Don’t chase the mirage

“Ma, my shoes are torn into shreds. Get me a new pair.”
“Have patience dear, Sonu. Let me discuss with papa.”
“Nothing doing ma, I won’t go to school unless I get a new pair of shoes. My friends are mocking me. I feel so ashamed.” Sonu burst into tears.
Sonu’s father stood at the doorway with a diminishing smile. He felt guilty for her daughter’s tears. He walked to her and patted her on her shoulder.
“Papa will get you a new pair in a month. Trust me. And hey, look what I got for you.” He raised his hand that held a bag of sweet potatoes.
“Oh, my favorite.” The girl said and grabbed it from her father.
The family had a modest meal and shared the sweet potatoes.
He was on a contractual job and he worked hard to get a permanent job. Finally, after some hard work, he got a permanent job. The first thing he did was to purchase a pair of new shoes for her daughter. The daughter was happy. She was placed in a better school. They moved from their uncomfortable hut to a concrete house with a bedroom and a kitchen. His wife was also happy with the promotion. They led a happy life.
And the story did not end there.
The happiness was short lived. Slowly the family got accustomed to the better life and it was no more special. He continued working hard, aiming for a promotion.
Hardworking employee that he is, he promptly got his promotion in a year. And they moved to a better place. He bought a cycle for his daughter and all the domestic appliances that his wife had asked for.
And the story did not end there.
Pumped up by the success at his worked he continued working harder. He was so dedicated and achieved many successes.
And the story did not end there.
He worked so hard that he failed to spend some time with his daughter or share a meal with his wife. With each success, he bought more luxuries for his families and started to work even harder. There was no more happiness. They felt some emptiness. They were not happy, despite all the wealth and luxury. One fine day, he realized he had no more energy to work. When he went to his bed that night, as he closed his eyes, his life unfolded like an accounts book. He realized that he did not live his life. He decided to enjoy his life for the rest of the years with his wife and daughter. Unfortunately, he didn’t wake up next morning.

What are we running after? Why are we not able to find happiness despite so much success? Why can’t the family with all the luxuries, find the same kind of happiness they had when they shared a modest meal under a hut roof?
Lot of questions!!! Now, it’s time for some answers.

Think about it friends. Let’s start living before it’s too late.