I'm Always On Facebook! Are You?

It's got us all hooked. Seems to be the best [only] thing to when you're bored/ happy/ excited/ depressed/ feeling nothing. In short, we don't need a reason to go type facebook.com or even better, click on the bookmark, and wait in eager anticipation of seeing of  how many notifications you have on your profile. If it's a mere 2-3 notifications, you're greatly disheartened, saddened.

                      I'm not here to batter down the site's image [bcz anyway, ten others will turn up to batter my views on it], but to just state my views on it, which is more [virtual] experience-oriented. It could be a boon or bane- people/companies/brands publicize their services on Facebook, again for the same reason, most of the regular buyers/customers/clientele are on facebook, or even just online, and once you click on the 'Like us on Facebook.', you forget why you came online in the first place. Massive amounts of investment is made on promoting brands/products on facebook. On the other hand, going beyond age old cyber crimes of hacking, today divorces, forget break-ups, happen over facebook. It is hard believing that a lifetime or years of relationships can be broken over such trivialities. What is even more surprising is the fact that people spend hours every day posting pictures, updating statuses, updating their profile, almost in a bid to make their lives seem all perfect and enviable, true; who doesn't like to present the best about themselves/ their lives to the world? And those who won't do that, seemed to have grabbed the melancholic mood for eternity, updating statuses that would, or were attempted to seek sympathy. Strangely enough, we have a bunch of faithful 'likers' for those updates too. Really, how much of time and importance can we afford to give to it? Knowing that with many of us, half of the people who're in our list, we don't interact with, ever, or the fact that lesser number of likes on our posts/pictures/anything end up making some feel almost worthless,  and in turn put pressure on themselves to show the world that they're better. That's what it is about, the ostentation, the facade of portraying a fantastical life. Yes, we spend hours typing away, or merely scrolling down updates, or flipping through pictures [and not liking them so that no one can say we've been stalking them :P], we spend hours  perfecting our virtual selves rather than our own lives. The very idea/option of having that 'like' button for every single thing, from a heartfelt status update to a one that is brimming with curses at someone- again trivialises our emotions, our experiences, our very lives. Really, now, can our responses to everything in life be summed up with the press of a like button?

                                      At times, when people update their status saying something like, 'I've had the worst day in weeks today. Why are people ever bent on screwing things up in other's lives?'- you don't really know how to respond to it, you can't just go and like it. Yet there are morons who will 'like' every damn post/picture/status that comes up in the news feed, and liking a status like the aforementioned one, only goes on to show how dumb one can be at times, one thinks he's voicing his sympathy to that person, but you're only making an ass of yourself, because something that comprises two different statements which differ in their tenor, albeit are stated in succession, cannot be responded to that way- That is where Comments come handy, my friend. Only, you are too lazy to type something- not that you're in a hurry, you're just feeling lousy, yet you are on Facebook, because you have nothing to do, maybe, at the moment? There's degrees of states of slothfulness, you see! :D

                            But then, one can't sum up something as big as facebook and its impact on our lives, with just that much. Anything to do with Facebook, and voila, we have a pair of ears, nay fingertips, propped up. Till you're dormant there, all seems fine, you just nod away to your friends discussing away your picture that they uploaded and how many eyeballs, nay comments it fetched, and your ears pucker up at that, eventually giving away to your eventual disinterest. And once you're regular with your log-ins, it's all about notifications, new pictures that have to uploaded immediately, via mobile, so you can keep your friends updated, and receive umpteen likes, [but ask yourselves, how many of them are really interested?]. Well, a lot happens over a couple of pictures! ;) And soon it turns into mutual liking. Liking = facebook likes, btw. You like my pictures even though I look like a bloated pigeon or an injured owl in them, to rescue me, and I will like yours', in 'times of distress', or a 'like-less' atmosphere. You can't help but laugh at some pictures that people upload of themselves, or other random things, some might even make you feel a little nauseated for a while, but you go ahead and click on 'like'. Instead of hovering over our own profiles and of others' to keep a tab on who's the most popular on Facebook, going by the number of likes on their respective pictures and posts, why not log out, go outside [or stay inside, for that matter.], do something that you would like to do, not thinking if that would get you likes on facebook. Truth is, despite being aware of how Facebook-oriented our thinking becomes, as we spend more and more time over it, we only like to get further entrenched, it is too much to let go of that thrill, sheer ecstasy to see those number of notifications, and scrolling up and down to see which notifications are about comments on your posts, next in line is about the 'likes' on your posts, followed by trivial notifications. Its almost like unwrapping gifts everyday, first you grab the ones with shiny paper and colourful ribbons on em. At times, you click on 'Xyz commented on your status update' and all you see, is a ':P' ';)' and you're all disappointed.

                                       Some one you're not really on cordial terms with in everyday encounters, his/her facebook profile gives you the chance to keep track of their latest updates, [it's something many of us can't help, much as we may hate someone, we're always up for getting to know something new about them, more so if it's something nice that happened to them, yes.] On the other hand, you may spend hours chatting with some others, with whom you can't hold a conversation more than five minutes long, when you come across them in your everyday life. I must also mention the rampant sycophancy and complaisance on the site, and  all those 87 comment long comment-conversations which mostly comprise trivial nothings of :* :* and ^_^ 'heyyy, miss u too... vl mt up soon...' crap. To those people, why can't they just continue their sugar-sweet conversations on chat, and spare people who had mistakenly commented on the status, thinking, that would be it. :P =|  To those who're struggling to build a fan following on facebook by resorting to such servility, people, get a life!
                                     No denying that I too am a voluntary victim of this addiction, [no exaggerations] :D but, we all enjoy it, looking at our profiles, the profile pictures, the number of likes on each of them, trying to assess our 'popularity quotient'. I wonder what's important? The number of likes/comments we elicit through our posts on something like facebook, which did not exist when we were born, nor will exist [let's face it], a few years down the line, or a bit more, maybe? What then? It's more than a virtual apocalypse in waiting for many people, who spend their times logging in every few hours, or even minutes, or stay  perpetually online, in wait for someone to 'ping' them, or a notification to pop up, what once they will suddenly have nothing to like, or get likes on, almost a ritual for them? Keeping all that I've said till now, we all know Facebook does indeed make life a tad bit easier, and even help us get a large fan base or support for important causes, or be able to publicise an upcoming event, there are groups that you can join, for instance photography enthusiasts can join groups and build their contacts with others sharing the same interest. A lot more, can be said on that actually. facebook ain't good or bad, just that one musn't get hooked to it, it's virtual, and we must remember, that we have a life! :D Also, as my friend says, that if facebook goes down, something new will come up. True! :D And guess where this conversation took place? Right on facebook, through comments on my status update about the scenario when facebook closes down. Ironical Indeed! :D

