The other day when I came out of the class, a class eleven girl asked me what my philosophy of life was.
I was much taken aback. I must confess. I didn’t expect such a question from a student.
I coughed a little to clear out my throat. (Actually I bought my time).’My next class has already started. I’ll tell you later…’ I avoided her and taking a quick look at my watch I hurried off to my next class that was a floor below.
Back home, I ruminated hard about what my philosophy of life was. I was surprised. There was none!
I felt down. The late November was not producing expected chill. Rather temperature was up by two to three degrees. The warmer night depressed me no end.
Suddenly from a non- descript radio centre ( I listen to radio quite religiously to get in touch with its old – world charm) a song was played out: Ye dosti hum nahin todenge / Todenge dum, magar tera saath na chhodenge…
The song might have been played in memory of Dharmendra, the Biru in Sholay.The Kishor Kumar – Manna Dey duet somewhat lit up my sagging spirit.
I found out for an unstable moody man like me there couldn’t be (shouldn’t be) any profound philosophy. The gurus could litter the mobile with lectures, but they rather sounded to me a burst of rhetorics (batelas) than anything of helping me understand life.
This morning I asked my sabjiwala what his philosophy of life was.
The dumb-found sabjiwala dismounted from his seat in cycle- van with great alacrity.
‘These carrots are of great quality… local…. so fresh…’ Sabjiwala said holding out some pinkish carrots from his van.
‘No.. No.. I’m asking for your philosophy…’ I clarified by repeating myself.
Sensing that there was no imminent danger to his trade, he said, ‘Customers’.
I tried to make out the logic of his answer. Customers bring happiness and happiness is his ultimate philosophy.
I perhaps got my own from him.
Bedtime read, watching Uttam- Suchitra films on my android, listening to Rashid Khan’s Shyam Kalyan, Subinoy Roy’s E ki e sundor shobha, tearing fluffy roti and mixing it with fried round-cut brinjal that has tiny pieces of ginger pressed to it and a good sleep are my ingredients of happy philosophy of life.
‘ Life is so simple and live it simple.. ‘I said as I bought a kilogram of carrots from sabjiwala.
He had a wide grin.
‘Customer’s satisfaction is my motto’ — read a packet that he handed me out. The packet carried luscious carrots.
‘So your business is doing well…’ I said looking at the newly printed packet.
The sabjiwala smiled.