on a video call with a very close friend in Singapore...we did talk about the regular stuff like kids and husband, but both of us being from Amadeus, we talked business too.

Something happened there...we talked about opportunities and experiences, the unique and good ones which only few in Amadeus have....like interviewing a sr leader, or driving a panel discussion, sharing aspirations and motivating each other. 

 And I felt I was automatically in a mood to talk about it because of the good ambience that I was in. Also, I could totally imagine myself doing all those extra ordinary things that our leaders do, coz that cafe was making me feel that I am in the same class, and I am part of the same elite. 

Hell yes, I paid more for one person's breakfast than what we normally pay for all three of us together, but having those dreams and aspirations was totally worth it. 

And that I am able to feel the importance of it all and enjoy it without worrying about the unnecessary and completely avoidable expenses, I think is something that I inherit from you. 

Taking pride in your achievements, taking pride in how you played the game of life, it all comes from you and thankyou for that. 

Luv you!