Friendship day status: Friend zoned or zoned out?

When one grows up to be a young adult, every friendship day, now, is a reminder of the ones celebrated by tying a friendship band to all those we considered our friends. There was clearly no set, rigid definition of friendship, back then, and nor was there any ulterior motive behind forging one. Do you remember how the number of friendship bands one sported on his/her hand became a yardstick to determine the number of friends one had? Or so was believed to be the case. The higher the friendship bands on one's hand, the more popular was the person thought to be with his/her friends.

If friendship day fell on a weekday, then the fad of wearing all your bands to school and flaunting your popularity would become an activity of indulgence, which would end up becoming the talking point of the class. This act, which is now laughed upon when one thinks he/she has outgrown that ''childish'' behaviour, was a real source of joy.
Taking a classroom set-up, I have divided the friends that decided to give you a friendship band into various categories.
Friend A - Best friend; usually your class-sharing buddy since you started schooling.
                 This friend would always give a special friendship band, which would stand out from the
                  rest of the friendship bands one is sporting.
Friend B - Bench partner; someone you bonded with for the purpose of taking notes and during
                  mid-lecture boredom. And it also works to befriend someone whom you could borrow
                  a pen from or share a lunch-box with when you don't have one.
Friend C - There is always this one friend who is obligated to give you a friendship band because you
                  share the same friend group. It may be an onerous task to fulfill the formality of making
                  friends with those you may not otherwise have been friends  with had it not been for
                  your group of friends.
Friend D - There are always a few people who are constantly looking to fit the bill when it
                  comes to being accepted into a group of friends. This type of a person does not usually
                  have a lot of friends and is desperate to befriend anyone who is willing to extend the
                  olive branch to him/her.
Friend E - There are some sweethearts who, irrespective of how close you are to them, out of the
                 goodness of their hearts and in the true spirit of friendship tie a friendship band to all those
                 they are on friendly terms with.

The rush of nostalgia, while I think about the good old days, brings me to talk about one of the friendship days I celebrated as a school girl. I remember going to the market a day before friendship day some 9 to 10 years ago.  Colourful ribbon reels adorned the front shops, which sold stationery and toys. The market place, during any festival or special occasion, literally makes for a visual treat. I had pestered my mother to take me to a shop to get me some friendship bands. Since it was going to be my last year of schooling, I was very excited about giving a friendship band to all my friends in school. I bought a green ribbon reel and one lace-and-beads friendship band. The one with beads in it was for my closest buddy in school. I nicely divided the ribbon reel into some fifteen, equal-sized friendship bands. Since friendship day, that year, fell on a weekday, my excitement levels went through the roof. ''I'm so glad I'm getting to celebrate my last school friendship day with all my friends in school, itself,'' I thought to myself. Next day, upon reaching school, the first thing I did was take out all my friendship bands and move around the class tying them to all the people they were meant for. Soon, everyone who had carried friendship bands to school started tying them to all their friends. My wrist was glistening with all the bright colours there could possibly be. I realized that the friend for whom I was carrying the special friendship band having silver bead embellishments hadn't come to school. As sorry as I felt for her absence on this special day, I decided I would carry her friendship band to school the next day. Unfortunately, my friend was not able to come to school for the next few days and our study leave for the board exams was immediately scheduled to begin once she was supposed to resume coming to school. This only meant that I would not have an opportunity to meet her for the next few weeks. I remember calling up my friend to tell her how much I missed her in school, and how I couldn't felt sorry for not being able to celebrate the friendship day with her. Later, we mutually agreed to keep the friendship band we had bought for each other with ourselves, thinking that we had received it as the most special friendship day present during our last year of being in school from a special friend.

It has been almost a decade since that day, and both of us, to this day, have that friendship band with ourselves. We often laugh over the hysteria and our crazy antics from school days, but we never forget to remind each other of our bond, which has been made all the more special because of that one friendship band we treasure as one of our most valued possessions. Meanwhile, the friendship day that went by was nothing more than a reminder of how I could either choose to be friend zoned on Facebook by guys sending messages like ''Heya, you look so smart. Wanna be frienz?'' or remain zoned out. What do you think I should do?

Roses are red

Stealing shy glances, holding hands and promising to stand by each other's side till the end of eternity, or blowing the steaming hot porridge, incessantly, before gently pouring it in the other's mouth, while comfortable adjusting your sight to see that special someone carry out the most mundane chores and go about the daily activities are actions that certainly speak louder than words. And if this wasn't enough, then don't forget all the times you saved up those pennies to be able to buy a muffin from that high-end patisserie just to see the smile of disbelief on the face of the one you love. And what about all the jitters you experience when you see a message from that heart-stealer for which you were staring at your screen all day?