What are You laughing at? o.O

Laughter. Of a person or people in multitudes. The very sound, nay, the very picture  which sends us smiling and then bubble forth into gurgles of laughter, when we're carrying out the routine errands of everyday, or just thinking of random things, when we have nothing to do. That sound, that expression, leaving aside everything else and just getting drenched in the trivial joys of the moment, enjoying that moment without regard to how your day went, or with the worry of how it will go. That feeling of not having any worries at all on your mind, for those few moments. Invaluable gift, ain't it? You can smile when you feel you ought/have to, in a social gathering, for instance. But when you laugh? It's different- you are more assured of the genuineness of the person's feelings, well generally! Some people can fake both with such panache, they should be awarded with the Oscars. Let's forget them, for now. :D

                      When you feel too embarrassed to state it, a chuckle or chortle could say it all. Friendships get built on humour. It binds people alike- anywhere, everywhere. You make people laugh, spread a smile on their face, and the world becomes your friend. =) Truly, being able to make people laugh, is a boon. Though, people seem to have issues with being laughed at, when they do something funny, inadvertently. On the other hand, we know of people who act funny so people around can share a laugh. It's not so much about who was being laughed at, it's about having  ten people with you with whom you can share a joke. 

                                Some people make it a point, a part of there basic 'social etiquette', to not laugh when a joke is cracked,  or someone said something funny, or something crazy happened. They feel giving in would be reducing their status to that of people who indulge in lowly trivial nothings. Whatever. It's almost like you're trying real hard to stop that pent up laughter from giving you away, and concomitantly trying to convey-  'See, I'm so much cooler than you guys- I didn't laugh at that. Yeah- you know why? Keep wondering, and keep laughing and make an ass of yourselves.' People struggle so hard to keep that serious, 'smart' facade up, all the time. Yuck. The thing is, everyone's mind works differently, makes out differently of the same situation, no two people can think alike. So if you were to find something funny, you laughed, and stopped, and forgot about it. Why first decide whether to laugh at something or not? When you don't get a joke, you ask again. Or you fake a ROFLMAO stint, or attempt to, to cover it. :P That is still better than not laughing just because you wanted to maintain the intellectual in the gang image, [yeah, people live these delusions about themselves] as if people really buy it, anyway. :D
 
                                             Laughter for many, is now a mere showpiece of cordiality. A language meant to convey something like the deal being fixed, the talk of diplomacy. When we're talking laughter here, I'm not presenting a picture of people coughing their way to laughter at each apt moment in front of friends/foes, but of those very smirks and grunts that I mentioned, a while back. One can poke fun at someone, by writing a satire, better still, a mock-heroic poem on them. And be well applauded for it. Dryden, Pope, were pioneers in the domain of satire. Dryden's satire on Shadwell was caustic enough an attack to ensure he'd never come out of oblivion again. It made Dryden popular in the intellectual circle, but marred Shadwell's confidence, though he went on to become poet Laureate, later. So, what do we see, in today's times? It's wonderful, the gift of laughter, being able to express your amusement at something, not having it limited to smiles alone. It's about whether you're laughing with someone, or at someone, I guess. Isn't there a difference between the two? When you're sharing it, your mind is in a state of delight, and you feel so happy thinking you're going to tell something so crazy and hilarious to someone that you just wait for the moment when they burst out laughing, and you laugh all over again, too! When you're hiding that laughter at that someone under your breath, or you unabashedly laugh just to make the one in front of you feel worse about himself/herself, you very well know there's nothing happy to it. It's insipid, shallow. Cz it's a facade. And in the end, you don't end up feeling unburdened or lighter, but with a feeling of [false] victory that you had the last laugh- [at your own expense, though.]

                      Last but not the least, instead of blindly sticking to these nauseating notions of apt social behaviour, go laugh your lungs out when people least expect it. People need a wake up call, coz laughter has become a habit, a practice, exercised at times. And that, saps the life out of it, and us. 

I Lurrve you :P

Let me write about the concept of love this time, then. The thing which prompts every writer to pen novel after novel on it,  here and then, scores of movies have been made over it. . our own Hindi film industry is ever living up to its legacy of puking out a dozen films on this theme, since it all started. Talking of now, the recently launched weekly episodes of Satyamev Jayate, an initiative by Aamir Khan to throw light on contemporary issues of concern to  people alike, had one episode dedicated to this very theme- Love. Yes, we're talking love in the romantic sense here.  Aamir Khan went on to state that he was initially apprehensive about giving one full episode of the total 13 to this, as he felt there were more pressing issues that he felt ought to be addressed, but eventually he gave in.

So what is it, about this thing? What is it about it that a producer who's been down in the dumps decided to make a comeback with a film on love? Sounds painfully funny, we all know. But that is how it is, here at least. And not to be overlooked, is the fact, it often works. Watching the movie 'I Hate Luv Storys' a few days back, I couldn't help but scorn at the way the movie ends. Imran Khan is there, making a mockery of love, of perfect happy endings, all of which the film industry has been celebrating over the decades. And in the ending, we see him bowing down before Sonam Kapoor with puppy dog eyes 'confessing' how he'd been a fool to question the sanctity, the power of love in the first place. What do I say to this? Roflmao, Lmao, Lol, LAME. What else were we even expecting, guys? :D   Also, this is not me denying that I love watching these very movies, some of them over and over again. But then, we also know that love and relationships ain't all that hunky dory as portrayed in the films. Still we love watching them. Why? Sigh. :P The same goes for novels, be it Elizabeth and Darcy's romance in Pride and Prejudice, or the 'raw' love in the Twilight series (guffaws), each new novel is like a whole new story, ain't it? What is even funnier, is that having decided to start writing again after a L.O.N.G. break, I thought of and settled on this very topic. 

