Count Your Blessings

Sridevi and Savita have been friends right from their college days. It was only after their respective marriages, they were both physically separated. 

While Sridevi lived across various cities, due to the transferable nature of her husband’s job, Savita had been living in Mumbai all through as her husband had his own company. Savita landed a job in the local college as a lecturer, but unfortunately, Sridevi couldn’t continue with one single job as she had to move so often. However, she did try to engage herself with a lot of gigs, as and when an opportunity presented itself.

In early 2020, Sridevi’s husband got transferred to Mumbai and both the friends looked forward to meeting each other more frequently now than they were in the same city after almost two decades. That’s when the pandemic struck.

When they were young, Savita and Sridevi both were kinds of outdoor personalities, enjoying parties and hanging out with friends. They both were known as the ‘wild duo’ at their college, doing crazy things over a whim. Over the years, however, life had tamed both of them.

Savita has a son while Sridevi has a son and a daughter. Their children were around the same age. Even when they were living in different cities, Savita and Sridevi had kept in touch over occasional phone calls. Now that they were both in the same city with grown-up kids, they talked to each other more regularly.

Over those calls, even before the pandemic had struck, Sridevi had been noticing that Savita had become somewhat high strung. Most of the time, she sounded frustrated and cynical. Sridevi knew, of the two, Savita was the one who was always upbeat and this transformation in her friend really alarmed Sridevi. She intended to get to the bottom of it when an opportunity presented itself.

One day Savita almost broke down over the phone call. As she complained in between her sobs about how nobody understood her at home and how difficult life was for her, Sridevi heard her out, letting her friend vent out her feelings. After Savita gained her composure a bit, Sridevi asked her what actually triggered her outburst that day.

“It was my son who said no matter how much they helped me in the house, I am all the time sulking in the house.”

“Were you Savi? I am sorry to be saying this, but I too feel you have been quite angry with the world for a while.” Sridevi said cautiously.

“What? You too? And that too when all I need is a kind word?” Savita spat these words out at Sridevi.

“I am really sorry Savi. But you were the most cheerful and optimistic friend I ever had at college. Do you remember how you used to joke around all the time? In fact, I always wanted to be like you.”

This image somehow seemed to pacify Saivta. She fell silent as Sridevi continued “I understand you are overwhelmed with the situation around you. But everyone is Savi. It’s time we count our blessings. You have a caring husband and healthy children. All of you have been safe and away from the dreaded virus. Your family is financially secure. More than 90% of the population of this country would love to be in your shoes right now.”

As Savita continued to be silent, Sridevi started to worry whether she went too far. All of a sudden she heard Savita ask “How did you manage to do it?”

“Do what?” Sridevi asked in bewilderment.

“To remain so calm? Honestly speaking, you used to be in a panic mode most of the time when we were at college.”

Sridevi laughed feeling relieved at the easing of tension between them. “True Savi, call it the vicissitudes of fate, I didn’t get to build a career in IT, as I wished to. We didn’t get to live in our own house. I also couldn’t pursue so many things I wanted to, as I had to devote a lot of time to my son with hearing impairment. But all this taught me the biggest lesson of my life - which is to focus on counting my blessings instead of moping about what I don’t have. Come to think of it. I have an understanding husband who is a true life partner, respecting me and my freedom. I have two lovely children and thanks to the very hearing challenge of my son, both of them have become more mature. Handling many gigs has given me a wide variety of experience which to my mind wouldn’t have been possible had I held a single job.”

Sridevi’s words shook Savita to her core. She started thinking what a problem-free life hers was as compared to her friend’s, or even as compared to many people known to her. She suddenly felt quite ashamed to have been blowing up things out of proportion. 

“You really have become very wise, Sri” Savita whispered.

“Thanks to life I guess Savi. One more significant thing I learned in life is that everyone wants to be around people who are positive, cheerful, and funny. That’s because everyone is tackling problems of their own in varying degrees, and all they want is a welcome reprieve from that and not a reminder of all the gloom and doom they are already going through.”

Savita thought of her son leaving the room as soon as she started to complain about something. She was beginning to understand where the problem really was. 

“Thanks, Sri. You really are a pal indeed. Lo and behold, I am starting to count my blessings in my life, starting with you” Savita said before hanging up, relishing the sound of both their laughter.