As I type out words for my next post, things are changing. Everywhere. Not all of the transitions are conspicuous, though, like some changes catch us off guard, and are often the drastic ones, and we're again left questioning ourselves about 'free will'. Some trivial things when no longer a part of our lives, of our routine, do indeed make the greatest of impact on us.
Being a Delhite, I'm one of those who's always up for street food. They're not snacks to me, I can have an entire meal of chaat, paani-puri, and tikki, let out a happy burp, too. :P At the street vendor's, I love popping the entire golgappa into my tiny mouth, and enjoy it. Earlier, I'd cringe at the thought of doing that, and eat them in halves. It didn't look nice, you know. Bleh. As if that did not spoil the fun, anyway. Now, I ask for the khatta paani, a dry paapdi, without giving two hoots at how the teary-eyed people gulping down their golgappas stared at me. When I go to Haldiram's, at a mall or somewhere, the very thought of having golgappas and that instant excitement, don't make their way on time in my mind. All I feel is, okay, yeah. I can have paani-puri all right. The sight of the gloved hands placing the paani puri and stuff takes away my appetite. I enjoy the food, for the thrill. When you're unwell, with an upset stomach or a sore throat, Nothing is more thrilling than having that plate of your favourite street food, against your mother's incessant warnings regarding the same. Who Cares If You Fell Even More Ill? It's the memory of having eaten to your heart's content despite that, that you would laugh over, for a long time to come. Seriously, the over-emphasis on hygiene makes one lose appetite, instead of being more convinced.
For kids' birthdays, themed parties are the in thing. Gifts are exchanged, cakes are ordered, and so on. Do kids really even enjoy, or understand what's going on at these parties? Do they even know what's being celebrated? When you have cupcakes being distributed, cupcakes of which the major upper half is merely non-edible decoration, and the small piece is the cake which would be gone in two bites. Gone are those days when birthdays were celebrated at home, with home-made delicacies disappearing in minutes, with presents being given that needed not be grand and expensive-looking. Take your child to one of those themed birthday parties at a mall or somewhere, and your kid is sure to come back home asking for something like that on his next birthday. Why not? They all want something the other has, we've all experienced it as kids. But then, it's not the birthday being celebrated, it's more of an ostentation, where many kids end up feeling worse because their parents cannot afford to throw grand, lavish parties like those, the birthday kid is clicked each time he receives a gift, or gives a return gift, and is shown around to one and all, dresses in his/her best clothes.
To be able to say you've truly enjoyed the day, when you're about to doze off, would be when you'd start laughing or smiling again when bits of memories of what you did come back to your mind at random, and you almost forget about your sleep. And you don't even realise when you've spent another few minutes thinking of how great the day went, what all you did. Spending year after year, working wherever you do, to be best able to provide your loved ones with the best, is something is everyone seems to be working on. And that's a great thing to do, undeniably. But sometimes, people nearly forget that after attaining a comfortable position in life, because of the numerous contacts, friends, acquaintances they've built over the years, because more people know you and you know them, means more than just that; and is not just something to be only glad about. It's nice to let people know you're having fun, but only when you really are. It's not the bragging that counts, because people will animatedly, curiously ask to know more. If you start seeking permission to have fun, you will never be able to. Because there's rarely someone we find now, who says and does things, unabashedly. When we give up doing things we truly love, we do not remain ourselves. Unless we find as great and enjoyable things, which is hard to come by. And then, a contrast builds up. One that would be utterly lurid, when placed in juxtaposition. It would be so not because you had brought about that change, but you let it happen. Change is not always for the better, that way.
Being a Delhite, I'm one of those who's always up for street food. They're not snacks to me, I can have an entire meal of chaat, paani-puri, and tikki, let out a happy burp, too. :P At the street vendor's, I love popping the entire golgappa into my tiny mouth, and enjoy it. Earlier, I'd cringe at the thought of doing that, and eat them in halves. It didn't look nice, you know. Bleh. As if that did not spoil the fun, anyway. Now, I ask for the khatta paani, a dry paapdi, without giving two hoots at how the teary-eyed people gulping down their golgappas stared at me. When I go to Haldiram's, at a mall or somewhere, the very thought of having golgappas and that instant excitement, don't make their way on time in my mind. All I feel is, okay, yeah. I can have paani-puri all right. The sight of the gloved hands placing the paani puri and stuff takes away my appetite. I enjoy the food, for the thrill. When you're unwell, with an upset stomach or a sore throat, Nothing is more thrilling than having that plate of your favourite street food, against your mother's incessant warnings regarding the same. Who Cares If You Fell Even More Ill? It's the memory of having eaten to your heart's content despite that, that you would laugh over, for a long time to come. Seriously, the over-emphasis on hygiene makes one lose appetite, instead of being more convinced.
For kids' birthdays, themed parties are the in thing. Gifts are exchanged, cakes are ordered, and so on. Do kids really even enjoy, or understand what's going on at these parties? Do they even know what's being celebrated? When you have cupcakes being distributed, cupcakes of which the major upper half is merely non-edible decoration, and the small piece is the cake which would be gone in two bites. Gone are those days when birthdays were celebrated at home, with home-made delicacies disappearing in minutes, with presents being given that needed not be grand and expensive-looking. Take your child to one of those themed birthday parties at a mall or somewhere, and your kid is sure to come back home asking for something like that on his next birthday. Why not? They all want something the other has, we've all experienced it as kids. But then, it's not the birthday being celebrated, it's more of an ostentation, where many kids end up feeling worse because their parents cannot afford to throw grand, lavish parties like those, the birthday kid is clicked each time he receives a gift, or gives a return gift, and is shown around to one and all, dresses in his/her best clothes.
To be able to say you've truly enjoyed the day, when you're about to doze off, would be when you'd start laughing or smiling again when bits of memories of what you did come back to your mind at random, and you almost forget about your sleep. And you don't even realise when you've spent another few minutes thinking of how great the day went, what all you did. Spending year after year, working wherever you do, to be best able to provide your loved ones with the best, is something is everyone seems to be working on. And that's a great thing to do, undeniably. But sometimes, people nearly forget that after attaining a comfortable position in life, because of the numerous contacts, friends, acquaintances they've built over the years, because more people know you and you know them, means more than just that; and is not just something to be only glad about. It's nice to let people know you're having fun, but only when you really are. It's not the bragging that counts, because people will animatedly, curiously ask to know more. If you start seeking permission to have fun, you will never be able to. Because there's rarely someone we find now, who says and does things, unabashedly. When we give up doing things we truly love, we do not remain ourselves. Unless we find as great and enjoyable things, which is hard to come by. And then, a contrast builds up. One that would be utterly lurid, when placed in juxtaposition. It would be so not because you had brought about that change, but you let it happen. Change is not always for the better, that way.
Ahh I definitely share your love for street food :D Im a gol gappa/momo junkie!
ReplyDeleteOh yes and Ive never really understood why people spend SO much on their kid's birthday parties. Of course its a personal choice, but I dont really get it!
Right. Instead of doing stuff one actually finds enjoyable, people do stuff that is recognised as 'Fun'. I only pity them. :P
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