5 year old phone

I had met my generationally wealthy friend Nidhi after a very long time. We met at one of the offices. Despite being different, we became friends. Nidhi joined her family business and I continued with my job. We had still been in touch with each other and meet once in a while.

I was waiting for her at an aesthetic cafe. Nidhi arrived wearing her 'quiet luxury' outfit. Her vibe would tell anybody that she was wealthy. She smiled and sat down.

"Great to see you after a long time buddy. How are you?" She spoke while placing down her bag and phone. I noticed that it was one of the latest folding phones.

"Good to see you too. I am good. How are you? Have you been away for a while?" I asked, because I have seen her pictures on social media at airport lounges.

"Yeah, just here and there for business. I used to love travelling when it was for leisure. Now I am travelling with purpose and it is nerve wrecking," Nidhi expressed her frustration. I liked this about Nidhi, she was not one of those who wanted to show off how wealthy they were and how they were better than the rest because they were wealthy. Nidhi was grounded and humble.

"I saw your pictures. I was thinking that you were having a blast in the Atlantic. Anyway, how's work and life?" I was eager to hear from her, for she always had interesting stories.

"Boring and tiresome. At the age of 40 I feel like I am 70. I want to retire. But of course without the plan of succession I cannot do anything. Please don't say 'rich people problems'. I know it sounds like that but there is no escape from it", by that time I had ordered coffee for us.

While we had been waiting for coffee, I saw that Nidhi had been looking at my phone. She looked up and asked, "girl, what is with your phone? Which model is that?"

"M21 2021 edition," I said to her avoiding her glance, "yes I know it is an old model. It is over 5 years old. It works well. I am okay with that. I am not planning to buy a new one till this one works. No judgements please," I said that in a single breath. I have been told by multiple people that I should upgrade my phone and I did not want Nidhi to tell me the same.

"No girl. Why would I say that? I was just curious. Do phones work this long nowadays? My last phone gave up after 1 year. This one is already bugging me. I wish I could go back to entry level phones. But when I am in business meetings, I have to have an expensive phone. I don't know who came up with such rules but I have to comply with it for the sake of our business," Nidhi said with frustration.

I looked at Nidhi. I appreciated her honestly. While people drowning in debt, buying the latest and most expensive gadgets to show off that they are wealthy; here I was sitting with someone who was wealthy in the real life and wanted a simple life. This made me wonder what the real wealth was. I could not point out if the signd of wealth were the ones that were visible or the deep feeling towards simple life. Anyway I was pleased that Nidhi did not judge me for using a phone that was 5 year old. Needless to say coffee tasted better with a person who was wealthy in thoughts.