Love is indeed one of the most beautiful expressions mankind has ever known, and probably the most intense and glorious discovery that has been made, so far, as we continue to discover more facets to love along the journey of knowing someone better. Some may classify love as weakness, infatuation, intimacy, affection or soft spot, while some may classify it as passion, enthusiasm, taste or penchant. The feeling of looking into someone's eyes and finding everything you ever needed is akin to the most divine of experiences. Despite a ton of intense discussions and stories having caught widespread attention all thanks to the razzmatazz of love, there seems to be a never ending quest for exploring more aspects to this some-people-are-in-it-for-sex and almost surreal wonder of life.

It is unfair to call someone perverted if he/she proclaims to love physical indulgences with that special someone. But it is purely advantageous and horny when one views love purely as a mechanism to bond physically. Physical intimacy can never fill the void that is created in the absence of emotions. It then becomes a pure case of fulfilling one of the basic human necessities after food, shelter and clothing without which one can hardly function. It becomes a demand, which thrives on self-interest. I wonder if I'm the only one who finds the veil around sex, in the form of hushed whispers and considering it to be a taboo, overrated. There is certainly no need to hide something that is a result of the union of two souls who love one another. Where emotions are running high and the mental connect between two people is perfectly in sync, the need to bond physically comes as a by-product of what is ''organic'' love. The need to make it a vice arises when sex without love, which then becomes a business of prostitution, is witnessed. I've always thought quite positively about love at first sight. And to all those who say that an eye-contact cannot justify the claim of true love, an appearance is quite enough to unravel the mystery surrounding the person's externality. And the love stories which have literally begun with a glance, and have successfully catapulted into a lifetime of togetherness are proof of that one cannot evade the magnetism of love. So, to all the naysayers, infidelity is the result of lack of love and not the cause of instantaneous love.

The whole idea behind penning down something like Roses are red was to emphasize that there may be many occasions when one feels the urge to look outside of a relationship, be it for love or to satisfy his/her sexual urges. And in no way do I wish to opine that doing something like this is right or wrong. There are times when one is left with no option but to forcefully take a step behind and act in his/her self-interest, especially when all the tries to revive a relationship have gone in vain. But again, the real deal, here, is to realize how commonplace it has become to replace a partner, today. Have we run out of patience or tolerance to deal with difficulties? Or do we no more have the strength of character to remain loyal even when things are hunky dory? And this brings me to the ultimate question - Is it even love if you cannot stand the test of time? And do not forget, just like how roses are red, the grass always appears greener on the other side; and it may not be worth it to move across just to realize that the ground you've lost was indeed better. Ultimately, the choice is yours.

The trekking sojourn

Snow before rains

Mountain living at its best

View from the base camp in Rumsu

One of my pit stops

Campfire. Scenery. Tents. Low temperatures. Warm clothes. And climbing.

I imagined trekking to be an amalgamation of some of these things until I went on one, myself. I have never really contemplated much about going on a trek in all these years, and for this very reason the   fact that I actually ended up going on one seems like an illusion to me. In fact, until I reached the base camp in Rumsu, I was under the impression that my trek to Bhrigu Lake, located in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India, would be a walk around the scenic mountains of Himalaya with my only input being my thoughts about how to keep myself warm at all times and carrying protein-rich food with me.  

''Come on, madam; you cannot get tired so early. Your trek has not even started,'' said the guide, when we went for an acclimatization walk around the camp site. Running out of breath after 45 minutes into the first walk was quite unnerving, and it seriously made me cast a doubt over my fitness levels. I soon realized that I was not supposed to rush, especially while scaling uneven surfaces. And once I reached the top of the hill, trust me, nothing felt better than seeing the same hill slope downwards. The acclimatization walk, which was followed by a rappelling session, served as an eye-opener for what was to follow over the next two days. Soon after the orientation session, I learnt that there were many others sailing in the same boat as me. A hearty laugh over what we thought to be our collective misery and misfortune took over our evening at the mess and helped us calm our anxious nerves, albeit for a little while. Something that only added to our miseries at such a juncture was the 4:30 a.m. wake up call scheduled for the next day. I had never experienced a more jittery night. Having our rucksacks in place, carefully depositing our utensils in the office and preparing to rest our aching muscles, we were ready to tuck ourselves inside the warmth of the sleeping bag for the next 5 hours.