                                          Moving aside, let's talk of how  love is in our lives; no vampires, no 'lovelorn guy eyes demure dame and love blossoms' scenario being discussed here. Enough on that there everywhere already. I being a twenty year old, more of a virtual blabber mouth who'll take eons to venture and speak a word in front of new faces, have very less to say on this, anyway. I'm not here to propound a theory on love either. What kind of 'love' have we even been witness to, till now? As far as I can recall, I remember the first nestlings of love in my mind [yeah I won't write heart here, because the heart cannot think, unless you can prove otherwise.] settling through when I was in Xth, maybe? Prior to that, my crushes were limited to movie stars and the like- owing to my zilch interaction with guys till then. In Xth, I joined tuitions for the first time, and I soon had a list of eye candies  who I wished would somehow ask me out, because, of course I did not interact with any one of them, ever. :P Move over to turning sixteen and a brief, disastrous relationship, I decided to wait and come across someone nice, because I could never be one of those girls who'd go around saying all guys are dogs/losers/cheaters and stuff, because of the obvious reasons that a) That's not true, and b) Which girl has dated ALL men on earth to be able to make such a statement? :P

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze. ”

― Elinor Glyn

        

                                      A twenty year old now, and another relationship older, I'm still not sure about what love is. Really, do any of us have a sudden moment of epiphany when it strikes us that we're in love? That it ain't mere infatuation? When does one finally figure out if the one you love is the one you can spend your life with? Can you never be wrong? There wouldn't be divorces, or love marriages going awry, ever, then. So, what is this love all about? Aamir Khan goes on to say that the basis for love is procreation. Is that plainly true? Cannot be refuted straightaway either. Do you ever like/love someone without feeling sexually attracted to them? Cut the self imposed sexual abstinence in your fantasies that you boast of, fine you may not have fantasized about being kissed [or doing more, turn up the scale :P] by the one you're mad about, but you do realise it is something that you're trying to impose, right? Leave that aside, you would end up in bed with your beloved, eventually- it's just a matter of time then. It's not as if you were never physically attracted to her/him prior to you two getting married. So, is that longing for the one you love, a part of love, or something else? Do you know of any couple that had a love marriage yet never consummated it? That would be surprising, right? Also, I don't understand how people term sexual union a spiritual union, at the same time expressing extreme derision for pre-marital sex. Okay, maybe I'm being more discursive than  specific here, but my point is just that love too, is manipulated by people to serve as grounds to support their arguments. Marriage is just a social ostentation of a relationship that's formally been granted religious sanction, we all know that.

   

                                                                                     For us people, it's still the happy phase, and will be, for the next few years, I presume? Mutual liking, being asked out, going on dates, falling for each other even more each day. . it's so predictable. Marriage changed things, you got responsibilities, but then again, it's about having kids, seeing them grow, have them married off too, and grow old cherishing the past and the present. What about a couple that does not want to have kids, because they feel that will leave them with lesser proximity, [not in the bed, people] but otherwise, with a dozen concerns about  the kids growing up, not leaving them with the time and ease with which they could just spend hours together? One can say that without kids life becomes stagnant and having kids makes your life beautiful [whatever that means, only experience can tell], so would you be hating such people? To what extent are they wrong? Is to be in love then, necessarily a cyclical process that's to follow? Not having kids at all after marriage willfully, is that abnormal, then? What about live-in relationships? One may ask, why problem could a head-over-heels in love couple have with getting hitched? One can also ask- why get married, in the first place? Do we really need a religious/social sanction? Bleh.

“When we meet someone and fall in love, we have a sense that the whole universe is on our side. And yet if something goes wrong, there is nothing left! How is it possible for the beauty that was there only minutes before to vanish so quickly? Life moves very fast. It rushes from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.”

― Paulo Coelho, Eleven Minutes

What about this aspect of love? More on this so

Another year comes to an End.

Yeah so here I am, done with exams, an internship waiting, and nagging boredom following close from the past few days, to stick through for the next few days, at least. I thought then, what better way to spend time than by pondering over and writing down my memories of the second year of college gone by. No, this wasn't just a time-pass thing. I realised that this is something I ought to do, if possible, on a regular basis even, because yeah, college life has charmed me over- right from the start, for both the good and the bad. I won't start with saying, 'It has been an enriching experience', blah-blah. Let me move over to my experience, as closely as I can best describe it, because experience is one thing, writing it on paper is another. 

                            Second year started off, there were new faces streaming/pouring in, we were kind of still stuck on to the 'take it easy'  mode, carried forth from first year, at least I was. I indulged in self-pity, if that is what it's to be called, for a long time; I was no longer a First yr student, college was no longer a space that I could boastfully claim, was my place to explore, almost like I owned it, as though the premises waited for us to arrive each day, and gaze around, starry-eyed, each day discovering new nook and crannies. It was the turn of the new batch of students to do that. I couldn't afford to be as unbothered as I'd been over the first yr, about my scores; [not that I've improved this year]. 

