Lying low...

I have become an internet recluse. Apart from uploading my FB profile picture once in a while, I don't spend much time online. Practically, I can't say I don't spend time online because I depend on it for work... but that excitement has died down exponentially... is it because of the age or has internet become boring in general? 

Strangled...

'I have to start early to office tomorrow' Rajiv announced

'How early?' Rashmi asked

'I'll start at 5.00 in the morning.'

Rashmi was sad.

'It's OK, you sleep. I'll have corn flakes and leave. Don't bother about me' Rajiv consoled her lovingly

But it was not that Rashmi was upset about.

It was almost a year since Rashmi and Rajiv moved into their new apartment. Rashmi tastefully decked up her home, complete with pots and antiques and lovely artifacts from wherever Rajiv and she had gone on a vacation till date. She loved the warmth of her home. But she was scared to be alone in her home. Whenever Rajiv was away at work, Rashmi would either go away to a mall or dance class, but past 6 in the evening she would never stay alone there. She had a strange feeling that after 6 in the evening and before 6 in the morning something visited her house if Rajiv was away. She couldn't explain what. So when Rajiv said he was leaving at 5, she was terrified. 

The next morning. 

'Sweetie, I'm leaving' Rajiv announced

Too tired to even say bye, Rashmi just smiled and went back to sleep. She heard the door closing behind Rajiv and within minutes she was deep asleep. 

After a few minutes

Rashmi suddenly opened her eyes. She felt someone had walked past her. She couldn't look up because something was holding her from the neck. Then she couldn't keep her eyes open... something strangled her tight... she tried to scream but whatever it was that was strangling her was also closing her mouth... she couldn't open her mouth, her eyes and she couldn't breathe...she struggled... she moved her legs as if to escape the grasp.. but the hold became tighter... Rashmi was battling for life and then suddenly the grip quickly looseed, she opened her eyes to see what was happening.. there was nobody in sight... She got up quickly and ran to the hall... everything was peaceful and quiet... the birds were chirping and the morning walkers were enjoying the beautiful weather outside...

Rashmi was petrified. 

That evening after Rajiv came back home, Rashmi told him what happened. Rajiv hugged her and said it was nothing and that he would not have to start to work so early hereon. Rashmi was relieved...

No. It's not time yet.

No. It's never the right time to end your life. You cannot assume things will not get better. You cannot assume that what's happening right now will continue forever. You cannot give up. Yet.

Once a man came to learn that was a treasure hidden somewhere deep in the ground. He dug for days. Hoping to find that treasure. He didn't eat. He didn't sleep for days. He kept digging. 4 feet down the ground. 5 feet down. 7 feet down. 8 feet down the ground. That's when he decided to quit. He was never going to find that treasure. He walked away cursing his luck. Another man passed by. Assuming that someone was digging to deep in search of something, he began digging further. He dug one feet deep and didn't find anything. But he decided to give it one more shot and dug further when suddenly his shovel was hitting something hard. Just two feet into digging, the second man had found the hidden treasure. If only the first man had not given up!

Being grateful...

With all the highs and lows that life bring with it, yesterday; as if someone held me strong by my shoulder and shook me up; I realized I have stopped being grateful. We all know love is the greatest commandment, possibly the elixir of a happy life. But you can’t ‘love’ without being grateful for what you have, who you have, how you are. Gratefulness is the greatest virtue you can nurture in your life.

We tend to crib. We tend to hate. We tend to sulk. We tend to go into depression. We tend be in a permanent state of sadness and defeat. Without expecting someone or something to love you to bring you out of this phase, we must get up and say ‘Thank you.’

“Yesterday I was cribbing that I don’t have beautiful eyes. Today I realized I should be grateful for I have eyes that are healthy.”

You will not find a more cynical person than me. I criticize everything. Anyone. I judge too easily. Yesterday I realized, nobody really had an issue. Nobody was at fault. But I was the one who had failed to look at the positive and beautiful side of things. I was the problem. I was too busy trying to make myself happy and looking for things to satisfy my greed. I forgot that we co-exist. I forgot that we were all created in goodwill, filled with the grace and beauty of the divine power. Nobody is bad. Nobody is unclean. Nobody is disgraceful. We are turning a blind eye to the good. We take solace in seeing someone in poor light so that we feel superior.