The drive to Gulaba (where our trek to Bhrigu Lake started from) took some four hours. My journey uphill started with full gusto and fervour. My state of mind, after crossing every mountain, kept oscillating between awe (upon seeing the beauty of the sight) and wanting to give up. I soon decided to set small goals for myself, and started taking a short break after every 20 steps. The small breaks gave me some respite from panting and made me come to terms with the place where I had landed. And when you make an effort to connect with the nature you realize how it wants to glorify your presence in its midst in the most unexpected ways. The intermittent presence of dew drops on my bare skin, a picturesque view of lush green fields till as far as my eyes could wander, and a magnificent waterfall, which looked ready to challenge the most daring souls with its wild and rapid presence coupled with the random presence of snow-white horses across the waterfall was proof enough for me to believe that I had reached a place which was trying to lead me into heaven. All my fatigue from the trek was giving way to restlessness of wanting to reach the camp site in Rohli Kohli, from where were were to continue our climb to our final destination the next day. Later in the evening, I decided to enjoy a steaming-hot bowl of soup by the ice-cold Himalayan river.

''Ah...ah...ahhhhhh,'' shouted Vivek, a fellow group member, upon seeing Risha glide down a snow-capped  mountain accidentally, while walking along a narrow stretch of ice. We were just an hour away from reaching our last destination after having trekked uphill for almost three and a half hours in the morning, when this incident shook us up. Vivek's scream reverberated in our guide's ears in such a manner that even before he could bat an eyelid he jumped on his feet made his way down the slippery snow slide in order to stop Risha from going down any further. As first time trekkers, this unfortunate and uncanny happening acted as a signal for us to not go any further as we had already begun to battle moderate amounts of rainfall by that time. Coming down to the camp site was not exactly the most invigorating experience as we missed the chance of going till the very end. But we were certain that the regret of not witnessing the ultimate glory should not come at the cost of a human life. Nonetheless, I came back with much more than I ever envisioned this trek to bestow me with. I came back with a consolation prize of becoming more disciplined, patient and getting a lesson in cultivating a never-say-die spirit. And lastly, I can say it with utmost pride that I survived all the storms to devour a spicy, hot bowl of maggie on my way down to the point where my trek began.

Converse your way into a unique English lesson (Part 2)

After reading the emotional, heart-felt letter, both, Arya and her mother, needed something to cheer them up and help them relax. Her mother suggested that she was yearning to go on a long drive for a long time. And the dutiful daughter that Arya was, she instantly agreed to the plan and proceeded to get the car keys.

Given Arya’s work profile as an editor, who was also a linguist, she always had a habit of correcting people she knew, when they used a word/sentence incorrectly. That night, as soon as she and her mother stepped into the car, Arya’s mother exclaimed, ''Despite of telling you several times, you haven't got the dents in the car fixed. It’s time you did something about it, now.'' Arya took no time in correcting her mother, ''The word ‘despite’ is never followed by ‘of’ unlike ‘inspite’, which is followed by ‘of’. So, you can say how inspite of telling you several times you still haven’t got the dents fixed. I’m sorry for deviating from the topic; and I shall get the dents fixed, tomorrow morning.'' Arya’s mother, helplessly, looked at her daughter and started smiling at her daughter, while nodding her head. The sky that evening flaunted a full moon. And the stars had beautifully lit up the sky making the entire arrangement look elusive. ''The stars are very less in the sky, today. Nonetheless, the moon seems to be shining in all its glory,'' said Arya. Showing her approval, her mother looked away from the stars and asked Arya, “Why did you use the word ‘less’ and not ‘few,’ Arya?'' To this, Arya quickly responded, ''That’s because the stars in the sky are uncountable. And when you are referring to an uncountable noun, you use ‘less’, whereas, if you are referring to something countable, like some pairs of jeans left on the table, you use the word ‘few’. So, if I want to say that the milk in the glass is not a lot, I will say the milk is ‘less’ and not ‘few,’ because the milk is an uncountable noun.’’ Arya’s mother was trying to process what her daughter was explaining before asking her, ''So, if I want to refer to some furniture in a room and if I can count it, should I use ‘few’ or ‘less’?'' Arya, who sat upright before replying, explained that 'furniture' was a mass noun, and the objects that constituted the furniture in a place are countable as opposed to the furniture itself. So, she concluded that ‘furniture’ could not be counted and hence, to describe it, one must to use ‘less’.''