One, I grew mature. No, not in the cliched sense that I learnt about how I should react to situations, to people's reactions, to more of such neatly compartmentalized categories. Because that is internalising something that just caught your fancy, or something that was deemed as ideal, not growth. Instead of trying to emulate 'people', I decided to learn by observing more than the fairly obvious, people's tendencies, weaknesses, learnt a lot about myself through that, almost feeling like it was I observing myself in some situations. Facts trickled in, I sure did learn. I'm not even going to present a list of the 'facts' here, that's not my purpose. :P 

One thing I'm glad about- I made new friends, over the course of months. I don't know how much of an effort I made, but I'm glad I have new friends today, all off with whom my bond only deepens, each time we meet up or even have a five minute chat. Sounds intense, I know, but that's how I feel about/for ALL my friends! I may not be someone who'll be the conversation opener in a group where there are new faces all around, I take time to open up, so obviously it's a little harder for me to make friends, that way, but for the friends I have, I feel only grateful. It's true, isn't it, they are the ones who become the link between your cherished past and your 'Life sucks!' present? We all love to look back and live those times over in our minds, and the present always seems so much worse! :P 

                     

                       I got glimpses into the not so pretty sides of how the college ekes out the best for itself, thanks to a few acquaintances. Not that I ever imagined things to be all hunky dory in an educational institution, but you know seeing things is much worse than just hearing of those things all your life, and not having to confront it. The brand hype gives away to a part of you pointing its finger at you and rhetorically saying, 'So you never knew the world was all about facades, did you?'

Months progressed, or rather flew by, internal examinations were done with, we were back frequenting the corridors after the break, and soon, it was time to give the annual examinations. Are we sure time does not fly, when we're having a good time? :D  Soon we were to organise a  farewell for the seniors, and I couldn't help but think of our own farewell which would take place a year later. :/ Charged with the mammoth task [okay let me make it sound less dramatic- I love clicking people/things/everything] of clicking everyone at the event, I decided to go ahead. Being the shy creature I am, every time I focused the camera onto someone or a bunch of seniors, I feared they'd pelt a stone at me. Partly because sadly I hadn't interacted with many of em, over the two years in college. Not because I wanted to, AND didn't, but such a fear then wouldn't arise, most probably. :P 

            

                                 I ended up thinking, many-a-time, about how not-proud I should be, of myself, looking at the ones in my class who'd been excelling right from the start, or have come up, with time, with me  believing that that's not the only way to know one's 'worth', yet also acknowledging that if you got to thrive, you got to subscribe to the 'If you got it, you gotta flaunt it.' rule. I'm no fool to to float on a bubble just because I ended up in the college I am in, because the admission criterion needs a major overhaul, big time. I also couldn't help but wonder if I wasn't 'intelligent' enough to be able to sit through weekly seminars my dept organised, on 'profound' issues/whatever because I couldn't sit through most of em, or let me be honest, even one of them, without fidgeting? Or could I really just brush it off by saying that it was not my cup of cake, that to be able to listen and understand, what was spoken, I needed years of experience, that I didn't have? God knows. 

                                      

                               So after I was done with the exams, and was wondering what to do to pass my time, and I had this imposed 'guilt' lurking somewhere, that I didn't strive well enough this time either, to bring up my scores, to show I how good I am with interpretations, dialogic disputations in my answers, at debates, or classroom discussions [also knowing that had I done these very things, I would only be making a difference to myself, my state of being, maybe, but for society? For anyone else?- So when is it that you really should be proud of yourself?], I just thought, let it be. I couldn't force an answer out of myself which I didn't feel 'guilty' about. That was that. 

                                     Keeping aside these questions, :P  let me be honest to myself and admit that I greatly fear what life will be like, after college, though there's about a year more to go. I wish I could keep this haven close to myself like a stuffed toy, it is such comfort to place foot on the campus each time, taking in the familiar smells, the faces and smiles, those people whom you generally avoid, for no reason as such ;) For someone like me, who could spend months in a classroom with never having interacted with some people out of sheer apprehension, because I had the choice to stay within my cocoon of close friends, when I finally enter the work sphere, it'll be quite a ride- where diplomacy rules the roost, where you got to do something you're asked to, and be nice to people up, around, and under you, because one goof-up, and your job hangs by a thread. Whatever, more on that later! :D A year more of college, sounds like two months more to me, the one and a half months of holidays, sounds like eternity. Over incessant rounds to the cafeteria, the sports complex, the empty classrooms where we'd sit and chat for hours together, after classes, attending classes, not giving two hoots about not submitting my Eco assignment for both the Internals and Finals, I have soaked in a lot. And maybe I want just that much be enough reason to make me happy, to be able to say I have my own place in the college's memory, as though it had a soul of its own. And let the one coming year teach me more. Can't wait to get back! :)

I Was Only Dreaming. . .

Was in the midst of a dream

 Throttling away my worries and troubles,

 Garnering  strength to put an end to it all.

 But then burst the bubble.

And my eyes opened to a new day, of my old travails and struggles.

 I wondered, ‘What if dreams are the reality of one’s life?’

Only, we get to have a glance at it for such less time. . .

Then should I stop striving in the rat race of the corporeal  world?

And chase my dreams all day long in the hope someday it brings me to a moment of epiphany?

The moon eludes in the day, the sun elopes at night.

(Quite literally then, we see the world in a different light.)

So ‘truths’ could be semblances, and who establishes/alters those ?

We dream of situations which couldn’t really be for real.

Or so we think.

A new idea may sound bizarre or incredible at first,

When manifest into reality, the image in the mind takes concrete shape.

 Maybe the ‘reality’ is a dream, something we’ve just grown too accustomed to.

And our dreams, the reality, the possibilities we actually possess.

So when you’re lost in the realm of mere thoughts,

Maybe you are edging near the actuality of your existence.

Like Thoughts may not be tangible, but they give shape to tangible stuff.

In today’s time, the notion of reality’s a blur,

With the arrival of the virtual world.

When dreaming, one cannot know that it’s a dream until waking up. 

What if life itself is one such long dream?

During daydreaming, one is oblivious to his/her surroundings.

As though it may’ve melted away and moulded itself into what you’re thinking.

So do we actually exist mentally or physically?

One cannot even say for sure that we actually ‘exist’,

Can you say for certain that you’re not dreaming about reading this poem?

                                                       DISASTER STRIKES !

 11th March 2011. 1400 hrs. ( Day 1 ) Earthquake in Japan. Panic.
 Media rushes to show the crying faces of people, who have lost everything
 (LIVE) on TV.    
                        In the background plays soft, melancholic, droning music.


Eminent personalities in discussions speculating the losses
                                                                              suffered by the Govt.
Loss of lives in statistics flashes across the screen.