Yesterday, I decided to count my blessings. To write down all the wonderful things I had in life. Being grateful is being content. Being content is allowing peace to flow through our souls. Being peaceful is being able to see beautiful things. Being able to see beauty is being able to see God. Being able to see God is being able to have lived the most wonderful life ever.

Is it OK?

Is it OK that when I see a cow not knowing how to cross the busy road, I just sulk and drive past?
Is it OK that when a beggar on the road knocks on my window and I just ignore him, pretending to have never heard the knock?
Is it OK that when I see a transgender walking past me, I get really scared and pray for my safety?
Is it OK that when I saw an old man fall down from his bike, I just drove past because I couldn't stop my vehicle due to the traffic congestion?
Is it OK that I don't take communion every Sunday?
Is it OK that I say horrible things in anger?
Is it OK that I remember people I'm supposed to forget?
Is it OK that I cry alone, not knowing why?
Is it OK that I give up?

Is it?

I'm a catholic. Not a noisy one though.

Yesterday, I was sitting in church when suddenly the preacher asked all of us who were suffering inside to stand up and lift our hands, raise our voices in to the sky and say 'heal me, heal me, heal me.. forgive me, forgive me... thank you, thank you, thank you.'

Everybody in the church, except me, got up and started chanting with the preacher. I sat silently. Observing people.

Matthew 6:6-8

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 

Why are we shouting out loud? Why are we literally assuming that God is up in the skies and we have to look up and scream at him to bring him to notice us.
As I was observing, I was trying and interpreting this kind of behavior. The preacher said, stand up and beat your chests and cry. Everybody did so. Seriously? Doing that will redeem us? Then what? We will walk away with the same grudge we had upon our friends, family and that will make us less of a hypocrite?
In my opinion, and I MAY BE SO WRONG, the preacher should encourage us to believe that God lives in our hearts. We do not have to scream and pray. If God dwells in our heart, it is sufficient then if we pray in silence. He will hear us.

I don't care what people think of me and my ways of praying. But I don't agree to this kind of worship where I have to shout, beat my chest, cry and fall on my knees asking for forgiveness. 

Thank goodness!

Kishore sat down on the worn out bench in the park. For 40 years now, every Saturday he and Pushpa would come to park, go for a stroll and then sit down on the bench. Watching children play, teens holding hands and vendors selling small eats.

'Do you want groundnuts?' Kishore asked Pushpa.
'I want Kulfi today.' She told Kishore.
'Kulfi? No no. No sugar for you. The doctor has said strictly said no.' Kishore insisted.
'Doctor has said no. But I want Kulfi.'
'Ayyoo... you and your sweet tooth. When will you listen to you doctor?'
'Never' she laughed.
'Fine. Ok. But we'll share.'

Kishore got up from the bench, walking slowly towards the kulfi guy. He bought one pista kulfi for his wife. He unwrapped the kulfi with his trembling hands.
'Shall I?' asked Pushpa
'No. No.' Kishore announced
'Here... eat and give me one half. Don't eat it fully.'
'Ok' Pushpa smiled and knew she wouldn't share it.

'It's getting really hot these days.' Kishore said, as he wiped away the sweat off Pushpa's forehead.
'Enough, Kishore. What if people see?' Pushpa said shying away.
'My wife is sweating, who else will wipe her forehead? That kulfi fellow huh?' Kishore asked authoritatively.
'You give me that kerchief, I will wipe it myself. Still thinking you are a young chap.'
'Ya, I'm young only.'
'Ayyooo, tell that to your 4 grandchildren.' Pushpa laughed

'Pushpa, where is my Kulfi?'
'I finished it.'
'What?'
'It was too small.' Pushpa smiled like a naughtly imp
'Too small? You are only behaving like a small girl. Still thinking you are the Pushpa sitting in our college canteen and eating ice creams.'
'How much ice cream I used to eat no, Kishore?'
'Ya, all my pocket money I used to spend on your ice creams only.'
'Hee hee hee.' Pushpa laughed

Pushpa and Kishore were married for 40 years. They had 2 lovely children and 4 grandchildren. They were a happy middle class family, content with everything in life. They had a home filled with love and their hearts were filled with peace.