The route that Arya took for the long drive reminded Arya’s mother of the times she and Arya’s father would go on long drives with little Arya sitting in the back seat. In a fit of nostalgia, she said, ''I can never tire of coming for a drive on this street. Dad and me have spent many special moments here. I informed about our long drive to him, a while ago, and even he recollected some of the memories we have made along this stretch.'' Arya’s face beamed up on hearing this. She expressed a desire to go on a long drive with both her parents. At this time, Arya’s mother jokingly reminded her of how she hadn't found any errors in her statement. Arya shook her head and burst out laughing. She replied, ''Umm, there is one, actually. Can I correct it?'' Arya’s mother smiled and replied in the affirmative. Arya then stated, ''You always inform somebody about something, and not about something to someone. For e.g. I informed dad about my friend’s arrival coinciding with his arrival in July.'' And while the drive continued with all the excitement and child-like enthusiasm upon seeing a full moon, the talks became more and more vivid and intense. Right from talking about Arya’s future career plans to what they saw themselves doing during their old age, it was refreshing to see a mother-duo bond to such an extent.

As the drive came to an end, Arya revealed a secret to her mother, which she had kept hidden for a long time. ''Mom, Ronit proposed to me 3 months ago, and we wish to get married by next year,'' exclaimed Arya. Arya’s mother was taken aback for a brief moment.'' Wait. Is this for real?'' she asked. ''And how did this incidence occur so suddenly?'' Skeptical about her mom’s reaction, Arya tried to make light of the situation and replied ''Mom, it was an incident. Not incidence. You use ‘incidence’ in the context of a disease or crime, and not otherwise.'' Still surprised, Arya’s mother, with a tinge of humour, added, ''Not again!'' And this time around, both of them, could not control their laughter.  

Converse your way into a unique English lesson

It was a Friday evening, and Arya had returned home after a long day at work. Arya, who worked as an editor with an established magazine, quite often doubled up as a proof reading expert, when her mother would pen down a letter  to her close friends and family members. And the letter she had written this time was a heartfelt and emotional one. Her mother had penned a letter to her deceased grandma, who was celebrating her  92nd birth anniversary. Arya was a voracious reader, and she often stressed upon how words, if rightly used, had a powerful ability to shape thoughts and influence the mind.

''Ever since your dad left to go to abroad to work, I'm feeling very low," said Arya's mother. Arya sympathized with her mother, but she immediately tried to divert her mother's attention by saying "Mom, you never say 'go to abroad' or 'in abroad'. You always say that someone has gone abroad or is abroad.''  Her mother, then, quickly presented the letter to her to seek the approval of her expert of a daughter for her language. The letter read as follows:
How I never thought I would loose you so early in life! It has been years since I called someone ''Ma''. There are times when I experience an extreme sense of loss, but I can hardly explain anyone what I'm going through. I'm sorry for the rant, Ma, but I could barely can my emotions, today. And here's sending out all my love and regard to you on your 92nd birthday. How I wish you came down from the heavens to blow your birthday candles!

Arya was quick to reach out to her mother, and wondered if she didn't show enough concern for her mother to feel the way she did. Tears were already welling up in her eyes. And before the atmosphere in the house became heavy, Arya got back to doing what she was required to do. "Listen, you should use the word 'lose', here. The word 'loose' is used to describe something that is not firmly or tightly fixed in a place, whereas 'lose' is used to refer to deprivation of something tangible or intangible. And, the word 'explain', in this context, is always followed by 'to'. It is only if you are explaining ''yourself'' to someone that you don't add the word 'to' after 'explain'.''

''I remember how every year on my birthday, beside cooking up my favourite dish, you also cooked for all the children in our community. I still have a clear memory of every birthday which I celebrated very long back, as a child. All those children, who are now as big as I am, still remember you very fondly. From you I've learnt that its the deeds a person performs silently and with an intention to serve others that count the most.''

As much as Arya focused on giving her input, she couldn't help but give in to her emotions and tell her mom, ''I wish I could express my emotions and thoughts as beautifully as you, Ma.'' ''Today, I realize that whatever little writing talent I possess is all thanks to my rich gene pool,'' she chuckled. She also asked her mother to remember that the words 'besides' and 'beside' were non-interchangeable. ''The word 'beside' is used to mean by the side or being alongside, while 'besides' is used to refer to something other than what is being considered. It can also be used in place of apart from. When I say ''Ma, come and sit beside me'', I'm asking you to come and sit next to me. And when I say ''Besides sky diving, we also tried our hand at different water sports'', I'm replacing more common words like 'apart from' or 'other than' with 'besides'.'' And the correct way of describing something that took place many years in the past is by saying 'long ago' and not 'long back'. She also pointed out the mistake with the usage of 'its'. She exclaimed, ''The word 'its' is used while focusing on a belonging or an association with something easily identified. And 'it's' is an abbreviation of 'It is. Like how you say It's my ball or it's my duty, where 'it's' is short for it is.''

