Raghav had a new neighbour. Gayatri had shifted just a couple of days back. Given that his wife and he loved to host, they’d called Gayatri for a small tete-a-tete over afternoon tea.
He looked around his front lawn. It was characteristically strewn with evidence of his livelihood, also his labour of love. One corner held stacks of earthen pots and pans, fresh out of the kiln in all their terracota glory. Next to them were multitudes of cups, mugs, and trays; all painted beautifully in vibrant colour. There were samples of colours, waiting to be approved; clay needing to be tested for the next batch. And this was only the tip of the iceberg. His workshop saw all the flurry of activity with raw materials and local artisans and potters. A place which put together one beautiful piece after another!
Yes, he was a potter, in the strictest sense of the word. But there was much more to it than that. He’d developed his small dream into a successful business. He was an entrepreneur, to say the least. And he loved how his front lawn was so symbolic of his life. A little messy, strewn, but vibrant and colorful.
Another corner of the garden was reserved for afternoon soirées. A corner where Raghav and Meera loved having people over for tea. The table was set, with snacks, biscuits and the paraphernalia of a perfect tea, just waiting for guest and host.
As Gayatri settled with her cup of tea, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe looking at the pretty place. With her first sip, she asked Raghav, ‘So, what’s the story here?’ Raghav looked at her, confused. Even Meera couldn’t understand what she was talking about. Gayatri explained, ‘What is an IIT graduate doing here, making pots and pans?’ But instead of the usual pitiful look he was used to, Raghav saw a spark of pride in Gayatri’s eyes!
He was transported back to the time he’d come to this place for the first time. It was a back-packing trip with his friends. College had ended. He’d landed a big fat corporate job. Everyone back home was super proud of him for achieving what he had been groomed for, all along.
He was no longer a student and was going to be a responsible young man in charge of his life. The enormity of that responsibility was somehow suffocating. He needed a respite, and this place had proven just that. The serene seashore, the whistling wind, the people, their unpretentious way of life, the oneness with nature that he’d felt had helped ease his apprehensions. That day, he’d decided, this place is going to be his escape from the world.
And ‘Life’ started once he was back. As the treacherous ride to success kicked off, there was no looking back. Life was set. Pay raises, new cars, a new house, and new loans, it all moved as expected. The hard working person that he was, he kept conquering all the milestones of ‘success!’ He proved to be a good boss, a good partner, a good father, and a good friend!
But, somewhere, along the line, he started feeling burnt out. Proving himself became tedious . The quest to be ahead of the game always was tiresome. Contentment eluded him. Small tasks became stressful, and the fear of ‘what if I’m wrong’ crept in. The days ended with a sigh of relief, that there were no more tasks to prove himself.
He just wanted to live a ‘life’ without this gnawing feeling of being ‘inadequate’. At first, he tried to brush it off as a mid-life crisis or an existential question. He talked with his friends. Some gave him spiritual advice, some pushed him to try harder, and some even reproached him for being complacent, of wasting his potential. But none of them said, ‘It’s OK!’ That you need not handle stress day in and day out to be successful, or lead a good life. That you can be happy without high paying jobs.
The realization came slowly but surely. And it was time to take some tough decisions. He had to quit. Quit this mad rat-race with no end in sight. Fortunately, he had planned his finances well enough that he could quit his job and pursue something he loved.
Eventually he ended up here. Back at the place he’d loved all those years ago. A place which held the promise of a simple life. Which respected the need for peace and quiet. And which, hopefully, was going to quench his life-long thirst for contentment.
Raghav smiled back at Gayatri and asked, ‘Does there have to be a story?’
