NOSTALGIC MOMENTS: #OpenNTalk

Showing posts with label #OpenNTalk. Show all posts

June 28, 2018

'Always & forever' (a short story)

Miles away, living in a different city, Ajay missed her terribly...sometimes even more than family. His family would often tease him about it; that he spent more time with her than with them. But what was presumed to be puppy love had blossomed into a symbiotic dependency over the years.

Now in a new city, lonliness felt like a visceral pain every time he entered his empty apartment. He had promised he'd come back for her as as soon as he had settled in at his workplace. Until then, they'd have to make do with webcam and phone.

She'd always been a patient girl. Confident of her love, she was sure he'd never leave her in the lurch. Ajay still remembered the look in her beautiful brown eyes when he told her he had to leave for another city. It had pained him as much as it had saddened her...the moment of separation outside the airport.

The silence in his empty apartment made him miss her even more. He missed every moment of the time spent with her---those lovely walks they took together, the wordless understanding they would sometimes share, the comfort of her cozy hugs. Two weeks here and he'd realised why they say absence made the heart grow fonder.

His nostalgic pinings were interrupted by the chime of his computer. 8 pm; it was time for the daily rendezvous with his sweetheart. Enthusiastically, he switched on his webcam.

"Yo bro! Ready for your date?" said his brother, grinning on the other side of the computer screen.

"Dude, don't waste my time. Where is she?" Ajay frowned, straining his neck looking for his beloved.

He could hear her now. Music to his ears. Excited yelps reached their crescendo as the webcam was shifted and an enthusiastic golden retriever came slowly into focus, wagging her soft furry tail in excitement.
Ajay's joy knew no bounds, as his little darling climbed up his brother's lap and smothered the computer screen with wet sloppy kisses.

"I miss you too, old girl," he cried, almost hugging his laptop. "I miss you too..."

***

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This post is published for #OpenNTalk Blogger's League hosted by Dipika Singh of Gleefulblogger
Ruchie Verma - Wigglingpen in association with SummerBarn, Vedantika Herbals, Nyassa, Explore Kids World.

#OpenNTalk is a bloggers league wherein forty selected bloggers are divided into eight teams. Each team has five members, who will blog on varied topics during the month of June. Each blogger will post a series of four posts, one post every week.

My team for the Bloggers League is #CrossBorderSisters, and blogging with me are my four other team mates namely
1: Aditi: Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

So do hop on this bandwagon, and cheer us during our journey. Your views on the posts are most welcome.

Cheers and love!

June 21, 2018

#OpenNTalk: That's the way the cookie crumbles

Imagine this enticingly gorgeous Black-Forest cake (complete with dark chocolate glaze dripping et al) sitting coyly in your fridge, waiting to be devoured. You have recently discovered and confessed your love for Black-Forest, and your possessiveness is at its zenith, forbidding everyone else from enjoying it, because, well, you’re a crazy cookie who tends to go bat-shit-obsessive in love.
Anyway, moving on...

Days turn into weeks. Everyday, you have a slice of that sinfully delicious cake. Every night you remind yourself how lucky you are to have such a decadent treat all to yourself. Every time you see your friends in confusion on which pastry to pick, you convince yourself how lucky you are to love something without a doubt. Then you go home and have that customary bite of your Black-Forest (BF) cake in the fridge. The cake that is always there...

Weeks turn into months. By now, everyone is convinced of your sheer love and loyalty towards BF. Your friends and family never miss on getting it along whenever you join them. It’s amusing (and mildly irritating too), you think, how wherever you go, BF tends to follow...

And then, one fine morning you wake up. Brush your teeth as usual. Perform your daily ablutions as usual. Check your email, read the news, get dressed, as usual. And just before leaving for work, you open the fridge, expecting your black forest cake to be there, waiting for you like always.
And bammm!! It’s gone! Vanished without a trace.

However, instead of feeling shock and remorse, you are actually happy. You feel liberated of the pressure of having to keep up with your alleged passion for BF. So glad are you, that you don't even bother finding out what happened. Maybe someone got tempted and ate it without your knowledge, or maybe it sprung feet and walked out of the fridge all by itself.
"It was time for a detox anyway," you say to yourself, experiencing a strange sort of relief.