Speculations rife. This is a portent of the world meeting its Doom.
That this is punishment brought about by God.
The fact that the world's witnessing destruction,
                   where Life was once created, so it could bloom.
Isn't It Obvious, So many catastrophes in the past ?


DAY 2, 3, 4 -
Newspapers, News channels brimming with news about damages, radiation threats.
Rescue work. Help coming in from around the globe. And on and on and on and on.

DAY 5, 6-                    

A few articles here and there. A bit of news here and there in the news channels.  
Rescue work still on. Death toll still rising. Attempts to close down nuclear plant. And on and on and on.

A Week Later, 
                    Almost all news bits about it, is gone. News from other spheres fill in the gaps.
The Japan earthquake is no longer interesting news.


Last year too, something similar had happened in Haiti.
And then, everything had gone back to normal. Not in Haiti.
In the newspapers and news channels.
It was back to printing news mostly to do with usual stuff.
Murders, kidnappings, scams and so on.


'(LIVE) Coverage'  from Japan was done away with. Not lucrative.


Viewers need 'NEW' News. They must be oblivious to the monotonous news bits
                                                                                          about the earthquake.

Two Months Later-

No mention of the earthquake anywhere. About how the losses will be covered.
Or what plans has the Govt. come up with to recover the losses.


Now its become like a tape being played over and over again.

Disaster strikes---> Live Coverage---> Updates Every Few Minutes---> A week or two later--|
                                                       Everything's disappeared. People are oblivious to it. <-|


As if nothing ever really happened. Life Goes On.

Directors and producers announce they're going to make a film on the
                    Most - recent so and so disaster. Or attacks. A 'Real-Life Portrayal'
As if the disaster wasn't 'real' enough.
They're cashing in on these opportunities.
BUT, They're only making a Living. Out of Someone else's tragedy. Flagrant.

A purgatory experience for them.
An opportunity to earn a billion bucks for those producers. Higher TRPs for news channels.
 
                                             
                                                         Survival of the fittest, would you call it ?

A poem composed three years back.

This poem is about what every teenager undergoes, when the passions of love and infatuation arise in them.




ENDLESS   WAIT

Oh ! It pines me so,

That There exists not a soul whose God lies in me..

How I long to be loved and treasured in a  lover's heart !!

I would love him too in return- devote to him

   my every heart beat.

I experience a joy both sweet and bitter;

When I hear of true love stories.

Sweet, for I'm happy that true love still exists-

And bitter for I have no one to love me as others have,

It grieves me, causes misery.

They say in love, everything is

 So sweet, so pure !!!

I firmly wish to experience such love, even if it provides me

  no comfort or happiness azure  !

For I know , my soulmate will love

    me forever,

This is just what I need, friend- I have no

    other wants whatsoever .

My sweetheart, will be there with me

    through thick & thin.

Hold my hand at every step, like God,

  and abhor me from sin.

My thirst for love has driven me so far,

   It has given me infinite strength

                   Divine power. .

I hope & believe, someday I will find love

         that I have striven for,

Amidst  this hope, tears fall on my cheeks,

As my mind nestles in it doubtful &

                   sad thoughts .

I have waited so long, I may have to wait

                  further more.

My faith sinking , I cannot hold back further,

    I muse, with my eyes closed.

Patience & faith, will make me a winner,

                   I assure myself,

I'll be in my lover's arms admiring the

              divinity of love,

Trapping the blissful moment in my heart,

           wanting it never to end.

I am searching for the one who would

             love me.

Imagining my life, how joyful & complete

        would it then be.

This endless wait kills me so, dampening

           my hope & fervour.

Only the love I have longed for, makes me believe

 the love I have longed for will come to

            be mine- Forever .

A Poem

The Other World- A Poem

In September 2010, a goods train on its way through the Jalpaiguri Dist., Kolkata, rammed into 7 elephants which happened to be  passing by the tracks at that time. The drivers of the goods trains have strict instructions from the Indian Railways authorities to drive at a lower speed when passing certain locations, such as the above one. But of course these rules are flouted by the drivers, which led to such an accident. Just a day or two after that, another elephant, a blind one, was hit by a truck, in Delhi itself, and injured. These issues raise a furore, and then it all dies down. There may be umpteen instances where animals have been treated as though they no life in them. Call it an animal lover's pity [I hate pity, I rather feel for them] or a guilt that stems from rising occurences of this kind, well, guilt because, sure I may not be the cause behind them, but I can at least speak of these issues, and bring them to light and people's concern ? After all, one must not just remain restricted to issues related to man.


                                                                                              The Other World




Having evolved prior to human,
Of this land we could've claimed to be the rightful owners.
To the extent of forced sacrifice we made adjustments,
And carried on with sufferings in silence.

We shared land, resources with them. Then they built cities.
We had even lesser space to reside, in peace.

They invented those gigantic machines to ease their lives,
And drastically altered the climate,
Thereby making us all the more helpless,
Then they speak of preserving the wildlife.
Its their minds that've run wild,
Because they're in a frenzy to exploit all that nature has to offer.
Probably after keeping such mindless acts aside,
Could they think of boasting of being the most wise, advanced beings on earth.

They speak of brotherhood amongst various races, religions, to name a few.
Are we of so less a stature to them,
That they forgot, we're their brothers too ?

We do not detest those men,
Who tear at pieces of flesh ravenously.
What we despise is those 'vegetarian seers',
Who go about kicking any animal that may come in the way, thoughtlessly.

For, how does it help, if those 'herbivorous beasts' consider us beings of the lower kind,
Abhorring our slaughter publicly is mere hypocrisy,
Where utter disregard for us is what resides in their minds.



 X---------X----------X---------X-----------X------------X----------X---------X


What use is building animal shelters, if trucks have to eventually mow down any dog or cow that comes up, and kill them. Surely the ones who drive aren't blind. The need of the hour is to strictly implement rules laid down by the Govt., else things are going to remain pretty much the same. :/

Political Ticks

 







THE POLITICAL TICKS



































Prima-donna, surrounded by yes-men
So used to being pampered.
They claim to fulfil the needs of all,
But ultimately the hopes of millions are trampled.




