Often, we know what we want but have no idea how to ask for it. With clarity in thought, faith in your heart and patience as your virtue, you’ll receive not just what you ordered but unexpected gifts too. Assures SHALAN SAVUR

Since my husband is passionate about music, we decided to go in for a really good system. He jotted down his requirement, rang up a well-known electronic store and said, “I’m looking for a quality stereo system that plays CDs includ­ing MP3s, has a double-cassette deck and a karaoke facil­ity.” He also mentioned our budget. The salesperson promised he’d call back within 20 minutes. True to his word, he did. And he had THE system we wanted! So off we trotted to the store. It was empty and we got to view and listen to our stereo immediately. ”We’ll take it,” we said gladly. Then, began a long unexpected wait. Three staff members rummaged around looking for a packed, sealed piece. One checked out a huge shelf lined with cartons. Another rolled in a ladder, climbed up over our heads, snapped open a door in the ceiling and disap­peared through it. A third picked up the phone and seemed to be deluded by deadlines for stock-checking from the other end. Meanwhile, the store began to fill up with customers.

Fifteen minutes later, the salesman returned to apologise. “We’ll send it over tomorrow,” he said. “If you could write down your address …?” We told him politely that we’d prefer to pay with our debit card and carry our piece home with us that day itself. He nodded doubtfully. Fifteen more minutes passed. We sat serenely, unspoken­ly sure that we’d get what we’d come for. Through the glass walls, we saw the salesman attending to new cus­tomers. Fifteen more silent minutes passed. Finally, he walked in bearing a carton and a huge smile. We smiled back. We’d got what we’d asked for.

KNOW HOW IT WORKS

THE EXPERIENCE IN THE STORE IS OUR EXPERIENCE IN LIFE: Ask and you shall receive. But, between the ‘ask’ and ‘receive”, you’ve got to do four crucial things:

BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO ASK FOR:

This approach keeps you stress-free. Write down your requirements. These form not only your base, but they also provide a direction for the energy of asking and receiving to flow freely towards each other.