A young couple sat beside Kishore and Pushpa on the adjacent bench. The boy was asking if the girl wanted something to eat. To which she just shrugged her shoulders and said 'Just shut up. Don't try to butter me.'
'I'm not trying to butter you.'
'You first say sorry for what you did.'
'I didn't do anything wrong.'
'You came 1 hour late and we missed the movie. So say sorry.'
'I told you I had to attend the special class in maths. I already flunked last semester.'
'I don't care. I DON'T CARE. SAY SORRY' she started shouting.

Kishore and Pushpa stayed silent. They didn't want to intrude. Every couple should know how to sort issues between themselves. It's best a stranger stays away from giving his opinion unless asked for.

'SAY SORRY. SAY SORRY. SAY SORRY.'
The girl kept screaming on top of her voice. It was good that the park was crowded and her voice was drained in the sounds of children playing, swings swaying, adults laughing at the laughter club. But to Kishore and Pushpa, this noise was unbearable. But they stayed calm. Ignoring the old couple, the boy and girl continued their fight.

Kishore turned and looked at Pushpa. A little smirk on his face. He wrote in her notebook, 'Thank goodness, Pushpa, that we cannot speak. I wouldn't have known how to handle this kind of screaming.'
In reply to which Pushpa wrote, 'I'm sure you would become deaf also!'
To which both of them laughed loudly. Audible only to their hearts. They both got up and slowly walked back.
Thankful and content.

Do you remember...

"Happy Anniversary dear" Anand spoke as he lifted his glass of wine.
Ritu didn't speak a word. He had come back home late from work. Anand had never once come on time for his wedding anniversary celebrations. And this was a special year. Their 10th wedding anniversary. They had been married for 10 years. But they had been in love for the past 20 years. Ritu wanted to spend this anniversary alone with Anand, reminiscing about their life together.
"Do you remember the first day I met you?"
He looked at Ritu, who was not interested in giving him an answer.
"You were leaving home for tuition. Your scooty, your old worn out scooty wouldn't start. I had just moved into the building and as I was parking my bike next to yours I saw you scrambling with the kick-start. I offered to help. But you just shoved me away, as if I were a scum and you left to your tuition walking, your face red with irritation. You looked like a tomato."
Ritu was silent. As if not interested in Anand's small talk. She knew he was just trying to calm her down. She was in no mood to talk to Anand. She just remained silent.
"Do you remember our big fight?" He continued.
"You did not do well in your exam and you did not tell your marks to your parents. Whereas I announced my marks to my parents, who in turn informed your parents and you were caught red handed. How much I laughed that day" Anand laughed loudly at Ritu's plight.
"You called me to the terrace and asked me to explain why I had to announce my marks. We fought and you walked away, determined to never talk to me again in your life. But Ritu, that is the day I fell in love with you. Irony isn't it? To fall in love with the girl who screams at you mercilessly?"
Ritu was getting restless as he narrated this incident. What was Anand's point? That Ritu was always losing her temper and that Anand was the one who compromised? She was annoyed at him. But she sat still.
"Do you remember how you wanted to get drunk on the eve of our wedding?" Anand giggled, his boyish laughs suddenly seemed to surface.
"You asked for vodka and pepsi. I gave you only a tall glass of Pepsi and told you I had vodka mixed in it. How much you laughed and danced that night Ritu. You were not even drunk but you were doing the drunken dance! And you should have seen the look on your face when I finally told you there was no vodka in that glass. You silly girl."
"And Ritu do you remember the first time you made biryani for me?" Anand kept his glass of wine down on the table.
"It tasted nothing like biryani"
"ha ha ha ha ha ha ha" he laughed out loud
"But we ate. We ate and laughed. Laughed and ate. We finished the biryani and swore to each that we would always buy biryani from Nawaz uncle's place."