As the helm of a leader rises and rises,
The plight of the people worsens.
Be it unemployment, illiteracy and communal crises,
Or corruption, and superstitions.




Hell-bent on showing the world,
That poverty here is a thing of the past
Where the reality is, owing to hunger
Unto death the little ones fast.




Criticizing the party in power, is the
opposing party's mode of survival.
And when they come to power [finally!]
Reasons they give on failing to work efficiently are
                                                       "Circumstances Uncontrollable"








For many, politics is a gamble for power and
flying Business Class;
Owning large agricultural plots, plantations and
a fleet of cars.








It has its own kicks.
Scandals and implicating tricks.
Playing the blame game they all enjoy.
While taking credit for something they
                                                    become coy.




Have some shame, throw your fake sense of power off the shelf.
Don't make a mockery of yourselves.
Our Pre-Independence Era leaders weren't fools to have
worked for the country's betterment tirelessly.
So try doing the same, with a sense of pride, wilfully and earnestly.






Critic comments and general comments welcome.

A Poem On Our Striving Mothers. =)

MOTHER- Epitome of Selflessness

Giving you a cocooned life, she brings you up.

Never complaining, with a smile on her face,

Always there to cheer you up.

She'll listen patiently to your anecdote for the umpteenth time ,

Or the poem you composed that has no rhythm or rhyme; and even give an encouraging smile.

When daddy's boiling with anger over his Blackberry that you lost ,

Mom comes to rescue , pacifying him , giving you cover.

Through your tough times in life ,

She's there to wade you through it till its over .

With time, she may lose her swiftness in work.

Then and now she may turn a hair or two grey,

It isn't the number of wrinkles on her face,

Or the slowness of her pace that matter,

But her concern and affection for you that never fades.

Doing the dishes for her, or the clean up more often,

Spending ample time with her, as you grow up,

Are better ways to express respect and love,

Rather than just following rituals and moving away from her.

Years later, when she'll be a fragile frame,

And you return from a hard day's work,

A warm hug and a beaming smile are all

she'll long for.

Call it blasphemy or irony, they spend their entire lives doing

everything that'd make our lives better.

Yet they expect so less from us,

Despite which, many of us fail to acknowledge their efforts,

and give them even this much.

:)

The Other World- A Poem

Last month, a goods train on its way through the Jalpaiguri Dist., Kolkata, rammed into 7 elephants which happened to be passing by the tracks at that time. The drivers of the goods trains have strict instructions from the Indian Railways authorities to drive at a lower speed when passing certain locations, such as the above one. But of course these rules are flouted by the drivers, which led to such an accident. Just a day or two after that, another elephant, a blind one, was hit by a truck, in Delhi itself, and injured. These issues raise a furore, and then it all dies down. There may be umpteen instances where animals have been treated as though they no life in them. Call it an animal lover's pity [I hate pity, I rather feel for them] or a guilt that stems from rising occurences of this kind, well, guilt because, sure I may not be the cause behind them, but I can at least speak of these issues, and bring them to light and people's concern ? After all, one must not just remain restricted to issues related to man.

The Other World

Having evolved prior to human,

Of this land we could've claimed to be the rightful owners.

To the extent of forced sacrifice we made adjustments,

And carried on with sufferings in silence.

We shared land, resources with them. Then they built cities.

We had even lesser space to reside, in peace.

They invented those gigantic machines to ease their lives,

And drastically altered the climate,

Thereby making us all the more helpless,

Then they speak of preserving the wildlife.

Its their minds that've run wild,

Because they're in a frenzy to exploit all that nature has to offer.

Probably after keeping such mindless acts aside,

Could they think of boasting of being the most wise, advanced beings on earth.

They speak of brotherhood amongst various races, religions, to name a few.

Are we of so less a stature to them,

That they forgot, we're their brothers too ?

We do not detest those men,

Who tear at pieces of flesh ravenously.

What we despise is those 'vegetarian seers',

Who go about kicking any animal that may come in the way, thoughtlessly.

For, how does it help, if those 'herbivorous beasts' consider us beings of the lower kind,

Abhorring our slaughter publicly is mere hypocrisy,

Where utter disregard for us is what resides in their minds.

X---------X----------X---------X-----------X------------X----------X---------X

What use is building animal shelters, if trucks have to eventually mow down any dog or cow that comes up, and kill them. Surely the ones who drive aren't blind. The need of the hour is to strictly implement rules laid down by the Govt., else things are going to remain pretty much the same. :/

Ego Freak Looks Like A Paan Wala..

I made up my mind to write more before I finished with my last post. The topic's quite a specimen-like, you know. Had to write more about the sympathy seeker.. Mr. Paanwala [will tell you why I'm calling him by this name a bit later]

told me once, few weeks back, he writes on his blog to vent out, specifically. He doesn't bother about his spellings, he said. Its completely justified, you see.

Since Mr. Paanwala's always eager to gain sympathy from people, people are quite bored of him. Now he's left with an alternative to write, write and write on his blog, to pass his time, and coz no one's interested in listening to his talks at all. So he seeks solace in sitting in front of his stupid PC or his lappy and typing out his anger and frustration on people he's miffed with and as he types, he reads it on his own. That's not even half the purpose served. Because he's the only one who's actually reading his posts. After a lot of sympathy begging of course, some people do just make an effort to read his posts and write those comments.

Now comes the spelling part. When hardly anyone's reading your posts, how do spellings matter, isn't it?? So Its Justified, You See.



