After reading the book Getting Things Done by David Allen, we all get motivated to organize stuff around us.
I decided to clean my desk. I started with my wallet.
I found an expired credit card and tore it along with few visiting cards. As I emptied the other contents of the wallet, a couple of 1 dollar bills slipped out. Washington's eyes squinted after seeing the daylight after many years.
I could not remember how this odd currency, in odd denomination, got in there? And then memories came to me in a flash.
Gary Crabtree and I were driving down the old Mumbai-Pune highway. The old road was not even double-laned then. The Expressway work was under progress, and it was further adding to the traffic woes. The last stretch of the express highway was unofficially being used by people to make an exit near Kalamboli. I somehow managed to get on the new road and accelerated. Gary had a terrified look on his face. Tom Smolen and Ed Fournier, P.E., always have it while driving on Indian roads.
In a reassuring tone, I told Gary, "This highway would be completed in another 6 months". Gary looked around with disbelief. He said, "Subodh - Let's bet Rs.100 on that". I agreed.
Gary went back to the US, and we kept nagging each other with the progress of work. Eventually, we both forgot about it. Then one day, the news about the inauguration of the Expressway made it to the headline. I checked the date of Gary's visit. I had won the bet with just 3 days to spare. I forwarded the news to Gary with the subject line "We did it" Gary did not reply to my email.
One day FedEx delivered a letter to my home. It was Gary's letter. Actually, a small note. He congratulated me on the achievement. He had sent 2 x 1 Dollar Notes and 55 Cents with it. I looked inside the wallet, and all of those 55 cents were there. In those days, it added up to approximately Rs.100. It would have cost Gary much more to sent Rs.100 to me than its value. But he did it to keep his word.
Today, we place too much emphasis on winning. We only chose winners as our idols. But traditionally, we have adored even people who have lost. Rana Pratap lost the war. He had to hide in the forest for survival. The then Moghul Emperor offered him back his empire with just a condition that he apologized. Rana Pratap preferred death over an apology. He is considered a hero in Indian History. Rani of Jhansi lost everything, and yet she is our idol. Indian History and scriptures are replete with examples like Ek Lavya, Karna, and many others.
I think people like Gary set an example by teaching us that winning and losing are not the only essential things. We need to play the game of life, enjoy it, and play it fair. Thanks for the reminder, Gary.
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