And that, my friends, is exactly how falling out of love feels like...

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My team for the Bloggers League is #CrossBorderSisters, and blogging with me are four other wonderful bloggers.
1: Aditi: Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

June 12, 2018

#OpenNTalk of handshakes and first impressions

Over the last couple of days, the Twitterverse has been constantly abuzz with comments on the recent handshake exchanged between French president Emmanuel Macron and POTUS.
As a matter of fact, it wasn’t so long ago that our beloved Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, had extended a similar kind of torture on poor Mr Kumarswamy, who appeared so harrowed that it seemed he would never again shake hands with Modi ji. I recall Twitterati having a good laugh at the picture, gloating, this time, not only about his alleged 56 inch chest measurements, but also about the iron grip that could give Sunny Deol’s 'dhai-kilo-ka-haath' a run for his money.

All this hullabaloo about the congenial hand shake got me wondering. Could there be more to this seemingly harmless gesture than what meets the eye?
Personally speaking, this is not the first time I’ve been thinking about handshakes and the intention that lie behind them. Human psychology and its manifestations has always piqued my interest, and it is for this very reason that I often pay extra attention to the body language of those I come in contact with.

It cannot be denied that a handshake can very often make a lasting impression. Within 3-6 seconds, this gesture can send you a vibe, pass on a signal, and tell you a little about the kind of person you’re interacting with.
In my life, I have encountered people I’ve never met a second time just because I wasn’t comfortable with their body language. On the other hand (no pun intended), some of my closest friends had once been strangers who put me totally at ease with a gesture as simple as a genuine handshake the first time I met them.

Accordingly, below is a list I have made of the types of hand shakes we encounter in our daily interactions. So here goes...

1) The three-fingers touchshake - This is the most reluctant type of hand shake. Here the hands don’t touch. Instead, two fingers are extended to meet your hand. Normally extended by women when their creep-sensors are activated or by someone who just doesn’t like you all that much. This particular handshake suggests superiority and ‘stay away from me because I’m just not interested’ signal.

2) The feather-touch handshake - Although this one goes really well with the ladies, especially when you are meeting them for the first time, it can also be misconstrued as being preternaturally unobtrusive and even a tad too indifferent. Sends out a pretty decent vibe when extended between members of the opposite sex, especially for first meetings when you don't want to appear over enthusiastic or pushy in any sort of way.

3) The 'yikes' handshake - As the name suggests, this one grosses me out the most. With its moist and sweaty touch, this variant of a handshake suggests nervousness or anxiety or something much worse. A cold damp hand always makes me wonder where it’s coming from. Chances are I’ll never shake hands with said person again or resort to the Indian Namaste or the three-fingers touchshake approach instead.

4) The paralyzing death-grip - If the devil were to shake hands with you before dragging you to hell, this would be it. This bone-crushing variety of handshake is the kind that will definitely find its way to your list of regrets by squeezing the life out of you and leaves you feeling pale from the exsanguination. Works like a charm, especially if you are trying to convey feelings of animosity or vendetta.

5) The ek-duje-ke-liye handshake - Particularly seen between new lovers or couples besotted with each other. It’s usually a sign of deep seated attraction where the two people lock hands and refuse to let go, resulting in a prolonged handshake that is less realiszd by them and more by the world around. Can lead to embarrassing consequences in case of unrequited emotions.

6) The disoriented handshake - Ever encountered a handshake you didn’t see coming? You’re having a good conversation when all of a sudden, a flailing hand is thrust in front of you. And just when you extend your hand to meet it, you realize that hand was an awkward movement the person was making to drive home a point in the conversation. Bummer, eh? Exactly!

7) The blanket handshake - This is my favorite kind, but only when extended by my favorite people. It involves the usual handshake with the added support of the left hand covering the person’s right hand as well. I see this as a sign of warmth, security and possessiveness...an all inclusive handshake that coveys positive feelings and makes one feel instantly comfortable and safe.

8) The patronizing handshake - This is more of a grip and a pat rolled in one. The right hand stays at a higher position with the palm facing downwards to meet yours, while the other hand fixes your palm in a grip from below, giving out a very controlling vibe, and is evident of a dominating personality.

9) The fist bump - A very mature way of greeting...until you turn fifteen!