The Paan mystery's gonna be disclosed now... Yes! I and Kavya [didi] used to wonder what made Abhishek think he looks cool in his current hairdo, if you can call it a hairdo, I mean. We suggested, and then requested, politely of course, that we take him for a nice haircut and we promised him that the outcome would be great. But this guy won't budge, stubborn he is, you see. But why? That was the mystery. But we left it at that for then. I and Kavya started suspecting too, wondering what's wrong. Then one day, that fateful day, when my guy, Kavya, Ayush and Mr. Paanwala there met, and after that incident, when Abhishek walked off in fear, and we started making fun of him, somehow we touched upon the topic of his hair, Alex remarked- 'Seems like Abhishek's losing a lot of hair, is it so??" While I was probing upon that possibility, Kavya replied- 'I think you're right, that's the reason why he's kept that silly hairstyle, with hair coming in front, on his forehead." And then the picture became clear, the mystery was solved. I realised that to hide his hairfall, Abhishek was employing a technique of fringes at the front, which he may have thought, will be successful in hiding that awful hairfall. But he failed, yet again.. ohhh.. And his hairdo always reminded me of a typical paanwala, the tobacco seller, who usually sells smokes too. And then it seemes the most logical thing to me on earth!! He's into smoking, you know, and always carries a few puffs everywhere. So it all matched, yeah!! At last, we solved the Paanwala mystery, we realised that what we were suspecting, turned out to be true..!



You're A Woman Without Your 'Tattoo, That Stupid hairdo, and A Smoke In your Mouth. You're impotent without it, yeah, that's the truth..!!!

More Coming Up.... ;p

The Sympathy Seeker :@

Well, this is about a guy who was in the recent past was a friend, and could've made it as a very good friend, but seems like he was hell bent on proving that he can never be even an aquaintance to me, or for that matter to any other girl, for instance, my very own cousin Kavya.
He's named me as 'Butterfly'; God knows what for [I'm least interested in knowing why] and has pondered and mused and decided to include me and Kavya [didi] in his list of people whom he's not keen on staying in touch with anymore.
Neither Are We, For Your Kind Information. And in fact, Thanks for letting us be on our own and being mature enough to know that you're not welcome in our lives at all. You think we will plead and beg you to talk to us??? If you think so, you're living in a delusion. You've always been in a delusion. You used to think I bitch about you when with Kavya, and after the shit that happened on 9th this month, you thought that I and Kavya will plead and convince you to talk to us and make Alex apologise to you. Too high you think.

I had this image of you being a good guy, in the sense, you were very true and not of a boasting nature. But you proved me wrong. Your ego is making you lose out on several things in life, You're an Official Loser by now, Here's why- You always expect to be called up by Kavya to hang out in the evening. You're too big to do that, isn't it? You keep updating your status, 'Oh I'm so bored' and all that crap. Yet you could never call up and ask Kavya if she's free or if we can hang out in the evening. You very well know she goes out almost every evening. So its like someone else has to come and plead and beg in front of you, buttering you know. So why should we do the calling up [buttering] everytime, or even once??

Triceps?? You boast of having triceps?? Thats what you told me. Do you even know what triceps are?? I and Kavya both find your tattoos suckish.
You're great as a friend, I will never deny that. But when it comes to my or Kavya's guy friends, I fail to figure out why you have those fits of ego, anger, mental instabilty etc.
'Akshay's a threat to me, you know..! Ayush's not. The way Kavya spoke to that guy on phone, she never spoke to me like that ya... So that guy's a threat to me you know.. Ayush is not a threat to me.' Thats an excerpt of what you said when Ayush joined us and I was having a conversation with you. I dont understand your vibe business, its just an excuse. And you're a big liar. A loser at that too.

It was Kavya who gave your number to Alex, not I. Wait, I'm not here creating a blame game. Its that we wanted to have you bashed up, but on the sly. So we decided we'll say that I gave the number. Alex asked for your number, I did not pass it on to him. But turned out that you're the biggest f***in coward on earth, dude. You were like 'F*** you dude, f*** you.' on the 9th, to Alex. And giving those challenges to him. And then you walked off. In fear?? I know, I sympathise with you. Alex said no ill about you, I wanted you guys to have a light hearted talk but your brain seems to be on a malfunction drive, so you started off by trying to threaten and scare him off. You failed yet again, you're a loser, forgot??

You were the butt of our jokes then onwards, and we had a good time too that day. We forgot about you completely. You thought I and Kavya were crying and thinking 'Oh God knows where Abhishek's gone, I'm so worried, we've to get to him and convince and cool him down somehow.'
We did try to call you up, but again, yet again, "The Loser/Sympathy Seeker/The Ego Freak" had switched off his phone the. Where did you collect all that ego from?? The public bins?? Abhishek, if you could stop slyly begging for sympathy, by understanding that everyone has his or her own problems, and would try treating that guy friend of your female friend as not a threat but another guy whom you could be freinds with, you would be a lot more liked by a lot more people today.
So in this attempt to gain sympathy, you've lost more than having gained anyhting except everyone's dislike for you. Well the abusing part, I'm not bad at it, just that I'm not used to. Kavya will do it with pleasure. Go ahead. By the way, how do you get time to just keep sitting like a handicap and typing out your boring life story on the blog?? Losers' trademark characteristic, is it?? I understand. Go ahead, flaunt your airy triceps somewhere else.
You'll never admit to being at fault, thats another thing about you that makes you a loser. I've been generous enough to point out your shortfalls, you should be grateful to me. Chill, I'm not asking for gratitude. Think, accept your mistakes, and make a change within. And if you're not going to try that, Which I'm pretty sureof,there you go again!! Losing it!! Keep losing it!! One thing I [ and several others secretly] want you to lose is your egoistic nature.

More coming up if required. Watch This Space.

I Dont Care.. Do You??

You're watching TV with your family on a Sunday Morning. 'Unfortunately' your parents are hell-bent on watching the news. You try to get hold of the TV remote, but your mother notices you well in time, and her stiff, scorning expressions are enough for you to keep down the remote back on the couch. You get up and go off to your room, sulking. You try listening to some music.



Half an hour later, you see your parents waliking past your room through the window. You exult and flung aside your I POD and sneak out of the room, and switch on the TV.

That boring News Channel pops up again. Ugh!! You flip through the channels and finally settle for VH1. Now you can enjoy your weekend.. Your mom comes into the room and you search for the remote to change the channel, to make a good impression on your mom.

But sadly, she came just to search for your dad's car keys. She goes on searching. You dont feel the need to offer help.

