Describe the happiest day you had

Where you were?
Who you were with?
What you did?
And explain why you think it was the happiest day?

It was two years ago when I had my very first motorbike trip with my friends to the first and most ancient village which is located near Banga city. It is an unforgettable trip that I’ve ever had. Our group had 3 people, Rohan, Shiv and me. We chose to visit that village because we wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and get off the beaten track. Moreover, because the village is also the birthplace of my grandparent, I felt really excited to visit the village and get a closer insight into the lifestyle of local people as well as my grandparent.

We set out for a day trip to date back to the tradition of our country really early. I’m always a night owl, not an early bird, so leaving the city at 5 a.m made me feel like I was deprived of sleep. However, I was deliriously happy shortly after embarking on the trip to the village. This was because on the way to get there, we admired the breath-taking views which are totally different from the city we are currently living in.

After 1 hour drive, we got to the picturesque village which made me feel over the moon. We rented some bikes to cycle around the village with a lot of small alleyways filled with green grass. After riding a bike to the paddy field to feel the vibes of the village, we visited some 400 year old ancient house which made of mud and laterite and had a look at communal houses where the local people gathered for festival celebration or public meeting.

After that, we had lunch with many scrumptious foods which are locally and organically grown. In the afternoon, we joined a cooking class with the villagers who were extremely friendly and clever at making traditional cakes. The highlight of the trip to the village was going to the paddy fields to help the farmers harvest the crop. It was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience which I really enjoyed. That was our first motorbike trip to the outskirt of the city and first time in the countryside so we really enjoyed every single moment there.

Shiv was like a dog with two tails while Rohan and I were also on cloud nine. We relished everything in the village from the fresh air, cozy ambiance to beautiful landscapes such as small houses or paddy fields. We very much hope that we can embark on a longer trip to the countryside down the road if we have more spare time.

It is very hard for me think a particular day, which I would consider the happiest. Still, I believe two years ago something happened that brought me immense joy and happiness. It was the day I brought home my dog, Nora. I was with my family and we all went to a pet shop together and got her. But, before I jump to that day, I would like to share a bit of the background.

From a very early age, I wanted a dog. However, my parents were strictly against it. I think their main concern was that I was not ready for the huge responsibility. Also, we used to live in a very small house and my dad believed dogs need to have proper space. But slowly things started to fall into place. Three years ago, we shifted to a bigger house and as I grew up, I started arguing that I am more responsible now. However, my dad kept one final condition before we got the dog. He wanted me to wake up 6 am for a whole month.

This was to prove to him, that after we get the dog, I would wake up, feed it and take it for a morning walk. I remember it was so hard for me at first, but gradually I did develop this habit. Finally, on the 30th day, as I met the condition- my parents took me to a pet shop. There were five small puppies available there but my eyes were fixed on cute little Shih Tzu ( dog breed). She was one of the costlier breeds and I thought my dad would object. But he didn’t.

That day I felt like I had become a father/big brother/mother/big sister for the very first time. I don’t think any other day could compare to the emotions I went through on that day and so I consider that day to be my happiest.

Part 3 – Follow up

Ques: – Do Indian people spend a lot of money on birthday presents?
Ans: – I don’t think most people do. I mean the parents and siblings do buy expensive presents but not friends. Birthdays are more about spending quality time with each other in India.

Ques: – What do Indian people do on New Year?
Ans: – Well, we Indians are very religious so the day itself starts with seeking blessings from the God. At night, there are new year events at different places and people attend these. A lot of people also go on vacation for Christmas and New Year due to extended holidays.

Ques: – Do you think we are happier than people in the 19th century?
Ans: – Despite the comforts of today, I don’t believe we are happier. Firstly, there is so much stress today because of the increasing competition. Secondly, I think the excessive choices are making us unhappy. We are always worried about making the wrong choice.

Ques: – Why childhood is the best time for most people?
Ans: – I think the main reason is the lack of stress and worries in childhood. There is feeling of security and happiness and feeling that if face any problem our parents would take care of it. As we grow older, there is a realization that our problems cannot be solved by our parents and thus it makes us unhappy.

Ques: – Do you think money can bring happiness in life?
Ans: – I have thought about this question a lot. I think money does bring happiness, it allows us to buy the food we crave, wear the clothes we like, go on vacations, buy presents for our family and friends and so much more. But I also think, happiness doesn’t increase the more money we earn. If that were true, rich people would be the happiest and that is certainly not true.

Ques: – What do you think is important in bringing happiness?
Ans: – I think there are so many things and money is definitely one of them. But besides money, I feel it’s about satisfaction in our work and the feeling of importance- I mean the feeling that we matter to our family, our society. I think that’s the reason why many people chose working in the army over other lucrative professions.