And last but not the least
10) The perfect handshake - This one follows the ‘equal and opposite’ law, and is reciprocal in intensity and nature. Fingers and web spaces interlocked, and equal palm pressure exerted by both individuals, thus making it a balanced and assertive handshake. Accompanied by a friendly smile and adequate eye contact, this is best initiation to pleasant interaction.

Of course, this post ought to come with a small disclaimer.
Be it business associate, lover, friend, or boss, an impressive greet-and-meet may be enough to create an impression but is hardly enough to sustain it. So take the above list with a pinch of salt and don’t go about judging (yourself and others) too harshly.

On a somewhat unrelated (err...just kidding, this is way too much fun to digress now) note, have you encountered any other variant of the classic handshake. that I may have forgotten to mention?
Do let me know in your comments.

Cheers!

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My team for the Bloggers League is #CrossBorderSisters, and blogging with me are four other wonderful bloggers.
1: Aditi: Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

June 05, 2018

#OpenNTalk of a plastic-free world

Every year, the United Nations celebrates 5th June to commemorate our relationship with the environment and make us aware of where we are heading with it.

As a child, I remember planting a sapling on this day each year. It was a kind of school tradition, an extra curricular activity to help us understand that the planet was our friend, and that it was alright to get our hands dirty if it meant saving a friend.

But what we didn't know then was that we were actually saving ourselves. Then growing up happened, and friendships got neglected. And the one relationship that suffered most was the silent one, the one that we had started to ignore slowly but surely. But the planet watched quietly, hoping we'd change, praying we'd realise on our own someday how we have been treating it, suffering, hurting, but still hoping...

Days change into years, and we don't change. We have turned from passive aggressive to abusive. It, however, hasn't changed (much) either. It is still waiting for us to reform. By now, we have started enjoying the power play. Of course, there are guilty days when we feel sad for letting down a friend, but most days we just manage to convince our conscience that we are way too swamped with life and work and that it will understand. Mud slinging, blame games, and finally an interlude of indifference.

Relate much? Does the above sound familiar? Well, if so, then you are in trouble, because these are the signs of a toxic relationship. And that is precisely the road we are on with our planet, the friend we used to know...

From the soul-cleansing friendship we started in school to this toxic relationship (which can only lead to eventual disaster for both), we and the planet have come a long way.

Cut to present day, knowingly or unknowingly, we end up doing things that are hazardous to our natural ecosystem, that are toxic to our environment, and that are eventually harmful to us. Little do we realize the magnitude of the problem until it is too late.

However, I strongly believe it isn't over until it's over (and fortunately for us--the earth and us, it isn't too late yet). All is not lost. We can still proceed to take baby steps towards saving our relationship. (Or am I being too hopeful?)

So without further ado, lets put this relationship in perspective...

Besides, India being the host country this year, it becomes our added responsibility to lead by example and save this relationship while we are still ahead.

So for the uninitiated, here's a little about World Environment Day 2018...

Theme of World Environment Day 2018: 'Beat Plastic Pollution.'

The role of plastic in our lives:

Today, time being our major constraint, most of us opt for more convenient, on-the-go options. These include containers and tiffins made of plastics, plastic wraps, use and throw cups, plastic cutlery, plastic bottles, plastic bags etc.

Since plastic is inexpensive, it is used widely and sometimes negligently.We all have that one friend who uses everything 'disposable' right from his coffee cup to packaged water bottles, which he later on dumps without thought or concern in the nearest waste basket or thrash can. Sometimes, we 'are' that one friend in the group. What we do not understand is that this seemingly harmless 'single use' plastic can pose a major threat to our environment. It can pollute our lands as well as our oceans.

Why so harmful?

Plastics contain major pollutants and toxins that are capable of causing major harm to our environment; namely air, land and water.

Also plastic decomposes very slowly owing to the strong chemical bonds it is made up of. Simple plastic products take around 80 to 100 years to disintegrate, while complex plastics can take as many as 800 to 1000 years to decompose, thus allowing ample time for accumulation and pollution in the process. This exposes humans and their environment to many hazards, including exposure to dangerous carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals).

Consequences of plastic pollution:

Every year, at least 13 million tonnes of plastics end up in our oceans, thus destroying marine life.

