The Price of the Priceless

Aaahh…How tasty it was! No no, it’s not the shahi tikka or gile firdous. I am talking about the ‘gobi 65’ (cabbage) I cooked 2 days back. I remember those days when I use to get up in the morning and after brushing my teeth, expect the breakfast to be in front of me. And then next, if the dish served was not one of the very few I liked (cabbage wasn’t in the list) then the mood goes off, and I have to look for alternative to fill my stomach. Though I miss that food everyday now, how rude it was on my part to act in that manner those times. Just a simple daal or cabbage cury or omlet is what I enjoy these days. If I get to eat biryani (very rare), it’s same as a beggar getting a 500 rupee note.
Entities are just entities. We set the price of them in our life. One entity may be priceless to you at one moment in your life, while it may seem to be the most precious gift to you at some other point in your life. And it’s not uncommon that what you don’t possess is what precious to you and what you possess is trivial at times. Gobi, bhendi, phalli..these vegetables were on my ignore list when I had the opportunity to eat them to my fullest..that too cooked by my mom. Now, if someone cooks that for me (I don’t care who cooks them), I’ll be eating that like a hungry beggar.
Not just with food. It can be anything that you possessed before and not now or you possess now but use to dream of it before. I still remember the Adidas shoes my brother bought for me for Rs. 120 (yeah, it’s more than 15 years back). Our budget was to get something around Rs.80. but this shoe stuck my eyes and I really liked it. It was priceless (valuable) to me that time. My brother had to put an extra Rs.40 from his pocket to fulfill my desire. Similar incident goes with a Jeans that I got almost during the same time for Rs.400. it was simply awesome and my uncle had to put in the extra money this time. Those were the two lavish possessions I remember having during my childhood. Rest others were priceless to me and I couldn’t even thing of dreaming to have one. And yes, how can I forget the toys my brother use to buy for me from his own pocket from the exhibition.
Time flies and things change. Couple day’s back I ordered shoes for my nephew. It was for $80…around Rs.4000. I was looking at different designs and finalized one that was for $50. Then I saw this one that caught my attention and I liked nothing after seeing this. Without any second thought I just ordered it. Yesterday I bought a tennis racquet, though I don’t play tennis that much. But I wanted one so I bought.
I never got pocket money in my life. If I need I use to ask and get the exact amount. Now, I hold 3 credit cards and a debit card in my pocket. I remember the time when I was applying for the US universities. It was required to pay the application fee only through credit card and it was so hard to find someone who can allow me to give his card to charge on.
I have seen the misery in life. And I am grateful to Allah that he has shown me the misery and is now showing the other side and testing me whether I can see the misery of others or did I become blind to it now. Food, clothing and shelter is what a man need for his survival. Adding more and complicating his life is what makes him cling to life and love it more and fear death. Whatever I do, no matter how hard I try, I can never suffice what all my family did for me. I say I have seen the misery, but being youngest I have got much more than my siblings. So they have seen more misery than me. My parents are the biggest blessing for me. May Allah keep them safe and healthy and bless them Jannah in the hereafter.