A page for readers to share their views, thoughts and stories.

Each week, we’d like you to share your thoughts, anecdotes, views or stories. Last week we asked: What would you do if you had saved up a million dirhams?

If I would save a million dirhams, I would open a school and a cricket academy there providing children free access to the cricket academy so they can realise their dreams. Don’t call dream a dream call it a plan in future. Maurya Vaidya Being an Indian saving for the future is in our blood. So if I save up a million dirhams, I shall definitely save some for my old age, will travel the world and the rest I shall spend in helping the less fortunate and in doing something good for the society, like building and old age home or a school for the less fortunate. Sunanda Mohan I’ll deposit half the money in the bank and forget about it. With the rest, I have two things in mind: First, I’d like to sponsor at least one underprivileged child’s education for life.

And two, I’d make a trip to two places that have been on my travel list for a long time. With my husband in tow, I’ll travel to Japan and Paris. Qashish Dhiraj Mehta

If I had saved up a million dirhams, I would deposit 50 per cent in a bank for my future education and would invest the rest in mutual funds and utilize the benefits for charity work. Niranjan Being a petrolhead, I would like to spent the million dirhams on a good car like a Range Rover SV Autobiography, which is my dream car. If any money is left (which I hope it is ) I would also like to buy my parents a gift for all the hardwork and dedication they have put in to raise me. Akshansh Sood I don’t think I would waste it on a fancy sports car, a yacht or even a luxury cruise.

Nor would I give up my job to relax and lounge around all day as that would be killing. I work for an amazing company and it would be foolish to leave it. In all probability I would first definitely make a few wise investments – then go in for a wardrobe makeover although people say I have too many clothes already.

I am not big on charity but I do my bit whenever I can so that would be I’d like to travel to visit Australia. The second thing I would want to do is try out stuff I never tried in my life...maybe more of adventure. Moving on to food...as I love trying out new cuisine apart from the typical Indian food. I would rather eat Chinese Asian whatsoever with my million dirhams but would skip Indian because I get to eat that each and every day in my house. Sania Mir the second thing I would do . Lastly I would positively stop living my life bound by my finances. Its mentally stimulating to become financially stress free and not have to worry too much about what the future holds in store for us and whether we will have enough to live comfortably .

I would like to have the option to do whatever I want to sensibly - travel, explore, learn and experience the world in the way I want to by investing in my freedom. Michael Guzder I would give half of that money to my wife because she supported me unconditionally during my hard times and really had to go through tough time because of financial difficulties. With the remaining half I’d like to sponsor mass weddings for couples whose families cannot afford marriage ceremonies so that they can get a cushion to a good start. Dhiraj Mehta I would not like to hold on to the remaining as I would forever live with the guilt of not spending it wisely. I would like to dedicate it for bringing happiness to others and I’d stay convinced that money won’t buy me a peaceful life or a loving family, which is all I need! Suhaila Basim If I had that amount, I would probably first use a massive portion of it to donate to an orphanage and hope to bring joy to the unprivileged ones’ hearts. Then, I would consider saving some of it and maybe investing it too so I would have that ready for the day I enroll for university. However, If ever I get fortunate with a fat balance of a million dirhams, I would invest it on acquiring a private jet. Being a voracious traveler, exploring places in my private jet at my own ease and comfort would be an indescribable experience. Jesley Elizabeth Mathew

I would divide the money into five parts.First, I would invest in our business adding a new venture to our existing business. Second, part of the money would be for charity. I would sponsor 2 or 3 kids. Also I would help children suffering from life- threatening or chronic diseases. Third part I would spend for my kid’s extracurricular activities. Fourth, I’d spend for my healt. The fifth part wouldn’t be touched and would be as savings in my account. Reena Shebeaun The first thing I would do is splurge on cloth shopping like all women. Then would travel across the globe with family to chill and unwind. Then as always like the true blue family, save some on the kids and education. Charity and other institutions cannot be ignored as it feels so better to give than to receive . Reena Mariam Abraham I would love to open schools in countries where there are children from underprivileged backgrounds, or are living in war zones. This way they would have access to education with aspirations. It breaks my heart when I see such children in television reports. Gayatri Ramachandran If I had saved up a million dirhams I would embark on my dream of building a school. A school whose threshold would take the young ones to a world of reality and nature. A school that is fully operated by solar panels so that the children will presume this to be a normal source of power and protect the environment when their time comes. Under the panels we would be planting flowers and veggies to instill in the young minds the love for foliage and soil, and make them realise how caring and protecting can bear fruit. The school will be a universe where they will live the reality, not the one that plays behind a screen. A school founded on love and care, on conservation, on reality. Fathima Hiba I would use the money to start a school for homeless children, located maybe in a village in India, a residential school with few students.

I believe every child is gifted and only needs that little guidance and love to discover the talent that lies within, given the right exposure to the world beyond what they can see or experience ...... Without the shackles of a very rigid, one size fits all curriculum that exudes pressure on a students, rather a system that emphasis on the essential simple skills of life like exercise, cooking, table manners,music, art, becoming part of their routine,making learning new skills an enjoyable regular module of their lives, developing them to explore what they like to learn and to excel in it, to become free, strong minded, happy individuals. Sharon Bhorkar Obviously I’d head over to the nearest bookstore and splurge on some hardcovers (because I seem to pick up the cheaper paperbacks that get damaged easily). This will be followed by an unwanted measure of guilt that will stick itself to the back of my mind until I do my bit of charity. Then all’s well that ends well because the rest of the money will be locked up in the bank till I’m old enough to consider myself more serious with my spending. Of course, that will take ages but a million is a lot to deal with Faadhilah Abdul Hamid