"Beyond Wealth: The SIPs That Make Life Rich"

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It was a typical Sunday afternoon at the Galleria Mall when I ran into Veena, my friend Radha's daughter. Her face lit up with recognition, and before I knew it, we were catching up over coffee. At just 35, she had recently been promoted to Vice President at a leading tech company.

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"Aunty, you won't believe it," she beamed, pulling out her phone. "I've got my life all figured out. Look at these portfolios – SIPs for my retirement, my kids' education, even a vacation home in Goa!"

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As I listened to her detail her meticulous financial planning, my mind drifted to Sharma Aunty, who lived three blocks away. She had just undergone knee replacement surgery, and her daughter Priya was settled in the USA. Despite having the financial means to afford the best caregiving service, there was a hollowness in her voice when I called her last week.

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"The nurses are very professional," she had said, trying to sound cheerful. "But you know, sometimes I just miss having someone to talk to about the old days."

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This also reminded me of a conversation from last week's dinner with old friends.

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"Speaking of SIPs," I had casually mentioned, "When was the last time any one of you invested in yourself?"

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The puzzled looks around the table made me smile. "I'm not talking about money," I continued. "When did you last visit Professor Mehra, who spent countless hours helping you grasp complex engineering concepts? The same concepts that got you your first job?"

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The clinking of cutlery suddenly stopped.

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"Or what about the Sharma Aunty? Her daughter – your best friend Priya – moved to Boston five years ago. She's recovering from knee surgery, alone in that big apartment with just rotating caregivers for company. When did you last drop by with her favourite masala chai?"

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This made me think of my own story. Twenty-five years ago, when my son was born, my brother's friends four of them had practically moved into the hospital with us. They organized everything – from getting home-cooked meals to coordinating visitor schedules, ensuring someone was always there with me. Now, here we were, all successful professionals with multiple investment portfolios, but too busy to spend an evening with an elderly aunt who just needed company.

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Sanjana, who had been enthusiastically discussing her latest mutual fund returns, set down her glass. "You know... I drive past Professor Mehra’s house every day on my way to work. I always think about stopping by, but there's always a meeting, a deadline, something..."

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"That's exactly my point," I said gently. "We've mastered Systematic Investment Plans for our money, but what about our other portfolios? The portfolio of Gratitude?, of relationships?, of giving back?"

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Anita, usually the quietest in our group, spoke up. "Last month, I was looking at old photos from college. There were thirty of us in that WhatsApp group. Now we just forward good morning messages. When did we stop making time for real conversations?"

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"It's interesting," I mused, "how we plan our finances for the next thirty years but leave our personal growth to chance. We have apps to track our mutual funds, but no reminders to nurture our friendships or care for those who once cared for us."

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The silence that followed was heavy with reflection.

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"Think about it," I continued. "We need a SIP of love – regular deposits of time and attention into our relationships. A SIP of gratitude – acknowledging those who shaped us. A SIP of learning – not just professional courses, but understanding ourselves better. A SIP of giving – because wealth means little, if we can't share it meaningfully."

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Radha, who had been quiet all evening, finally spoke. "You know what's ironic? We're all planning for a comfortable retirement. But what good is a well-furnished home if there are no friends to invite over for dinner? What's the point of a vacation fund if we've lost touch with the people we'd love to travel with?"

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Back at the mall, looking at young Veena's proud face as she showed me her investment portfolio, I couldn't help but smile. "That's impressive planning beta," I said. "But let me tell you about some other SIPs that might interest you..."

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Her eyes widened, as I shared our dinner conversation. By the time we parted, she had made three calls – one to her old mentor, another to her grandmother, and a third to Sharma Aunty, promising to bring over her famous homemade biryani that weekend.

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Sometimes, the best returns in life come from investments that don't show up on our financial statements. As for me, I've started my own new SIP – spending every Thursday evening with Sharma Aunty, sharing stories over chai and ensuring that professional caregiving is complemented with the warmth of familiar company.