LASSI AND PEPSI STORY

The day at the office was stressful and draining. The company had introduced a new compensation package for the employees, giving more importance to long term saving. Company was contributing a significant amount for those employees who are willing to remain with the organization for a longer period.

The employees, as you could imagine, were not happy. The new generation is not bothered about long term savings. They need a fatter “take home” package. I tried to reason out with them that even in this case they will be eventually taking these benefits home, only difference being they will get it a bit later. They were not convinced. I can’t blame them completely. They have their EMI’S and other pressures to take care of. In the age of instant gratification, a long- term benefit is not preferred.

Even I was like them, spending whatever I earned. It was some wise advice from few experts which changed my outlook. Fortunately, I realized that it is difficult for me to save from my earnings of my own. It was better for the company to do it forcefully.

So, it was with that heavy heart that I walked into the small restaurant, near our office, for lunch. My appetite was not great. I ordered something very light and just to distract myself from the official thoughts I started looking around.

That is when I noticed five old ladies sitting at a table besides me. They were all in their late seventies. They all were seriously pouring over the menu. That ignited my curiosity and against my culture I decided to sneak -peek into their conversation. Initially, it was difficult to follow them. From the bits and pieces, I realized that they all have come to collect their monthly pension from the treasury. Years back they were working together and they take this as an opportunity to meet each other every month. They come from different places, but they meet at this restaurant, have something to eat and munch on their sweet old memories. 

They spoke softly, but excitedly. There was a sense of calmness on their face at the same time they were eager. While going through the menu seriously, they were updating each other with all the happenings since they met last time.

“My son is asking me to give him the authorization to collect the pension. He is asking why I should take all these pains to travel every month”, one of them was sharing. “But he can never imagine how much I enjoy these trips. “, she concluded.

“Pension is a real savior, it puts some money in our hand and also an opportunity to see you all at least once a month”, another one chipped in.

“I used to hate when they deduct money from salary for pension. Only when I got the first pension, I realized how wrong I was”, the third person commented.

As I sat there, listening to them, their energy and vibrancy slowly spread on to me.

 By then they had gone through the menu thoroughly. I thought that by now they must have known the whole menu by-heart.

I was curious to know their selection and what they selected bowled me over. After all those laborious scanning they had selected- Lassi and Pepsi!!! Lassi I could understand, but Pepsi?! It made me more curious.

Again, there was a discussion. “We will have lassi today, my stomach is not feeling well”, someone suggested and all others agreed immediately. By then I was completely immersed in them. Their enthusiasm was so contagious that I forgot completely about my office and the discussions.

Then came one of the most positive statements I have ever heard in my life. Keeping aside the menu card one of them said,” yes, we will have lassi today and next month we will have Pepsi”. Her words fizzled out and drenched me like a fountain.

Imagine her positivity. She is so sure about them meeting next month and had also decided what they are going to have when they meet.

 Just a few hours of discussion at office had made me drained and exhausted. While these septuagenarians, having gone through all grinding of life, are so hopeful about their future and energetic to live long into the future. They are now reaping the benefits of what they sowed years ago.

Suddenly, the otherwise insipid food, felt tasty.

Then it dawned on me that now I have a beautiful story to tell my team.

I shared the story with the team and they all got related to it immediately. It became one of our favorite stories and we called it the LASSI OR PEPSI story. Whenever we got stuck between a long-term benefit and a short-term gain we remembered this story.

Later on, when my energy levels were low, I always chose and savored the lassi from the life’s menu and kept the frizzling Pepsi for the future.