Definition of luxury changes with time. What was luxury once could be a necessity today. In the sixties, a car was a luxury. In the seventies, television was a luxury. In the eighties, a telephone was a luxury. In the nineties, a mobile and computer were a luxury.
But if you ask Mark Twain, the renowned traveler, mere life is a luxury, and the color of the grass, of the flowers, of the sky, the wind in the trees, the outlines of the horizon, the forms of clouds, all give a pleasure as exquisite as the sweetest music to the ear famishing for it. If you ask me, living away from materialistic temptations, in the lap of nature is real luxury.
If you look at the present generation, they spend most of their time in closed rooms, glued to computers and mobiles with air conditioners on twenty-four hours a day. They are hooked to junk food, cold drinks, tea, and coffee. This is perhaps their definition of luxury. And the favorite hobby of kids today is computer games full of violence. Parents provide kids with all these so-called luxuries as they have no time for them. Mostly, both are in a job and busy from morning till night. In this polluted scenario, the biggest challenge is staying healthy and happy.
In the present stressful and tense times, luxury could be defined as having a loving family, being with loving friends, living in an unpolluted place, inhaling fresh air, getting pure water and sunshine, and above all, a heart full of laughter. Luxury is no longer going on a cruise trip or eating food prepared by a renowned chef. Luxury is eating fresh organic food grown in your own backyard. Luxury is not having an elevator in your house. Luxury is the ability to climb three stories of stairs without difficulty. Luxury is not the ability to afford a huge refrigerator. Luxury is the ability to eat freshly cooked food twice a day. Luxury is not having a home theatre and watching a Himalayan expedition on it. Luxury is physically experiencing the Himalayan expedition.
The world-renowned comedian, Charlie Chaplin, laments that the saddest thing he could imagine is to get used to luxury. Perhaps, he was a man of simple habits and simple tastes. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde describes himself as a man of simple tastes, who is always satisfied with the best. He adds in a humorous vein that let me be surrounded by luxury, and I can do without the necessities. Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, known for his wit, says in a lighter vein that my tastes are simple, I am easily satisfied with the best. What one generation sees as luxury, the next sees as a necessity.
Luxury is a relative term meaning different things to different people. As they say, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. Luxury for some may be owning a villa, a private jet plane, a yacht, and a Mercedes car with loads of bank balance. But for lesser mortals like me, who spent their childhood in a joint family and were always surrounded by loving people, luxury has an entirely different meaning. Spending quality time with my entire family including my grandchildren in the lap of nature is luxury for me.
It becomes all the more special as my son, Dr. Ankur Segon, my daughter-in-law Dr. Yogita Segon, my grandsons Rishabh and Rohan live in America. They visit us once a year for two or three weeks. Sometimes, their visit is after two years. Rishabh will be sixteen in October this year. He is slim, trim, and tall with an athletic body. He is a black belt in karate and a fine piano player. He is also a good trumpet player. He is in tenth grade and aspires to be a neurosurgeon.
Rohan is ten years old. He has long curly hair and loves his tresses. He is fair and has soft features. He is sharp and witty and is fond of reading. Both brothers like my stories and have read most of them. Both are born and brought up in America. They have all the luxuries back home, a villa, swimming pool, personal gymnasium, Tesla, and other luxuries of life. Rishabh now refuses to travel by economy class when traveling with his parents, but when it comes to India, especially his grandparents' home, he is prepared to travel in any class to be with his grandparents.
The younger one, Rohan, agrees with his brother and loves to explore India. Coming from the lap of luxury into a middle-class home with limited facilities, both of them adjust like fish takes to water. Our daughter, Shafina, also joined us at Himgiri apartments. The only person missing was our granddaughter, Shruti, who is working in Canada. It was after a long time that the entire family was together, and we had a great time together. If this is not real luxury, tell me, what else is?
Just before the arrival of Ankur’s family, my wife Uma gave me a list and said to order them immediately as I need them for the children's visit. Yes, also order two folding cots. "Ok," I said, "but why two cots?" "Well," she said, "we will be seven of us, Ankur and his family make 4, Shafu 5, and you and me 7. Ankur and Yogu will sleep in our bedroom. You and I will sleep in the drawing room. Rishab and Rohan will be in the second room. We will spread another cot there for Shafina." "Why this change?" I was quite comfortable in the third bedroom on our old Diwan. "Yes, you are comfortable, but your grandson is not. He wants grandpa to sleep in a room with an air conditioner." I was overwhelmed with emotions. A sixteen-year-old from America has so much concern for his grandpa. Our two rooms and drawing room have air conditioners.