''I often recollect your advise about how I should strive and ensure that I instill strong values of independence and freedom in my daughter. You would be glad to know that your teachings through me have positively effected her outlook on life. And I'm sure that if you would meet her, today, you would consider your positive influence in her life as your greatest prize. I would not like to conclude this letter on an emotional note. I just hope you're happy wherever you are, and that your presence, in the form of your values and teachings, is reflected in the coming generations of our family.''

''The word 'advise' is a verb, whereas 'advice' is a noun. If you want to advise, you should also be prepared to take advice. I hope I made the distinction between the two words clear with this example.
And the word 'effected' is only used in the context of causing (something) to happen or bring about, while in the context of what you wrote, 'affected', which means 'influence',  should be used. Do you remember how I always say that your calmness and generosity have affected my life in more ways than one,''

Arya's mother had poured her heart out while writing the letter. In a bid to not let her emotional outpour ruin the perfect evening set-up at their home, the mother-daughter duo hugged tight and decided to make memories that evening. Arya's mother also thanked Arya for always making her writing look perfect.

You thought you did someone a favor?

If you think you've done someone a favor which entitles you to have an upper hand over that someone, then think again. For all you know, you owe a great deal of gratitude and also apologies to this planet for allowing you to stay here and turn it into the junkyard that you have. And amidst a bunch of a whole lot of those that have wronged their land of survival, there's some equally righteous and wise individuals who reinstate your faith in humanity. So, if you thought there are people who've obliged you and helped you a great deal, then think again. What you may perceive as an act of support or kindness may be nothing more than a duty on someone's part.

For some reason it has become imperative for humans to validate their goodness and morality to the world outside. So much so that helping someone out has either become an act of retaliation or a deed performed with expectations. Be it a lover, nurturer, life-giver, companion, or a soulmate, human relationships have, with time, lost their essence and become more platonic. When I use the word   "platonic" I mean to intertwine the elements of condition and give-only-to-take, along with a superficial state of being. Have you ever carefully observed a mother pigeon? It gives the best lesson in performing one's duties in life without expecting anything in return. A pigeon, who looks very innocent and harmless, nurtures its eggs with ample care and warmth, and builds a shelter in the form of a nest to protect them. As soon as the eggs hatch, the mother pigeon ensures that it shields the squabs from any attackers, and at the same time it encourages them to be independent to take care of themselves in her absence. The reason why the mother pigeon encourages her young ones to become independent is that she knows that soon they will outgrow the nest and will fly away from her; and they wouldn't be able to survive if they remained under shadow. She doesn't have any expectations that her babies will come back to her, and despite that she continues to support them whole-heartedly right till the time they spread their wings into the sky.

Today, more often than not, one finds conditions every time he/she establishes a relationship or tries to define one. The word "duty" has always ranked at the top in the list of things that have been regarded as a human's prime focus but, from the looks of it, we seem to have redefined the term as per human convenience. And it weighs us down, morally and otherwise, keeping a track of all the times that somebody has shown gratitude to us. If one happens to think, then he/she would not be surprised to know that our lives are becoming increasingly automated. Every action is perfectly balanced by a calculated input of emotions and animation, while responding to a need or concern.

After a long time of experiencing unwarranted joy in doing what I then thought were favors, I've come to a conclusion. Taking pride in doing a favor would only mean allowing one's character to be deemed immature. We would exhaust the element of gratitude within us if we happen to measure our indebtedness to the world. Just imagine the price we will have to pay if the sun started asking for royalty, our planet started quoting astronomical amounts for renting out space, all the oceans decided to tax us, trees acted pricey for giving away oxygen and adding to the beauty among various other hidden prices that we have been exempted from. There's only one favor you can do to yourself, and that it to base your actions keeping in mind that you owe a great deal to the world. 

Emoji rank holders

In the world of Internet, which is abuzz and crowded with the presence of Google, mails, Facebook and YouTube, emojis (they are not just smileys) have seamlessly made their way on all the major messaging and social networking platforms. Be it professing earnest love for someone using a pumping heart, confirming your presence for a house party using  '👍', or telling someone that you're on the verge of retreating into the dream world with the help of '💤', enough emojis exist to express the Internet population's constantly changing state of mind.

