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.