Around 100,000 marine animals (esp sea turtles) are killed by plastics every year.

The plastics that end up in our oceans and other water bodies are consumed by planktons, which are in turn consumed by acquatic life and fish, which are eventually eaten by humans (thereby disrupting the food chain). In this way, we create a toxic cycle, and the poison (read 'plastic') that we dump is dumped back into us.

Every year, the world uses up five trillion plastic bags. These bags when dumped eventually end up polluting land, water, and air. They can also choke and suffocate tiny helpless animals that may come in contact with them. Apart from that, plastics bags disposed off carelessly litter the area. They may float around in water bodies, degrading the quality of water and life. When burned they emit toxic fumes and chemicals, leading to human sickness, breathing problems, and illnesses.

Plastic makes up ten percent of all the waste we generate, a shameful statistic that needs to be controlled.

Excessive accumulation of plastic can block sewer lines, drainage pipes and other water ways, leading to hazardous consequences to health and eco-system.

A rough estimate of seventeen million barrels of oil are used in plastic production each year.

The amount of plastic bottles we buy is staggering. Research shows that we buy around one million plastic bottles every minute.

Polystyrene, a plastic used in food packaging, is based on styrene which is a neurotoxin and a carcinogen.

So having said that, what can be done in order to beat plastic pollution?

The Government of India has already started taking steps in this direction.

India is cleaning up hundred of its historical monuments, including the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal, a symbol of love and beauty which was being degraded by careless tourists showing no reverence by littering the place, is finally going to receive the respect it deserves. Efforts to clean up the Yamuna behind the monument are also underway.

Maharashtra Government has been trying to emulate France in imposing a ban on plastic, from milk packets, single-use plates, cutlery etc, and has asked consumers to pay extra, a step to reduce unnecessary employment of single-use plastics. Also waste plastic is being crushed and considered for use as raw material in the construction of roads (these can bear around 2500 kgs weight).

Gujrat has been conducting plastic-free drives are being conducted for devotees heading to religious places. These 'Yaatra' routes are frequently polluted by plastic bottles, bags, cups, and eatables that come in plastic packets. Last year, the Gujrat Pollution Central Board implemented cleanliness drives, in collaboration with civil society, to see that there was responsible disposal of litter by devotees.

However, no Government effort can be successful if its citizens do not participate. It is our combined responsibility to rid our country of plastics, one step at a time. Only then can we have a pollution-free world.

But how can we help at an individual level? Here's how...

REFUSE , REUSE, OR RECYCLE

Use of Eco-friendly cloth bags for shopping:

These multipurpose cloth bags can be custom made or bought, and play an integral role in regulating the amount of non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastics that we use on a daily basis. Be it for grocery shopping or shopping at the local store, one can carry these every time they leave home. Every town will have at least one man selling these bags. But we don't see them because we aren't looking.

Avoid packaged drinking water and drinks: This will be useful not just in keeping our environment healthy, but in keeping us fit too. The amount of sugar and preservatives that goes in aerated drinks is much more harmful to our health, than the packaging is to the environment. So do yourself a double-favour and say no to those attractive colas in plastic cans and bottles.

Make use of glass or metal or stainless-steel bottles instead of plastic ones. This will save both you and the environment.

Try as much as possible to avoid as much as possible, the use of plastic cups, plastic cutlery, and ask your family to do the same. Use non plastic packaging instead.

Last but most importantly, when you cannot refuse or reuse, learn to recycle. While shopping, try and select products that are available in non-plastic, recycled packaging. Also segregate your waste into recyclable and non-recyclable products. Recycling plastics rather than disposing them ineffectively is an effective method of controlling pollution. So if you cannot refuse, then reuse, and if you cannot reuse, recycle!

With that, I come to the end of this post, and the start of a decision; a decision to evoke my long lost love for the planet, a decision to reform and renew our relationship, and never again to take it for granted.

This Environment Day, I promise to contribute my bit towards making the planet a cleaner, greener, and less toxic place.

Do you promise as well?

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My team for the Bloggers League is #CrossBorderSisters, and blogging with me are my four other team mates namely
1: Aditi: Blog| Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

So do hop on this bandwagon, and cheer us during our journey. Your views on the posts are most welcome.

Cheers and love!