A precious gift

AUG 25, 2017

We were in Mangalore for Ganesh Chaturthi. This was the first time I was at my in-laws for this festival.For the 2 years of marriage, I had celebrated the festival exactly like how I used to celebrate in Mumbai (Read post here).

The festival was celebrated quite differently in S's family. Their's is a huge family which once lived together. During festivals, there are more than 40 people in the house and other relatives included, the crowd could go upto 100. Yes, real numbers. So the entire family got together. The women cooked, the men set about to decorate the tulsi (holy basil) plant. I, as usual, watched. What they cook and how they cook for festivities is very different and I am scared that I might ruin something. So apart from lending a hand for very basic stuff, I stay away. 

I was talking to younger relatives of S when one of them showed me his new phone. One plus 5. I totally loved the camera quality. He went about clicking photos of all of us. S and some of his cousins were busy working with sugarcane sticks. One of his cousins remarked to S, "You might have to buy her a new phone!"

All of them laughed.

"Will give" S said calmly, smiling.

Although I knew he did not mean it back then, I was happy. 

It was mutual understanding that I would never get a 33 K worth phone because I was not worthy of one. I have a history of breaking my phones (accidentally dropping) and I feel guilty and tensed if the phone is anything above 15 K. 

So I forgot all about the phone.

SEP-2017

My Redmi phone wouldn't charge. No matter what I tried, it didn't. S gave it for repair but the phone was still charging very slowly. He told me look online for another one. I asked him, "How about One plus 5?"

He replied that there was no chance I would get that.

While my phone continued having issues, I was using an older phone of mine. I had almost uninstalled all the apps from that phone and was having a tough time dealing with that phone. I started looking for new phones.

I worked that Saturday for business reasons and was very irritated. I just wanted to go somewhere out. 

Saturday night I asked S if we could go out the next day. He said, "No, someone might come".

I was so pissed off I might have bit him if I could.

"I am so exhausted this week and who have you invited!" I yelled angrily and went to bed.

He came beside  me and said, "I did not want to tell you this, but if we go out tomorrow, your phone might not be delivered."

"Which phone" I asked.

He showed me the message. It was OnePlus 5!!!!! Yeaaaaay!!  The unimaginable! I hugged him tight. I beamed happily.

S had purchased the phone in Amazon's exchange offer. He had put up his old phone for exchange and opted for an installment plan. Back then, we had a few financial commitments so this offer was great!

Sunday evening, the much awaited delivery boy came. When S gave his old phone for return, it turned out he had by mistake written the model name wrong. It was just an alphabet that was wrong but the entire model changed based on that! Even though the offer remained the same, he couldn't do the delivery unless the correct name was placed on the order. He couldn't cancel the order and place a new one and receive this order instead. A new order would be processed separately. So the delivery guy went without delivering the phone. 

I was disappointed. But, S was heartbroken.

He went to our room and lied face down. I swear, I hadn't felt so much love for him till that point. Not even for a minute did I think of that phone, the greatest gift I could have was right in front of me. I tried to console him but he was still feeling bad about me not getting the phone that day because I had been happy and smiling all day thinking of it. How stupid of him! I was happy and smiling all day thinking of him, surprising me with the phone!

Finally when he had sulked enough, we placed the order again and this time exchanged my old phone. We got better price and better offer! 

Even though September was birthday month of S, I ended up getting very precious gift. No, it was not just the phone.

Spread the smiles..

                      It's Celebration time.. Cakes, wines, music and lots of gifts, facebook walls adorned with pictures, blogworld full of posts, malls decorated with snow and Santa feel.. yes its Christmas time. There is something about Christmas that charms me more than Diwali. Its the spirit of goodwill. The lack of too much noise, too much pollution. Its the season to care..

                      While giving Christmas gifts might not be culture for most of us non-Christians, slowly the trend is changing. Christmas has become cosmopolitan. Just like New Year celebration. Traditionally every region celebrates New Year on different days. For some of us it's Gudi Padva, for some of us during Diwali and for others its during Pongal. In recent years all of India celebrates 31st Dec as the New Year. So slowly the trend of celebrating Christmas and giving gifts has started in urbane towns.

                      Wondering what is the connection between the title and the stuff I m writing? Well yes I did go a bit off the road. 

                      The point is, each one of us is different. Then how do we bring the smiles? 

I m someone who loves to gift. The whole idea of gifting excites me. Right from the choice of buying that perfect gift to the last minute creative wrapping! 

                       When I was little younger, my idea of gifting was "Gift what you would like to receive as a gift."  I don't know where I got this idea but since then it was always gifting chocolates, cards, make up products. But the thing totally didn't work. How was I supposed to gift a guy or a child for that matter? I remember how I once gifted a 3 year old a jigsaw puzzle which was way to intellectual. Yeah I was way to enthusiastic to educate the kid! I dread to ask what happened to that gift. 

                       My mother is like the Santa of the family. She always gifts the most practical things. If she is at loss as to what to gift, she simply puts cash in a nicely decorated envelope! It was from her that I learnt to think of being in the shoe of the person you are going to gift.  

                       Now the gifting involves- first trying to get into the character of that person, then looking at the store through that person's eyes and then selecting that perfect gift. The wrappings still are my choice :D :D. I m known in my circle for getting the best wrappings done. I get a thrill when people open the wrappings!! Crazy I know. 

                        Gradually I realised how much the choices differed although the result was the same- a wide smile across that face!  For some people the value matters, for some just the gesture.

                         There are still people like me who want to be treated like " the center of attention". For whom material things don't matter much but the personal touch does. The years of storming my little brain I have a few tips handy for giving that perfect gift.

                         

A few things that might help you to spread the smiles.

1. Try to know the hobbies of the person. If the person is into creative works gift them something they could make use of. I once gifted a friend of mine a  fevicryl hobby ideas set of fabric colors! This friend of mine loved to decorate.
2. If the person is someone close to you and you know what exactly they need, then gift them that! It might be the basic of the things but it will bring a smile. Gifting someone a set of geometry box would be will bland, but if you know that's what they are planning to buy then get them the same. It would save them the cost. But make sure they don't buy if before you do! 
3. Things that will never go out of use! Comfortable clothes to wear at home, bowl set, wall clocks. These are things that could never go wrong. Gifting clothes should be restricted to only when you know the size :P 
4. Personalized gifts. People love themselves. Yes they do. Get them something basic like coffee mug, photo frame, pillow, pen, book, anything having THEM on it! They would love you for it.. There are many customized gift shops coming up these days. All you have to do is give them the picture and choose the gift. Rest is done.
5. If someone loves to read then gift them their favorite genre. Flipkart can be a great help! If the person writes, then gift them a nice dairy.
6. Gift the love. Its not what but how that matters. The gift could have been given by anyone, but what's so special about you giving it? Give it in a way that would surprise. Attach a note. Give it at the most unexpected time. Give them something to remember the gift by!
7. Random acts of kindness. Sometimes just a loving text message to show that you care, a card to tell that you value the person, a kind word to let them know its ok if they are wrong sometimes and you understand, a hug to convey that you are there.. Its all that a person you love needs to know.. All that matters.. When times are rough, its not about how big a gift you gave, its how you made them feel is what they will remember and a smile may creep in on their lips long after you have made them happy..

                                                 

                                                  

                                                

                       

                                              

Was searching for some pictures to go with the post but couldn't stop putting up these! So cute and cheerful!!
Wish you a merry Christmas you beautiful people!
Its Christmas and I m left all alone in my cozy room. How I wish I were in some place where it snowed and I near the fireplace!! :D :D