A few Inches from Happiness

Sanjoy could not take his eyes off! He was almost in a daze. And it was Sujata's poke that brought him back to reality.

And he found the strength in him to speak out, "Sujata, it has to be 32 inch, at least that is! And since that is the most that we can afford at present, we have a decision - 32 inch it will be! What say you?"

Suajta was still unsure, and her reply was short and sweet, "Hmm, let me see".

It was obviously not so sweet for Sanjoy, he pretty well knew what her 'let me see' meant, and in what direction the discussion was heading now. He had plenty of experience with that phrase in his life so far! He pretty well knew what was coming his way. He was sure that Sujata is going to say...

"I think we need to discuss before making the final decision", Sujata said out aloud at that very moment.

And Sujata in her mind was deep into the discussion already! 'Sanjoy is again rushing things up! He needs to look in to all the matters before making the final decision. I know money is not always the final parameter with which you should be guided, but it IS one of the more important factors. As we really need to look not only on what we can afford, and but also how much we need.'

Just at the moment a voice sounded from just behind the place where the two were standing.

"Ahem", a face poked in between the two, "How may I help you Sir, and Ma'am? I feel that your are in need of some assistance to make up your mind."

"Well, yes, actually we are in need of some" and Sujata stopped in between, "But how the heck, I mean how did you know we are unsure?"

"Well! Its part of my job ma'am. Let me introduce myself first, I am Tanmay. And you are not the first people who are unsure as you are, because the place from where you are standing, it is really difficult to decide!"

"But I know what I want!" Sanjoy was quick to point out.

Sujata was quick to add, "But I need more conviction, and I feel you may help me out in this."

"Yes, of course, Ma'am! We actually need to decide on a lot of factors before we can narrow down on the exact model of your choice for the LCD TV. It is not just a TV after all. It should match your choice, requirements and of course your budget as well."

"OK, Lets hear you out," replied Sanjoy, with a semblance of disagreement mixed in his tone.

"I think we should start with the size. And for that I need to know the exact viewing distance."

Sanjoy was having a feel that he was now losing some grounds, and hence immediately retorted back, "But I think we know we need a 32" screen." It had been his wish to get a 32" Sony Bravia LCD TV. A wish which had gradually grown to become a dream, and a dream-come-true situation today.

"But, then sir, your viewing distance should be around 8 feet from the TV."

"8 feet? How are we supposed to know how far is our sofa set from the TV?"

Tanmay took a few steps back from where he was standing, and after stopping he said to them, "This is approximately 8 feet sir."

And a moment later, Sanjoy and Sujata was standing by the side of Tanmay.

Sanjoy was unsure, "Well I don’t know, but it seems we are too far."

Sujata added, "Definitely we are too far, we need to move forward by a couple of steps for sure." And she sounded more definitive.

"Then ma'am, your perfect size should be 26", Tanmay concluded as he moved ahead a couple of steps.

Sanjoy could hardly believe his ears. "What kind of salesman would want to sell a product of smaller value? Is he nuts?" he whispered in Sujata's ears!

"An honest one may be, Sanjoy" was a stern reply from Sujata, she continued the rest of the conversation with herself, 'And someone who has somewhat more patience than you!'

Meanwhile Tanmay run around to get a couple of chairs for them. And after they had both sat down he started, "Sir, Ma'am, I feel you are in the best seat of the house! You can look at the screens of different sizes, and I hope you can see that any size beyond 26", the images if they are highly zoomed will seem to flicker to you....."

Sanjoy was having the deja vu effect, he was feeling dazed, but this time the reason was different. Sujata, on the other hand, was the attentive listener.

And half an hour later, they were standing in front of the cash section. The deal was finalised, it was a 26" inch TV, as per Sujata's wish, and the brand was as per Sanjoy's demand!

A few moments later they were out in the streets, looking for a taxi to get back home. Their faces told a story in itself. Sanjoy was sulking, as if having missed a chance to fulfil a long last dream. Sujata, happy as to have won a battle, and contended as justice was being done in the end.

Later that evening, the dinner table was set, the food was warm and smelling delicious and most importantly the new TV was proudly perched in the drawing room wall like a shining new penny. Yet the mood in the house was sombre. The TV was on and a live cricket match of Team India was being telecasted. Yet all seemed silent!

Sujata was the first one to break the silence, "You know I felt the same kind of unhappiness after you decided to book this apartment, even after repeated request that we needed a little bigger area that the 910 square feet this flat offers us."

Sanjoy was thrown back by a year, almost. To the time when he was booking their flat.

Sujata continued, "I hope you remember that I insisted that the minimum area needed to be a thousand square feet. But you booked this on account of being near to your parent's house". Yes, Sanjoy remembered.

"If only, you would had waited a little bit more, and thought of buying a bigger house on that day, we would have easily taken the TV of your choice today. 6" bigger!"

There was a short spell of silence in between. The two souls sat a few feet away from each other, each trying to gauge the distance they were apart from their happiness. The 26" LCD television was still on. India was on the verge of victory, the happy faces of thousands of spectators were speculating a victory as India inched towards glory.

Sanjoy did not know whether to be happy or not as he was blankly staring at the TV screen. Was he just 6" from being happy, and Sujata a few hundred square feet? Is happiness measured so easily? Even Sujata was unsure, as she gazed at the darkness outside.

- Adapted from the idea of Sushree Chaudhuri