May be I will go on answering a couple of more questions on plinky. This one asks me if I think money can buy happiness.

My answer to that will be a diplomatic one. There are situations where money is the much-needed ingredient to cook happiness. And there are situations where money can be salty! Let me imagine going to a movie, I would definitely need money. But let me imagine choosing between spending a day with my wife and making more (more means more than required for a reasonable living!) money at work; I would prefer the former for it makes me feel much better. But I leave you with your imagination to work on examples from your life to answer this question. I have seen plenty of them to share here.

But again, if someone forced me to give an answer this or that, I would say money is not the most necessary element in being happy. If you do not believe me, may be you haven't yet watched 'Shortcut to happiness'.

Thanks Plinky. You really are doing justice to your objective. The question is about what my childhood dream job was. I hope some of the growing kids don't misinterpret what I am about to say. May be, I would explain a little more than keeping my answer short.

As a kid, I was fascinated by the engineering marvels, and have always wanted to create a perfect automobile. I was a dreamer. Later on, as I grew, as I figured out world through my experiences, many people inspired me, and many taught me how not to be. A dream that took shape behind my automobile fantasy was to be a good scholar. Haa! How that word pushes me hard, Scholar. And then, I became something in amidst a rut of suggestions from many on what I should be, a corporate executive with lucrative offer in hand. That I tried for three years and could not fit in with its demands. Perhaps, dreams are stronger motivators than is money. I am back to academics to be a scholar, teacher. Part reason why I think I am so interested in being a scholar-teacher is because I admire what my father does in that role. Great man he is!

Now comes my explanation. Off late, I have been talking to many children, some of them asking for a suggestion on what they should do, and some of them telling me what they want to do. I have two common things to share with them all. Firstly, please do not take suggestions on their face value, because I have learnt my lesson the hard way. All those who made suggestions were never with me, except to suggest. Surprisingly however, they appreciate what I am doing now--something they never suggested, but additionally resisted. Secondly, most kids who told me they want to do something said they want to be automobile engineers. I see their spirit, but I don't see that it is their dream. I had taken time to realize the difference between a fantasy and a dream. So, to these kids, I try to tell them they should know how to be what they want to be. They tell me, I sound as if I am against their goals, but that is not my intention. May be they are right; I don't deny having a feeling that they too might only be fantasizing about automobiles.

Dreams are so good, they come whenever you want. You realize them at any cost, even with paramount desperation. Learning on the other hand is so cruel, it never comes when you need it most; and by the time it comes, you are old.

Before 2006, I recall and laugh about who I was--a staunch supporter to Bajrang Dal. Every Valentine's day, I would be eager to know how many couples were caught and I take pleasure in how troubled they felt talking about their relationships. It was my strong opinion that such relationships really had nothing but sexual attraction. But then, like in everyone's life, there comes a turning point. 14th February, 2006 was that day.

Well-recognized as a misogynist, in the campus, girls were miles away from their wildest dreams of talking to me. Perhaps, some of them hated me. Definitely, I don't take pride in how I was then, now. But at that time, I was happy with who I was. And this girl comes into my life! She is a friend to my friend, and I call her to warn not to call my friend again, because their time on calls was charged to me (my friend was using my phone). We end up having a weird conversation, one that I saw (still see) as extremely rude, that she saw (still sees) as funny. We do not each other any more than that phone call which I made to warn her. And absolutely no idea how it happened, but she proposed to me, and I made my decision to marry her. A month after that is when we get to meet each other for the first time, but by then most of our life was decided to move together.

So what else can I think on a valentine's day now! This girl, my fiancee, my love, meri jaan, naa bujji (and all words all lovers commonly and most lovingly use) comes before my eyes, and says, "Jaan, when are you marrying me?". I hope this is the last valentine's day when I would get that question from her. I am surely gifting myself to her very soon...

Oops! I did not mention her name so far. Some of you may have already known her, but it makes me happy to mention her anywhere--Kalyani. And thank (who cares, it is fine for once) GOD, we never had any trouble talking about our relationship, courtesy our very supportive parents.