For some, emojis may just be another feature that strives to enhance the experience of messaging but, in my opinion, emojis have left no stone unturned to indulge the users and lure them into a world of caricatures. We may consider emojis too insignificant to discuss them at length, and so, in an attempt to turn the spotlight on them and underscore their glory, I've come up with a list of 10 emojis that I love using the most, and have tried analyzing them.

 1)

Name: Heart-eyes

Popularity: 6 out of 10 users

Significance: To express happiness induced with wild love.

Frequency of misuse: Since this emoji contains hearts, there is a likelihood that some may get hopeful and misconstrue this for a sign of ambitious love. Nonetheless, this emoji is quite commonly used on group chats and has, so far, made for pleasant use.

Mostly used/viewed on: WhatsApp and Instagram

2) 

Name: Laughing with tears in eyes

Popularity: 9 out of 10 users

Significance: It is mostly used along with a funny message/statement, or while reacting to a joke or a hilarious WhatsApp Forward.

Frequency of misuse: Even though this emoji is used to express light-heartedness, if used on the wrong occasion or as a response to something said with sincerity, it can lead to doubtfulness over your character, although the frequency does not seem very high.

Mostly used/seen on: WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger

3)                                              

Name: Pile of poo

Popularity: 4 out of 10 users

Significance: To express total dissatisfaction with a smile or convey playfulness.

Frequency of misuse: Since it is not as commonly used as many other emojis, and also because of its fun-loving appearance, it has very few chances of being misused. 

Mostly used/seen on: WhatsApp and Twitter

4)

Name: Folding hands

Popularity: 6 out of 10 users

Significance: To convey gratitude and heartfelt regards

Frequency of misuse: The chances of misusing this emoji are almost nil.

Mostly used/seen on: WhatsApp  

                                                 

5)

                                                

Name: OK hand

Popularity: 7 out of 10 users

Significance: Are you too bored of typing a long message to show your agreement to a WhatsApp forward? Are you a meme lover who generally likes to comment on the ones that are hilarious? If

yes, then you must have certainly used this emoji to give your approval. 

    Frequency of misuse: There are way too many emojis out there to tamper with to misuse this

    innocuous hand gesture.

    Mostly used/seen on: WhatsApp and Facebook Messanger

6)

                                                    

Name: Closed eyes

Popularity: 6 out of 10 users

Significance: If you've embarrassed someone, or if your secrets have been revealed, then you would want to use this emoji.  I'm sure. 

Frequency of misuse: This monkey of Gandhiji is too cute and honest to be mistaken for something gross unless one happens to use it along with a sensible statement, which dilutes the impact of the message.

Mostly used/seen on: Facebook, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

7)

 Name: Dancing lady

 Popularity: 7 out of 10 users 

 Significance: I don't think there is any better way to express craziness and excitement, both, when

 your plan for a weekend getaway with your close buddies has been approved by everyone than by

 indulging this woman in red.

 Frequency of misuse: To those who think their parents or their cultured 60-year-old uncle on his

 birthday could be the recipients of this emoji, you don't want to fall in their eyes.

 Mostly used/seen on: Facebook and WhatsApp

8)               

Name: Grimace-face

Popularity: 9 out of 10 users

Significance: This smiley is very relatable for it is akin to all the times that you've gritted your teeth with anger, or when situations have not been favorable. And when you can recreate that same expression while messaging, you can sit back and feel good about how at least a smiley acknowledges your feelings during times of distress.

Frequency of misuse: This, according to me, is, by far, the most misused emoji. How can one use it to convey plain denial or, for that matter, to express regards! Yes, I have seen many humans do that.

Mostly used/seen on: Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp

9)                     

Name: Beating Heart

Popularity: 10 out of 10 users

Significance: Who doesn't want to be loved! And when you see a visual of someone's heart beating for you, you're ought to feel special.

Frequency of misuse: Like it is commonly said, and rightly so, one heart can have many takers, and you want to ensure that you don't want those who are not deserving of it. 

Mostly used/seen on: Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp.                               

                                                                       

10)

Name: Disappointed face

Popularity: 8 out of 10 users

Significance: To convey your displeasure or to show that you are let down in a cute way. 

Frequency of misuse: The chances of misrepresenting this emoji are very dim. Just look at that harmless face!