Anand was silent. Humming. Slowly. He turned to look at Ritu. She was calm.

"You are so beautiful, Ritu" Anand spoke
"And you are beautiful because you have given me so many memories to live. Sweet, sour, bitter. We have had a great life together."

Anand took Ritu's picture in his hands. He brushed his fingers on her lips. It was their honeymoon picture. They had gone to Shimla. Ritu had her arms wrapped around Anand. She was trying to keep herself warm from the biting cold. She looked happy and comfortable. Anand looked proud.

"Ritu, how can someone as beautiful as you bring so much pain on herself?" Anand asked slowly
"Do you remember how I cried when you were lying on our bed, lifeless and dead? You don't remember. That was the last time I cried, Ritu. I cried till I dried myself out. I can't cry anymore. Even if I try to, I can't.I drink hoping to cry. But I can't cry"

Anand looked at the empty chair beside him. Ritu's dupatta adorned on it. Anand rocked on his chair. Humming. Slowly.

"Do you love me, Ritu?" He asked the empty chair beside him and dozed off. 

When the universe conspired...

It was a sultry afternoon and the class was in no mood for thermodynamics. Leela ma'am walked in and everybody got up to wish her

In unison everybody sang "Good aaaaaaafternooooooooooooooooooooon ma'am"

Soon the rebel in class, Abarna joined the chorus, "no neeeed to take claaaas maaaaa'aaam"

Leela ma'am got pissed off

'Sit down all of you. Or I will get angry.'

Abarna continued, accompanied by a group of other girls "pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee maaaaa'aaam. no need to take claaaas ma'am"

Not knowing it was Abarna who was shouting, Leela ma'am threw a chalk at the class. Everybody ducked so as to not be hit by it 

The padips of the class snickered and spoke aloud "ma'am please take class, ma'am"

Second Law of Thermodynamics: In any cyclic process the entropy will.................

Leela ma'am began writing on the board.

Abarna turned to look at her classmates who by now had given up all hope that Leela ma'am would let them go free this hour.

Leela ma'am wrote a lot of formulas on the board, explained the concepts and turned to see if we were taking down notes.
Abarna just kept staring at the blackboard hoping to fall asleep soon and then suddenly as ma'am turned to the board to write another formula, the duster fell on her head.
Leela ma'am was hurt and her head was covered with chalk dust.
She quickly scrambled out of the class announcing 'we'll continue tomorrow' rubbing her head in the process...
Abarna couldn't believe her eyes and she jumped like a clown.
She and her gang walked away victoriously out of the class to the canteen.
Like as if everything she wanted the universe conspired with her! 

Love is in the air

Love is in the air? Wrong, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide are in the air - Sheldon Cooper

This fellow is correct! Love and all is not there in the air. In the air, apart from these gases, so much dust, pollution, cow dung smell and cigarette smoke is only there. 

Simply, on valentine's day alone, love will come in the air a? Then if I breathe that 'love' filled air what will happen to me? Tell! At least I know that if I breathe the polluted air I will get breathing problems, some diseases like asthma etc etc. What I'll get if I breathe the love air? Love a? Ayee, simply don't joke like this. 

Ok, one more thing you tell me, then today love is in the air, then tomorrow where this love will go? Into water a? Hey such stories and all tell somebody with flower in the ear. I won't believe. Why you are telling love is in the air. Love is a feeling no? Correct? That means feeling and all should be in your heart no? If love is in the air, then what is there in your heart? oh oh oh, don't tell blood, arteries, pump and all such biology related things. Even small baby knows. I also know. 

Tell me, love is in the air means what? What is the advantages of it? I want to know!

Something happened.

Naaz, what plans for this weekend. Ajith's text read.

I called him back.

"Hey Naaz, what's up?" He sounded cheerful.

'Ajith, I'm going to my native for a few days'

"Oh, what happened? When? For how long?"

'My granny isn't keeping too well. My mum and I are leaving tonight'

"Oops. I'm so sorry. For how long are you away?"

