Unleashing Happiness

Taking a stroll in a posh Delhi market, waiting for some friends for a fancy dinner. While talking about the luxury cars and homes; planning to work out ideas to get those glossy, expensive breezers on the porch of our future luxury home, me and my husband came across a street kid on the pavement, sitting next to a kiosk hugging a stray dog so tightly with so much love and tears in his eyes that the emotions could be seen spilling all over. He kept on asking the dog again and again that where had he (dog) been for two long hours? To my surprise, I went near the boy and asked him the reason of his tears and what was he talking to the dog? The boy said, “I am alone and I live on this pavement with my dog and work in this kiosk. My dog sleeps next to me and whenever I am sacred of the traffic honks at night I hug him tightly and then sleep again. He takes care of my bag and other stuff all the time.” I saw an almost torn bag lying on the pavement with a blanket next to it. I asked what all stuff he had in the bag. He said, “I have two t-shirts, a pair of jeans and some other stuff apart from the shirt and shorts I am wearing right now. And one of the t-shirts in the bag is new, given by the shop owner I work for. It’s really beautiful and I am going to wear it when I go for an outing with my dog to the nearby park which has a lot of swings for children.” I asked him how many friends he had. He replied, “This dog is my only friend and that’s why I was so worried when I could not find him for two hours. I yelled and cried a lot but was unable to find him. I don’t eat without him, I don’t sleep without him. I was so worried. And now I am very happy that he is with me.” The dog and the boy were cuddling each other throughout this conversation, and the happiness was inexpressible. My last question to him was what were his wishes and expectations from life. And the answer was illuminating! “I have everything to live, a job, a companion, a place to eat and sleep, clothes in my bag including new gifted shirt. The only thing I don’t want to happen to me is people treating me badly when I don’t behave bad with them, and also, I never want my dog going out of my sight. God is really kind to me. I am happy.” I could really sense his happiness and contentment in life through his laughs, hugs and talks with his companion. An example of unconditional love and happiness agitated my sleeping sense of contentment and gratitude towards life. We all have a lot to be thankful for that we take for granted. Blessings to the boy and the dog!