Mostly used/seen on: WhatsApp

The one very good thing that has happened with the advent of emojis is that it has introduced the concept of expression in the lives of those who may otherwise have never winked or sported an astonished or a ''rolling on the floor laughing'' face had it not been for these emojis. For now, let's acknowledge the ease and comfort that emojis and d SMS language hve brought abt in d world of messagin.

                 

                 

        

   

Long live the Samsung bravado

 Apple: I hear you explode?
Samsung: It's okay to surprise after being in the market for almost 2 decades!

It's a Friday evening and I'm driving back home from a day's retreat in Lonavala. My handset has buzzed for the umpteenth time in the last three-and-a-half years, and I, with just the sound of my phone vibrating, get shaken up from my ecstasy-induced state as a result of the surprise finding of the AUX wire in the car, which ensured that music was just one touch away throughout the car journey. Literally. Parting with a phone seems akin to parting with a companion who has stood by you through thick and thin. And this day was supposed to mark the end of my alliance with Samsung Note 2, as I was going to be greeted by a supposedly more in vogue and swanky handset once I happened to reach home. An iPhone was now going to take the place of a new best friend, who was willing to see me through till I got another phone after it. How I wish even humans could offer this kind of companionship!

While I pen this post down, I steal frequent glances at my white Samsung Note 2, which has just been replaced by a matte black iPhone. And this reinstates my conviction about why I should dedicate a blog post to what is deserving of a tribute simply for the significance it has held in my life. And moreover, it will keep reminding me that I need not turn my back on an old mate just because of the arrival of a new one; and, in this case, it is an iPhone that I'm referring to, and many an iPhone user happen to believe that if you've used what is at the heart of the Apple family, one rarely goes back to using another phone. Like, okay! I'm assuming that this post will serve as a proof to the fact that my old mate was a victim of quite a few accidents, all thanks to my random dropping. Three years from now (I so look forward to growing at least three years older with my iPhone), I wish to continue reminiscing the sturdy (literally) moments of my phone, which include needlessly subjecting it to 15 hours of charging continuously during my long sleep hours, and surviving a fall from a height of 5 feet just after 2 days of getting it, while sending it into a state of isolation for a week among others.

The time was 9:54 p.m. I anxiously rang the doorbell and started to look around the passage till the door opened. And here I was with what would go down as my fourth handheld device! I plonked on the couch with the box containing my iPhone and unapologetically overlooked everything else and focused all my attention on the faultless packaging of the phone. My father, who had just returned from a three-week-long trip to the US had been conveniently ignored in the presence of all the goodies that surrounded me. Suddenly the 5.5 inch touchscreen display of my old handset looked enormous in front of my iPhone 7's dainty appearance. Literally. I say this without any exaggeration that I was consumed by its varied and unique-to-itself features, but my bond with my old device hadn't come to an end yet. I loved how my Samsung device, unlike its human counterparts, showed exemplary courage and strength of character, while getting a full view of me exploring my Apple device and somehow assuring me that it would always be available as a back-up companion during a crisis. I was surprised to know how its steadfastness made me less possessive about my capable-to-cause-a-hole-in-one's-pocket iPhone.

By the time this post gets published, my iPhone would've almost completed a week. And I'm sure my heart would bleed more with every passing day, when I see people around me using their iPhones carelessly, while I try my best to ensure that mine doesn't meet the same fate as my Samsung Note 2 in its first week, which, in my knowledge, would make me an accused in the eyes of many. And also, I seriously do not want to feign bravery with my iPhone around as I'm not sure if it would be able to sustain any hardships the way my Samsung Note 2 did. It is no surprise then that silent warriors create a legacy of their own, which is second to none.

Of suppressed libido and Indian taboos

Everyone, at some point in their lives, have heard legends that encapsulate how the human species evolved and how men, since time immemorial, have embodied the role of food gatherers, whereas women, on the other hand, have immortalized their role as nurturers. As much as both the genders have depended on their instinctive roles which, not to forget, have ably seen them through over the years, there has hardly been any buzz about how the male and female species have evolved over the last few years, and how the male dominance has presented itself in the 21st century.

It is barely a surprise that when porn was banned in India, three years ago, fewer women were affected than their male counterparts. Pornography was one of the channels that gave an aggressive boost to the male hormones and placated their sexual urges, while motivating them to replicate the actions from porn films in bed. So, when there was a blanket ban on porn across India, a long round of Chinese whispers about the repercussions of the ban and worries about what other exciting activity should the 9 p.m. slot be replaced with were inevitable. And the worry was totally justified, especially when there was a multitude of things at stake, including nightfall, fear of suffering from erectile dysfunction or, for that matter, the chance to inadvertently assume the right to a woman's naked body. And forgoing so much just to keep the sanity of the sacrosanct Indian culture intact did not seem viable for Indian men, especially when men are known to view sex as a basic human requirement, which is independent of a marital bond.

