WE are never satisfied and always wish for things beyond our reach. It can either be health, any electronic gadget or even beauty — but most often it is wealth! Here is the story of a 12-year-old girl, Jane, who could never stop wishing, thus she was never satisfied with what she had and didn’t experience happiness.

One night when Jane was sleeping, as the clock struck 12, the lights turned on and Jane’s parents greeted her, “Happy Birthday dear!”

“Mum, Dad! Oh, I didn’t realise it was my birthday! Where’s my gift? What have you bought for me this time?” Jane asked breathlessly.

“Well! Well! I’ve got a new smartphone for my dear princess,” with these words her father, Mr John, handed her a beautifully wrapped box. Eager to see her new phone, she instantly opened it but when her glance fell on the model number of the phone, the broad grin on her face vanish.

Seeing this Jane’s parents’ faces also lost their smiles, “Jane, what happened?” mum inquired.

“Oh mum! What’s this? I wanted a smartphone of the latest model, the one Kate has!”

Kate was Jane’s classmate and belonged to a rich family. She liked to show off her wealth by spotting the latest brands and bragged about the prices of the products she owned. Half of the classmates were jealous while the other half became her fair weather friends. Jane was a part of the first half. Her heartiest desire was to have more than what Kate had.

For a moment, Jane’s parents went speechless, but then dad broke the silence and said, “No problem, I’ll get it exchanged with the one you want.”

Then Jane turned towards her mother and excitedly exclaimed, “Mum I want a birthday party in the evening and I want to invite all my friends please.”

“We’ll think about that dear. Actually, you know, our maid is not coming nowadays, so I have to clean the house and do all the chores. It would be a bit strenuous for me to manage something so soon,” mum opposed the idea but Jane kept on with her demand and flopped on the bed and put the pillow over her face, refusing to talk.

“Oh Jennifer, why did you said ‘No’ to her? I understand the workload on you will increase but you are aware of the fact that she’ll remain blue till we give her what she wants,” said Mr John reluctantly after they came out of Jane’s room.

“But this is the limit! She is getting clamorous day by day. I am fed up of her wishes now,” responded Mrs John. Abruptly Mrs John’s eyes sparked with an idea. “I have an idea! This birthday I’m going to gift her a lesson as a present,” revealed Mrs John.

The next morning, Mrs John came to wake up Jane and said to her sweetly, “Jane, this isn’t something to get upset about. Okay, you really want a birthday party?”

Jane nodded with a frown and said, “Yes, mum! I want a grand birthday party!”

“Fine, take this,” Mrs John handed her a diary. “You must first write down all your desires for the year ahead in this diary and after this no other demands would be fulfilled till the next birthday. I hope the diary is thick enough.”

Jane immediately sat about writing down all her wishes. After almost a couple of hours, Jane entered the kitchen and handed the diary to her mother. “Here it is mum, all my desires for the year ahead,” she said.

“Why do you want them fulfilled?” asked mum.

“Because I want to be happy, just like Kate!”

“Is happiness linked to fulfilment of one’s desires only?”

Jane was caught off guard and before she could come out of her confusion, Mrs John took her to the balcony. Standing on the roadside outside their house was a poor child in torn cloths and with unkempt hair. She vaguely remembered seeing him standing outside a few times ... or was it every day? Most of the people passing by were ignoring him, then a lady came and handed him a coin. The boy took a quick look at the coin and with a smile said, “May God give you more!”

Then Jane questioned, “Do you mean the boy with that coin is feeling real pleasure?”

“No, the lady is the one feeling content because making others happy can make you happier, a pleasure which you can’t get from all the luxuries in the world.”

“Ok, do you mean Kate isn’t lucky enough?”

“Yes, having a lot of money doesn’t mean you will be very happy too, it’s a state of mind that no amount of money can buy,” Mrs John patiently explained.

Jane understood what her mum tried to convey to her. She saw the wall clock and said, “Mum, can I help you out in the kitchen? It will help you finish the chores fast.”

Mrs John was glad that Jane understood what she had tried to tell her.

She suggested that if they worked fast enough, then maybe they could arrange a party for her that day and she could call all her friends.

But now Jane declined to hold the party. She insisted that she didn’t want anything that was in the diary. She now knew that the true happiness was much more than earthly desires, it is more precious than a birthday party or a smartphone.