'For a week, I guess.'

"A week??????" 

'Yeah, she's my granny and I love her a lot. That's why a week.'

"I know that."

Brief silence.

"I'll miss you so much, Naaz"

'I'll miss you too, Ajith.' I said softly.

"We will be able to speak over the phone right?"

'I have no clue. May be we can.'

"Alright, you take good care of her. I will pray for her speedy recovery."

'Thanks, Ajith. I'll text you.'

"Sure."

'Bye, Ajith'

"Bye, Naaz"

Something weird just happened right? I thought to myself. We were very good friends, yes. Not lovers. We shouldn't be bothered about being able to talk over the phone or not. 

I packed my bags and left to the station. I couldn't stop thinking of Ajith. 

I helped my mum with her bags as we got into the train. She had the lower berth and I, the upper. I placed my luggage with hers and quickly climbed up to my berth. 

I checked my phone. 

2 unread messages. 

1 message from the bank guys notifying me about my bank statement generation for the month.

1 message from Bhargavi. 

No message from Ajith. 

Bhargavi wrote: Hey Naaz, don't worry. Your granny will be alright. You take good care of her and you also take good care of yourself. Love you. 

Naaz: Thanks di. I will. You take care too. Love you loads. 

I took out my train book, Ulysses. 

But I was in no mood to read. My mind was so occupied with my conversation with Ajith. There was something to the way he said he would miss me and the way I reciprocated. 

I didn't know I should text him. I was extremely restless. 

It was a 14 hour journey to Kerala and those 14 hours were my life's most restless hours. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't read, I couldn't eat anything, I didn't seem to exist. My mum didn't say anything. She was already overwhelmed with my granny's condition. She just touched my hand before going to sleep and kissed me good night. 

All night I kept staring at the phone. In the middle of the night, I got an SMS. 

It was a message from my phone provider telling me that I had now entered Kerala and roaming charges would apply here on. 

We reached Cochin early in the morning. My uncle came to pick us up from the station. All of us were dull and tired that morning. I wasn't looking forward to going to my granny's house because I just couldn't bring myself to think of her as a sick patient and being bed ridden. 

We reached home and all of my aunts, rushed to hug my mum and they all cried. As if it was not enough, they all looked at me with tears flowing down their cheeks. I couldn't cry. But I was sad. 

I walked up to my room and lay down on the bed. I don't know how, but I fell asleep. I slept for 8 hours straight. 

Nobody woke me up for breakfast nor lunch. 

I checked my phone and no message from Ajith. I took a bath and got ready to finally meet my granny. 

As I entered my granny's room, I forgot everything else. I forgot Ajith. I forgot my loneliness. I forgot Dev. Everything. It was just me and my granny from here. 

I sat down next to her and touched her hand. She had shrunk miserably and she couldn't recognize me anymore. I felt her bones as I caressed her. She lay calmly, she was unaware that there were so many in the family, filled with anguish and anxiety over her illness. She slept like a baby. 

When I was young, I would come every summer to live with my grandparents. I loved my summer vacations here because my grandparents looked after us with so much love and care. I once fell very ill while on my vacation and I remember my grandparents would stay up all night beside me, holding my hand and crying and praying that I become alright soon. My grandad passed away many years ago and my granny was inconsolable ever since. They loved each other a lot. That's what I admired in my grandparents. They loved each other through thick and thin and old age and sickness and everything that came their way. She was lonely after he left and she ceased to exist. She loved us, but she was no more my old granny. Part of her died when my grandad left. 

I took her hands in mine and kissed her hands. The same hands that took care of me, cooked for me, braided my hair. My mother sat next to me and cried. I think she knew something and couldn't come to terms with it. 

All of us were going through a rough time.

My phone beeped. 

I miss you, Naaz.

I kept reading that message like it had all my life's answers in it. Like it was my very purpose of life. Like it was all I had ever dreamed of. 

After Dev left, I was filled will loneliness. I was depressed and sad. And now somebody else was filling that void. And I liked it. 

I miss you too, Ajith. 