Somewhere down the line, Indians have failed themselves by assuming that by putting a ban on pornography, a person's wild fantasies cannot be tamed, and that its consumption cannot be totally stopped. On the contrary, thanks to the burgeoning Internet scene, enough vulnerable and naive minds have been lured to see the likes of Sunny Leone and Mia Khalifa at their best, and access sex tapes from sources other than porn websites to satisfy their desperate hormones. And to add to the woes of the common man, the news of a few politicians, who were caught watching porn inside their cabins managed to make the social fabric of the country all the more creaky. I think it's high time the country got awakened and let democracy reign supreme at a time when the the youth's libido and their sexual hormones demand a concrete outlet.

I just realized that although the taboo attached to sex is still widespread in India, there is a significant decline in people's refusal to discuss the topic that facilitates reproduction every time it is broached. Nonetheless, most Indian kids still avoid talking about sex with their parents who once told them that babies are gifts sent by god from heaven, who take a landing on the mother's abdomen from the skies.

Muted genius

Golden Sniffer - Lucky

I've stated on many an occasion, through my writing and otherwise, my love for animals.  And as staunchly and passionately as I believe in animal causes, surprisingly, this wasn't the case until a few years ago. Why, you may ask? I have been motivated to be kind and considerate towards the non-human species by my 8-year-old, prodigal golden retriever. For someone whose life has been enough of a revelation, and has managed to tap into my family's unexplored love for animals, he (using "it" for animals is one of the greatest miseries of life) has ably managed to convey what the purpose of his existence is in a way that would ask for altering every individual's outlook, when he/she takes into consideration the animal race. So, after having been a witness to my pooch's concerns and servile demeanor for over eight years, I've decided to make an attempt to decipher his emotions and idiosyncrasies through his letter I imagine him to write to the human species.

Hello humans,

I'm an eight-year-old, four-legged being, or as y'all call me, "dog". My life revolves around my human family, food, and my toys. Although I love to play fetch, I often end up running away with the ball/frisbee. I dread going to the vet and being put on a diet. I like being called well-behaved and disciplined by people, and that's because it helps me believe that I have not let my family down. I get deeply pained when I see stray dogs being ill-treated and abused. I sometimes feel like asking if y'all are doing the right thing by breeding us, when there are thousands among us who are severely disregarded and often left to die a dog's death. Literally.

I was bought by my family from a breeder in Pune when I was 6 weeks old. I feel fortunate to have come into a family who loves me and shows concern for me, but there are animals who have been abandoned just because their families found it rather difficult to look after them. My sincere request to y'all is that please don't make us a part of your life just to look cool or to up your status. You may move on in life after abandoning us, but our lives become a wreck. We feel like our soul has been sold. Not many people would be aware about the impact of abuse in our lives. We obey your commands out of love and respect, and, at times, out of fear, but that in no way takes away from the instances when we are forced to dance to your tunes. We are not puppets.

I have often seen people lift us up and run after those that fear us for their own entertainment. We get absolutely terrified, and often fear for our lives, when this stunt is performed. Have you experienced the irritation of loud music that is blaring from a speaker placed right next to your ear, combined with someone screaming his/her lungs out at the same time? That's exactly how much the noise gets amplified, when it reaches our ears, every time crackers are burst. A lot of you may wonder why it is difficult for us to accept the permanent entry of other animals into our foster homes. In this case, we are just like those kids who remain the cynosure of their parents' eyes for a long time until a younger sibling comes into their lives and takes away all the attention from them, except, in our case, we face a much worse battle, and, sometimes, we find it almost impossible to part with our family's care and attention.

I have no qualms in admitting that the human species is the most superior and developed of the animal species, but do you ever wonder what the point of being the most evolved species is if all that we see happening around are wars. We, animals, are grateful to all of you for supporting the non-human race in the way that y'all have, but there are times when your ego levels inflate to such an extent that y'all end up relegating us to a place under the carpet, and consider us to be second-handers, who, because of their inability to convey emotions, are thought to be mere spectators. All I would like to say, through this note, is that let us all work towards creating a world that is truly fair and compassionate towards all the species that form a part of our life's journey.

Regards,
A muted soul