Meanwhile, you blankly stare at the TV. They're showing the ongoing violence in Orissa. Sights of burnt down Churches, houses, crying women, innocent young kids in their mother's arms, wailing and suffering for no fault of theirs'. You dont bother. "Why should I be watching all this?? Why should I care?? Its their problem, not mine. Dont understand what fun Mom and Dad get out of this stupid news thing early on a Sunday morning.... huh. After all, I got a right to spend my weekend in peace!!!!!!" This goes on in your mind and finally your mom leaves.



You thank your stars and flip through a zillion channels and finally find VH1.





Okay- So this is what usually and not rarely does happen with teenagers like us.

Correct- you have a right to enjoy your weekend in peace. But how can you actually stay peaceful when you see such scenes of violence, kikking and bloodshes flashed on the TV screens through the news channels??



The ongoing problem specifically in the Kandhamal District of Orissa is an issue that deserves attention and should be treated as a National Issue. But why do we teenagers ignore all this and turn a blind eye to these incidents occuring around us, in our country???

Seems like someone has fed a software or rather a virus in our brains stating the info. that-

"WE Are Teenagers. We are born to live, to enjoy, to party hard, have fun. Its our birthright. "



True. We do have a right to do the above, but we dont have a right to just simply ignore the issues which hold so much of importance. What is done about these issues presently is what will decide the future course of events the world over.

You need not be the PM or the Prez or some MP to take an initiative.



Some say that those people out there in Orissa arent our relatives or whatever. Why should we care??

We all read in our Social Sciences Textbooks in lower classes- "India is my country and all its citizens are my brothers and sisters"



Well, its a pathetic state of affairs in our country if this is how we keep ignoring these issues, and care for our brothers and sisters.

What holds you back from making your own little contribution to your motherland whom you owe so much??

God created us not with the aim of living as heavy blobs of matter as burdens on the earth but do be a good human being, help fellowmen, be a source of inspiration for everyone.



"Pain is felt only by the ones who undergo it, experience it and No One Else."

Perhaps thats the reason for our insensitivity towards these issues. Its time that we took a new turn and made a new beginning. If we dont care, who else will??

Happenings around us dont bother us. We've become insensitive to issues around us. I confess. I do it sometimes. If you too admit to it then I must say you deserve a pat on the back.

Why Cant We Just Act NORMAL????

You like wearing those track pants and sleeveless tees and enjoying a cup of tea in the balcony or at the terrace,
you actually do it sometimes. But then you see your neighbour Natalie, the hot chic staring at you and not even bothering to hide her monsterous laughter from her 2nd floor buliding.
You run away leavin that half filled cup of tea lonely.

You did this since the very idea of wearing tracks and a tee is very hilarious to your 'uber cool' neighbor. You will do anything to prevent yourself from getting caught in a tough situation in front of her.

T H I N K-
Is Natalie God??
Is she your mom??
Or is she the CEO or head of GUCCI or whatever??
Is she paying for all your monthly expenses??

I guess your answer will be no to all 4 f these questions. If thats not the case do tell me.
Natalie isnt God, she isnt your mother, nor is she the CEO of a multi trillionaire brand.
So what is it that makes you cringe and hide yourself just as a tortoise hides its head beneath its shell when she sees you or mocks at you?
You liv in an andependent country. Freedom of choice is your fundamental right.
You arent in an obligatory position with her.

Then- Whats The Problem??
Just be yourself. Dont act, dont pretend. Be proud of who you are. Dont hesitate to smile openly in front of people because of your braces or misplaced teeth.
The world will never fall short of peopl who are always ready and eager to hurt, demoralise others. They will discourage you and eat up your confidence. Thats their aim. And if they succeed, you're the loser.

SO Stop Being At Anyone's Mercy, Realise Your Worth, and also realise that you are much better than a million people who are mere burdens on this earth. You never know, the earth might fall down someday under
the weight of those people.


This should be your anthem as from today-
[You should sing this to yourself every morning in front of the mirror]

" Beautiful girl, [for men its anything they like]
Wont you be my Inspiration....
Beautiful girl,
Dont you throw your love around.
What in the world could ever come between us?
I'll Never Let You Down, Wont Let You Down.
This is the beginning of your day.
Life is more intricate than it seems.
Always be yourself along the way,
Living Through the spirit of your dreams.

Who's gavaar actually??

WHY is it that when we see a fellow on the road, wearing shabby clothes, with unkempt hair, just dragging himself along, that we tend to make fun or laugh at that guy and think- "Oh ! Just look at that silly joker !! Doesnt even know the F of Fashion! And look at his clothing.. His dressing sense makes me feel like puking! I dont understand how these people just come out on the roads! They shoud be banned from walkin out in the open.. They're such gavaar peopl.. dunno what they think of themselves! Cheapster ha!!"

This is just what most of us [if not you thats great!! Hats off to you] do..
Well.. God created all of us with the same love, care, affection. Its just that we all differ in terms of financial status, or social standing, or looks, regionality, et al...
In short, we all are one. Its like we're all the different flowers of a plant.. The flowers can never be identical, obviously. Some may be blooming, some may not look that pretty or appealing to the eyes.

Did God ever say that ugly looking- or rather simple looking people dont deserve my love??
No.. All can go to a Church- poor, the rich, the sick, the glamourous .
Is looks, dressing sense, being able to speak english at the speed of light, splurging money on anything and everything- Loius Vitton bags or Jimmy Choo shoes or Gucci glasses all that decides what kind of a person you are?? NO. Being rich and wealthy and famous is not a measure of your sophistication or level of civility.

Think rationally- Can you not be friends with a person just because the fellow has a crooked nose,
or wears braces?? Will that affect your so called 'image'or 'status' ?
Damn your status if you cant feel the pain of a sad soul. What stops you from shaking hands with that guy whose dad works as a plumber or electrician? Go ahead, shake hands, dont hesitate, dont care what your friends will think.. and see the wonderful experience.. you will sense a feeling of closeness and warmth, not awkwardness or shame at all.

We all are the children of the same God, Come on, shed your inhibitions now and be the one to make a change. Let us all act like humans and prove that humanity still exists in us.. or some day God will accuse us of being aliens..


Thanks for reading.