The D-Day came and we welcomed our children with open arms. Both Rishabh and Rohan touched our feet, we hugged them, kissed them, and blessed them. It was really a moment to savor. Both Uma and I hugged Ankur and Yogita as they also touched our feet. An age-old tradition which our children still honor and maintain. Rishabh remembered everything about the house. We went down memory lane as Uma and I enthralled our grandchildren with tales concerning Ankur, Shafina, Rishabh, and Rohan. These were moments to cherish.
Ankur and his family arrived on the night of 26th July 2024. On the 27th, they rested to ward off jet lag. Ankur and Yogita had a hectic schedule. For the next three days, they went on a shopping spree. On the 28th, they visited Connaught Place and explored Fab India and Nalli shops. For the next two days, they wanted to explore Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazar, the wholesale markets of Delhi. I asked them to take my car as well as our trusted driver, Irshad. Yogita politely declined the offer, saying Chandni Chowk is too congested and parking is a big headache there. She preferred to travel by Metro up to Chandni Chowk and then take an E-rickshaw to visit various markets. Yogita, I must say, is a sensible girl who knows the value of money. Besides, the metro is comfortable if you get a seat. Yogita is good at bargaining and enjoys shopping.
The next day, she was ready to explore Sadar Bazar, another famous wholesale market of old Delhi. As they were leaving, I asked Ankur and Yogita to try Nand ke Chole Bhature there. When Yogita and Ankur returned home in the evening, Yogita said, "Papa, I have brought Nand ke Chole Bhature for all of you." I had last tasted this dish in Sadar Bazar almost fifty years ago. Our friend, Satish Jain, had a wool shop there for trading in wool. Whenever we went to meet him, he ordered this dish for us. Usually, we four friends, Surinder, Jagmohan, and Pawan, went together to his shop. As Yogita served Chole Bhature, I loved every bite of it. They were really tasty. What a luxury. During our times, it was a single shop. Nand is no more, and the shop has been divided into two parts, both selling the same stuff.
Time was flying by and it was already the 31st, time for our trip to Naukuchiatal for a week. Monsoon was at its peak and it was raining heavily. We faced the first hurdle as we crossed Kathgodam and entered the hills. We had hardly traveled a few kilometers on the Bhimtal road when we encountered a roadblock due to a landslide. Falling stones from the hills along with mud had stopped traffic from both directions. But we were lucky in the sense that there was a small restaurant nearby where we enjoyed hot pakoras and tea. The roadblock was cleared in about two hours and traffic resumed at a snail's pace from one side at a time. We reached our destination, Tourist Rest House, Naukuchiatal. It took us almost 12 hours to reach our destination. Normally, we should have covered this distance in 8 hours. Throughout this long and arduous journey, our grandchildren threw no tantrums and tried to make us comfortable. All of us chatted, laughed, and enjoyed every bit of this journey.
I call Naukuchiatal a piece of heaven on this earth. The nine-cornered lake was surrounded by lush green flora and fauna with mountains in the background. As the day dawned, I came to my balcony which was overlooking the lake. The raindrops were falling onto the lake creating ripples. Flowers and leaves of various hues with colorful butterflies and birds all around were a treat for the eyes. The place was absolutely quiet and peaceful. It was bliss to be part of this scenario. I was sitting on my balcony, sipping a piping hot cup of tea and enjoying classical music. You get a feeling as if your heart and soul are one with nature and you are nearer to God. At such a moment, when your entire family joins you in this blissful moment, you thank the Almighty for being so kind to you. And at dusk time, nature unveils its another aspect to you. Fireflies, known as jugnu in Hindi, could be seen in hundreds, dancing around lush green trees making a buzzing sound. If this is not luxury, my friend, what else is.
Naukuchiatal is located at an elevation of 4000 feet above sea level. It boasts a beautiful, pristine lake with nine corners that is truly captivating. The lake measures 983 meters in length, 693 meters in breadth, and has a depth of 40.3 meters. Nestled within a charming valley, it provides opportunities for angling and bird watching. Visitors can enjoy rowing, paddling, or yachting, as well as activities like zip lining, canoeing, and paragliding. The lake features Shikaras reminiscent of those found in Kashmir, pedal boats, and rowing boats. It is a popular spot for pre-wedding photoshoots, and is renowned as a paradise for bird watchers, with 135 bird species to observe. Our entire family is deeply fond of Naukuchiatal, as it exudes a sense of tranquility, serenity, and enchantment.
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