It's a SURPRISE!

Every year we celebrate 15^th September as my dad’s birthday (!). It is like any other day, except for a dinner somewhere outside. 

This year, we thought to make it special for him right through the day. So, as we went for yoga early in the morning, we picked samosas and pedhas for everyone there. A day before, I requested his people at office to decorate his cabin (they did a fantastic job of it!). Then, I called a few of his close business friends to office at 11am. I took a cake for him, which we cut at office in presence of his staff and business friends. This was the first time that he celebrated his birthday in office. Later, I sent an SMS to his near and dear ones to wish him if possible on his special day. That day, he received calls from absolutely unexpected people! Finally, we had our dinner on the terrace of our new house! The setting was magical – dim lights, my family and evergreen hindi songs humming in the background. The moment was perfect; not a single leaf moved. It seemed the world stood still! We made him go up before us and came from behind with a cake. The blush on his face was a sight to see! As he cut the cake, we put on the song – “Tum jiyo hazooron saal …” 

Oh! What a brilliant day it was! More than him, we all felt ecstatic. All of it was a SURPRISE for him! 

As we went to sleep, he sent me an SMS – “Aaj ki surprise party rakhane ke liye bahot bahot thanks. Majja aaya! (Thanks for planning the surprise party. It was great fun)” It got me to think that life is all about creating such joyous moments, isn’t it? It is even more fun when the other person is not expecting it at all and we do it. Remembering such moments brings a smile to our face. Such memories make one’s life worth it. 

It doesn’t take a full day effort, or an event to give a surprise. It can be done in day-to-day routine – 

• Taking flowers for the women/girls in the house. At least one to each.  
• Just dropping in at your wife’s workplace and having lunch together.
• Landing up at a cousin’s house midnight to celebrate his birthday.
• Flying to a sister to celebrate Rakhi.
• Taking Indian Burger (vada pav) for colleagues at office.
• Buying a dress for my wife.
• Gifting a saree to the maid in the house.
• Writing a letter of appreciation for a loved one.
• Just dropping by and saying ‘Hi’ to a friend as I am passing by.
• Taking a favourite ice cream for mom as I come back from work.
• Sending WhatsApp to a teacher letting her know what she means to me.
• Gifting a jacket to the watchman who stands guard in chilled winters.
• Making a same T-Shirt for me and my wife with some cute wordings.
• Recording a song in my voice for my wife (irrespective of the kind of voice God has given me)

Vis-a-vis my life –

I cherish creating such awesome moments for people in my life. I love to see that smile on their face. Hence, I keep doing something or the other. For me, it is not an effort, but something that I ‘want’ to do. 

It seems that we have got into this trap of ‘rat race’, where all of us are running day in and day out. In the process, we seem to have forgotten how to make people feel special. We seem to be saying, ‘I’ve got no time; I am too busy; I have too much work to do, and so on!’ But, if the intention is there, our own mind gives creative ideas. We just have to ask it to work. 

I believe that making someone feel special is the best thing that I can do. It is these moments, which will make them live a few extra years. Hence, I have decided that I will keep giving myself opportunities where I will be able to say to enough people – “It’s a SURPRISE!” 

Love,

Amit Kothari
…… always upgrading!