I meant it. I was really missing Ajith. He made me happy. The happiness I thought I'd never be able to experience in my life. 

Naaz, what is wrong with us? His text read.

I wish I knew. I responded. 

It hurts. Because you are my best friend. And it shouldn't hurt so much. But it hurts.

I didn't respond.

And then the saddest cry filled the room. My mother was shrieking. She wailed. She fell down. Everybody around me, fell to the ground as if great doom had set upon them. 

My granny passed away. She was waiting to see my mother. She died in the presence of all her children. She was calm. She just passed away. 

I love you, Naaz. I am sorry if this is wrong. But I love you. 

I cried. 

New Friendship. New beginnings. New joys!

After Ajith came into my life, I started living again. In one sense, his friendship completed my loneliness and mine, his. 

We went out for movies in the weekends, ate out whenever possible and did a lot of shopping together. 

Ajith always cracked funny jokes, and I would take the liberty to laugh out loud in his presence. He didn't mind. I didn't either. 

We were two carefree individuals, totally enjoying each other's company. 

Ajith wouldn't miss any opportunity to flirt with other girls and I'd laugh so much after he'd be let down by all those girls.  Yet he never gave up.

"Find a good girl for me no, Naaz" he'd ask me with his puppy eyes.

'Do I look a broker to you, you idiot' I'd laugh back

"Good friends will do that much at least na..."

'Well then this good friend of yours, will shed blood and sweat to find a beautiful girl, but I may die in the process and you'd still be single' 

"Heyyy... Hello Naaz! You just wait till I find a beautiful girl and introduce her to you. You will be all jealous and all"

'Ya right, in your dreams, I will be jealous. Listen, Ajith, honestly, if you did find a girl for yourself, I'd be really happy for you!'

"Hmm... yeah, you mean it" he smiled at me.

I smiled back. 

It felt good. I had a friend. A guy friend. 

Lunch with Ajith - Part 2

"Where is Dev, Naaz?" Ajith asked me. 
I didn't know how to respond to that question. 
"I don't know, Ajith" I replied slowly.

Both of us ate in silence for the rest of the afternoon. 
"Naaz?" Ajith spoke, after what seemed like eons to me. Sometimes silence can be so brutal. 
"The food here is good" I replied.
"Yeah, I told you so." He spoke and smiled at me. "How about some desserts?"
"hmmm... sure, I'd like some"

Ajith ordered cheesecake for both of us. We ate, paid the bill and left the place.

"Why don't we walk" Ajith asked me.
Though I was is no mood, I didn't have anything on my agenda and nodded yes. 

It was 4 in the afternoon, cars and bikers were zooming past us as we walked down the streets of Adyar. We didn't speak to each other. But we kept exchanging glances at each other throughout the walk. 

Every time I looked at Ajith, he'd look at me. Every time he looked at me, I'd look at him.

It was so weird. And uneasy at the same time. 

And every time we looked at each other, we'd just look into each other's eyes and then look down at the road again. Like as if our eyes spoke to each other. 

My mind was playing games with me. I was walking with Ajith, someone I didn't like and didn't want to be associated with, and I was feeling a sense of joy inside. My heart was actually happy. My mind was at peace. 

What was happening to me? 

I looked at Ajith one more time. This time, Ajith did not look like Dev's brother to me. He just looked like Ajith. My new buddy. 

copy cat a?

What ya, all weddings are looking the same. Same saree, same coat suit, same flower girls, same decorations, same old aunties giggling, same make up, same photographs. 

One minute, one minute. 

why all the photos of all the marriages are looking the same? 

One photo, both are holding hands.

Another photo, both are showing their wedding ring.

One photo, girl is in focus and boy is blurred.

Another photo, girl is blurred and boy is in focus. 

Same. Same. Same. Copy cats. 

