By
Vijay Kumar Dhingra
Introduction:
As an author, I’ve always been captivated by the contrasts we encounter in everyday life—particularly the tension between material success and intellectual fulfillment. My writing focuses on young people who, I believe, are often inundated with content that steers them away from human values and the true realities of life.
While my work may not offer the instant gratification found in much of today’s literature, I am confident that it provides the substance and depth needed to resonate throughout one’s lifetime.
The story of Mansi and Sangeeta is one such exploration. It delves into the clash between outward appearances and genuine inner worth, highlighting how societal pressures can influence our choices and relationships. I invite you to immerse yourself in this narrative, which reflects the nuanced storytelling I strive for in my work.
Below is an edited story published in my book Five Captivating Muse Tales (available on Amazon), shared here with slight modifications in language. I hope you find it engaging.
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Mansi stepped out of her Mercedes in front of her mansion, and her chauffeur, Raman, swiftly opened the door as she descended with style. Despite her overweight frame, she cat-walked like a model, flaunting a foreign-branded leather purse and a luxury watch as she crossed paths with her modest-looking neighbour, Dr. Sangeeta, who was walking back home with her kids from school. Mansi’s eyes carried a hint of mockery, as if to say that Sangeeta’s PhD and her job as a college lecturer were inconsequential compared to her own ostentatious lifestyle.
Mansi and Sangeeta had been childhood friends. They attended the same school, but their habits and personalities were polar opposites. Sangeeta was down-to-earth, focused on her studies, and lived a simple yet elegant life, always conscious of maintaining an economic balance. Mansi, on the other hand, had remained in school only because society wouldn’t accept an illiterate girl for marriage. She had no real interest in education; her focus was on enjoying life by any means necessary. While Sangeeta aspired to serve society and become a lecturer, Mansi sought only materialistic pleasures.
As Sangeeta smiled warmly and walked into her house with her kids, Mansi felt a pang of frustration. The indifference Sangeeta showed toward her display of wealth took away the confidence in her steps. Her chauffeur, Raman, who was following closely behind, pulling a top-brand suitcase and numerous shopping bags, slowed his pace, mirroring Mansi’s sudden unease. The sight of Sangeeta’s calm and content smile, even in her simple attire, seemed to drain Mansi of the confidence she’d built around her material success.
Mansi’s domestic help, Renuka, came out to welcome her back, but even Renuka’s presence couldn’t revive Mansi’s self-assurance. She was painfully aware that despite the facade of luxury she paraded, she would have to live alongside Sangeeta’s unpretentious ways for many more years, as fate had brought them together as neighbours once again, even after they both got married. Deep down, Mansi resented being near Sangeeta, feeling that their lives no longer matched in status or style.
Sangeeta’s husband, Sudip, was a fellow lecturer, and their twin boys, Arav and Nirav, were in the same class as Mansi’s son, Nikunj. Although Mansi disliked keeping a relationship with Sangeeta, she was forced to maintain contact because Nikunj often needed help from Arav with his schoolwork. To Mansi, Sangeeta and her family were a necessary but unwelcome “appendix”—something she had to endure for the sake of her son’s academic progress.
Looking back, Mansi and Sangeeta had grown up as close childhood friends in a government colony. Their parents held modest jobs and, as the only children in their respective families, they received undivided attention. Both attended the best school available in the area, but as they grew older, the differences in their personalities became evident. Sangeeta excelled in her studies, valued simplicity, and radiated inner beauty, while Mansi was more interested in appearances, dressing up, and socializing. By her early teens, Mansi had a boyfriend named Aseem, who introduced her to drinking, smoking, and other adult habits. Though Mansi feared that Aseem would abandon her like many rich boys do, he eventually married her after she completed her graduation.
Aseem inherited his family’s well-established grocery business, but before becoming its sole owner, he worked alongside his father in the shop. This arrangement meant that Mansi had to ask her father-in-law, Lala Deep Chand, for any extra money beyond her monthly allowance of Rs. 5000. Since there was no mother-in-law in the picture, Mansi didn’t experience the usual power struggles most Indian brides face. However, her inability to control the kitchen budget and save from her expenses frustrated her, as her desires far exceeded her allowance.
When Lala Deep Chand passed away, leaving the business and wealth in Aseem’s hands, Mansi and Aseem’s lives transformed. They renovated their house, bought branded items, and replaced their Honda City with a Mercedes. Meanwhile, their neighbour, Sudip, bought the Honda City, which was more aligned with his and Sangeeta’s modest lifestyle. Despite the luxurious upgrade, Mansi’s discontent grew—especially when she realized that in their posh neighbourhood, owning luxury cars and designer items was not unusual. This frustrated her, as she longed to stand out. She even began pressuring Aseem to buy a Bentley, but Aseem, a seasoned businessman, knew better than to engage in the rat race of wealth display.
On the other hand, Sangeeta and Sudip led a simple, middle-class life, which earned them more respect in their community than Mansi’s ostentatious ways. Their children, Arav and Nirav, often outperformed Mansi’s son, Nikunj, in school—much to Mansi’s chagrin. Arav and Nirav were encouraged by their parents to think independently, while Nikunj, overly dependent on his tutor, only achieved top grades because his homework was completed by others. Mansi was frustrated that despite hiring a tutor, Nikunj could not surpass Arav’s academic achievements.
When the school introduced a new examination system to prevent cheating, Nikunj’s grades dropped drastically, and Mansi fired his tutor, Naved. Yet, despite this setback, Sudip and Sangeeta remained unfazed, focusing on their children’s learning rather than competing with others.
Determined to one-up Sangeeta, Mansi decided to flaunt her wealth by hosting a series of loud, late-night parties. She invited Sangeeta to one of these parties, intending to make her feel out of place. Sangeeta, ever gracious, accepted the invitation. She dressed elegantly in a traditional saree, her signature large bindi on her forehead, and minimal makeup that suited her intellectual persona.
As Sangeeta arrived at the party, she was shocked by the behaviour of the drunk and disorderly guests. Before she could leave, a group of Mansi’s friends began mocking her conservative attire and intellectual aura. However, the scene shifted dramatically when one of the guests, recognizing Sangeeta from her recent lecture, approached her with admiration. He asked for her autograph on a Rs. 500 note, praising her latest book. Sangeeta, humbled, declined to sign the currency but graciously thanked him.
Seeing this, Mansi quickly shifted gears, bringing out several notebooks for other guests who suddenly wanted Sangeeta’s autograph. In an instant, the party’s focus shifted from wealth and glamour to intellect and substance.
Once again, Sangeeta’s humility and knowledge triumphed over Mansi’s superficial pride and vanity.
If you like the story, please encourage me.
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