True Happiness ...Lies Within

“No! they don’t make me happy, neither my husband Alok nor my son Arav,” said Harshita. Her words echoed through the huge banquet hall filled with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances and almost everyone froze in their places. There were hushed whispers of underlying trouble in paradise but what Harshita said soon after, added a new dimension to the toast that she was asked to raise on the occasion of Aloks’s promotion as the CEO of the organization.

Harishta went on to say that ‘ I don’t need someone to make me happy, I am happy. My being happy depends only on me. God has blessed all of us with an intellect to reason, deliberate, and decide and we need to mindfully reinforce that our happiness is within us and only we can make ourselves happy. There was a sigh of relief on Alok’s face, the frown lines diffused and a smile appeared on the suddenly dry lips. Alok in his usual witty style said that his wife always stays true to her name as Harishita means Happiness.

Akaansha who had raised the earlier toast to commemorate her promotion as the Head – Corporate Law stood there in awe of Harshita. She had in her toast mentioned that this was her happiest moment and thanked a long list of people who were responsible for this happiness. She looked at Harshita who looked resplendent with the glow of confidence. Harshita’s gaze met Akaansha as if giving her a reinforcement with her big kohl-clad eyes. Harshita’s received a standing ovation from the guests, who were initially shocked by her response and a sense of pride engulfed Akaansha. Harhsita’s aura had created magic and her words had raised pertinent questions, challenging the stereotypes of the patriarchal society.

Akaansha and Harshita had been close friends from college times and had anchored each other through many storms. Akaansha was an ambitious lawyer with a fast-track career and aggressively climbing the corporate ladder. She was vivacious, witty, and loved being the centre of attention in her personal and professional space. She worked hard and drew her motivation and happiness from the acknowledgment and appreciation that’s she garnered from her family, friends, seniors at work, and her team members. This was her fuel and her fodder that kept her going. Harshita on the other hand was a designer who had her own fashion label and couture boutique. She was creative, self-motivated, happy, and loved her private space. They were like chalk and cheese and yet very thick.

Akaansha was so used to the attention and the brouhaha around her that if that was ever compromised, she would be distraught. demotivated and unhappy. She would often complain to Harshita about the hypocrisy and chauvinism in the corporate world. Harshita would patiently listen, but all she reiterated was that ‘Happiness is a Choice’ and that one should never allow the world outside to be the source of energy and happiness.

All these years, Akaansha had never really given Harshita’s simple yet profound life mantra the gravitas it deserved. But today, when she saw the grace, poise, and confidence that Harshita had showcased with such elan, she was floored just like the other guests. Harshita was truly the star of the evening and she had won many hearts today.

Real Happiness, comes from inside and nobody can give it to you, so don’t assign anyone else so much power over your life. The only way to find happiness is to create it inside your Mind.