All girls are wearing same saree. Some brocade green color blouse for red color saree. Then they are showing their bare backs to everybody in the world. and they are taking photos and putting in the Facebook. Then all are girls are simply bugging the photographer to take photographs, one side angle pose, then back angle pose, then front angle pose, then they will wear ray ban glasses and pose like minor, then they will keep their lips like pouting out and pose, ayyooo that photographer is uploading the next day in this photography page, in that album all pretty girls are there and all boys are putting jollu looking at the girls. Even aunties are coming for all weddings. But nobody is taking their photos. Even some non-modern girls are coming there, but that photographer is not even turning to their side. Why this partiality?

Then coming to girl and boy, all are posing same pose. Simply jumping up and down in the beach, looking into each other's eyes, their shadow will kiss... same pose, bore pose.

Suddenly everybody is getting married. In this Facebook, all the time only wedding photographs are coming. Or those trolls are coming. First it was nice to see wedding photograph. I miss many deadlines because of it. Now, I am getting only irritation looking at same wedding style and all. All are copying. Why we can't think of our own head? We don't have a? 

In our mummy daddy era, if anybody says, I am 'wedding photographer' means all will consider like third rated job and all. Now if I am saying that I am wedding photographer, then all will give me their number and book me and pay me lakhs, and fly me to exotic locations. Jolly! 

Anyway, what for me. I am not spending no, I should not bother :D

This is not social media!

Facebook, Twitter and the like - they are not social media sites. They are private podiums, for people to get on and shout their mind out loud, hurl abuses, express anger and then get off safely. Some people will clap, some will ignore, some wont even know you got onto the podium and some won't bother. 

What social media nonsense are you talking about? What is social about these sites?

We will like people's photos online and then when we meet them, we will not even realize who they are. What is this? huh? 

And marriages? What are people marrying these days? Their partner or their photographer? 

And what is this puppet like behavior we are all exhibiting?

One person is nodding their head for something, millions are following suit.

We don't have any individuality, huh?

Arrey, what is this? For everything we are shouting online.

Somebody will die, we will shout online.

Somebody will rape, we will shout online.

Somebody will not play cricket properly, we will shout online.

Somebody's movie is not getting released, we will shout online.

Somebody said something about my religion, we will shout online.

Somebody said something about my ethnicity, we will shout online. 

Why we are only shouting online? Oh, we can't go out and shout no? We will be put in jail. Anyway, we are so scared. Safely, we will shout here and go away. Correct? 

Then what social media you are talking about?

Breeding a generation of angry people, who will shout online and then go back to their work in office. 

Breeding a generation of people whose job is to indulge in 'BIG TALK, NO ACTION' , just like our old generation. They didn't have social media, we have. Otherwise there is no difference.

Breeding a generation of people, who will just not move their bums off their chairs. 

Arrey, did we vote properly?

Did we do anything for the nation? 

Did we enter college without paying capitation?

Did we join civil services?

Did we enter sports and play for our country? 

What we did? huh? 

What we did, you know? Logged into Facebook and twitter. All the time. 

That's all! 

We Indian employees!

We think that staying back late in office is one way to get noticed.
One way to get promoted.
One way to show people that you are extremely busy.
One way to show your boss that you have been toiling hard and you deserve to be the next boss.

Why? WHY?

Is it something we have been taught in school? Or college?

Personally, I feel staying back late in office is as shameful as coming late to office. Here I want to make a confession. I am no early reportee at work. Somehow over time, I have gotten used to the fact that its OK to go to work a little late. Trust me, it's not OK. They notice, and one day they send you a memo! :D
My question however is, why is it that staying back late is not treated with the same disrespect then? If I stay back late in office, I SHOULD be given a memo. Ya, seriously, if you can't finish your work within the stipulated time, you ought to be finished  punished. OK, fine, sometimes we cannot finish the work in the given time, so we overstay our working hours. But we shouldn't overdo it right? Working till 1 a.m. or 5 a.m. Hello!

But I tell you, these days such petty strategies work. People who overstay at office actually end up looking important and busy and in turn get rewarded with promotions or hikes.

Seriously, people should start looking at the work done, not the time when it gets done!

If you salute your Duty
You don't need to salute
Anybody,
But
If you pollute your Duty, You have to Salute Everybody 
A.P.J Abdul Kalam