Starting Worries

In the recent times, I'm seeing a saturation of vividness in the new age, bored, dull and enthusiastic cult trying to re-define themselves. Of getting out of the race. Of being themselves in another avatar. Living the way they want to in.

Consider a bunch of employees. Their objective was simple. To work in a way and a style they desired. Side effects of the college life of freedom. But then, pops up frustrations for the reason of the new "being" into existence. One, for the way people dress. Trying to change this in multi-nationals won't work. For the strict "Dress Code" being stamped. Of the 4-day formals and last-day casual get ups. With no round necks. And "No revealing legs, please. It is against company norms!", tags and comments.

Dress isn't an only factor of boredom. The managers' woes, of finishing the "task in hand" hounds like a ghost. Come whatever may. Even if you have a suffering mother. Or visiting a paralyzed relative. Or to a friend who met with an accident. Or to a neighbour's wedding reception. "Finish the work and go. You can come in office late tomorrow". Yeah. When all the expectations die. When we have nothing else apart from the remorseful feeling of excuse when needed. For a work, tiny to flash, later to become a time-waster. With no rewards of it, either. Or to another instance of shouting that you are incompetent so that the entire office floor looks to you in an awful position wondering, "Poor Guy. His manager is so cold.". And leaving it just at that.

So what next? "To stop the train, pull the chain." Looking at the scornful situation, the resignations pour in. With managers wondering. Onsite offers popping in. Promotions being promised in. And a nice dinner to end the day hoping the fellow takes his letter back. An image which you feel proud of regaining your importance, unaware of the heinous objective behind. Of showcasing talent retention skills. Of the project concerned in focus of the "client". Of selfish "growth" desires to land up in a bigger car or an apartment with a chauffeur attached. A wish that only such privileged have. Or believe to.

And when nothing works out, "The company would love you to take you back", would be the final statement. As if showing concern till you get out. Before that termination letter hands in. After the pre-last day - post-resignation day slogging that you put in verge of a better world. Before the early exit pay cuts and a negligible gratuity fund. Bah! I'm sure they would think, "Thank goodness!" when the answer would be "My goodness!".

The people, who know their self-worth, would then make it a point of avenging their negligence in the society. The danger belt. Of mirage thinking. Spiced with media hoopla. Topped with false confidence. Guts. And a fake passion for dessert. Voila! There, springs up the idea of a new company. In a way. Most of us wouldn't want to work under someone, although we would like someone working for us. Be it in a thousand foot-held campus or in a garage of one single computer! Ironical. Not to forget, the status factor. Of having the number of companies that we ventured. Or started. Or partnered in. Or attempted. Or attempting. With raising people's eyebrows. And images in girls' hearts. And the welfare of society.

Now, the company is laid to stone. And should now, pour in the business. Money, in short. Floundering around the same customers who they worked for in office sometime back, or for newer "smaller" ones so that the firm floats, be it working even for a shop owner who struggles in a rented box. And charging rates that look competitive. In the context of big corporations' loots.

Amidst all this, one wonders. Of the number. Of customers. Payers. Buyers. Sellers. Borrowers. Business. Clients appearing from Mogadishu. Or from a ditch. Or the confidence of people who know nothing of the risks involved. And money. In short.

Everyday, 2-3 new firms emerge out for businesses in every storeroom of every country. Either of the traditional nature or unheard variety. Are we seeing a saturation in the customer count? Or in starting up? Or are we yet to see a new bubble. The start-up bubble. To burst all over? Or are we coming to a stage where in, you are ready to serve but unable to acknowledge the service.

Companionship

Ahh. Of all the worldly peace that we seek into, this would surely come as a bliss. A close pal talks. And then chimes in the beauty of the psychic touch. The sheer meander fading away. And you enter a phase of happiness with an exoneration.
 
The simple conversations that lead into the sluggish day are aplenty. For the most, of not being any worth of. Some take away your time, some your peace and some give them back. And such moments would be re-winded. Always. Every time.

The chattering can be of any variety. In the form of talk, face or touch. That innate ability to take things into their stride. Of being comfortable to the person conversing with. Subsiding the feeling of having a companion.

Most of the talk would be worthless to speak about. It usually begins from who is paired up with which celebrity ending up with which all TV series to watch out for. The filmy kingdom is all the ones in between that remain. With some personal clutters. For another instance, it would be venting out his/her boss's constant pesters and for some, the chick/guy sitting in the last corner of the floor who is gorgeous. Or handsome. Or whatever.

After a petty fight over an electronic instrument, I broke up with my sister for some time. Which I regret myself. During the later days, it was just to converse formally with the "Hi, how are you?" syndromes. When loneliness and extreme supervisions sulk in, you tend to yearn for a partner to share yourself with. And that happened on a dark, rainy day. Amid a full stomach and eyes, partly closed.

A ping came in my messenger to "Come on Skype". All of a sudden. I followed the instructions blindly. And then I saw her. Her solitude. Evident on her face. With no one to talk to. And a constant work schedule on top. Making herself busy to forget everything around had made her down even more. And then she saw me. And then came in a glitter of smiles. Of the thought of regaining back. Her partner. Her friend. Her lone companion. Hesitant at first, then opening up to her real self. Of being shuddered. And then springing out of the lone darkness.

The rantings began. A five minute talk ended up in a 2 hour marathon. Content being unmentionable and unregistered. As we talk everything under the sun. Except for our lines of work. For them being the black holes of energy. For them being the point of taking a recess.

There was a special event that was also being shared. And a little pride permeated. For the intelligent observations found out. For gifting some special persons, with things unheard of.

Proud of my sister! For being the smarter kid of the two. And talkative of the two. Being the shoulder to smile on.

Silhouetted Routines

Off late, I've been addicted to reading. Not to books. They are always at bay when it comes to opening up my laptop. For them being the lone companion which they excel at.

But my reading refers to the internet. The various links posted by people on their profiles. Facebook. Twitter. G+. Blogger. Reader. Reddit. You name it! And it all reasons to the level of following patterns that you have.

Whom do we follow? Typically the ones whom we can identify ourselves..

With tastes.
With likes.
With interests.
With thoughts.
With ideas.
With passions.
With habits.
With behaviours.

Argh! We do. Even if we don't admit.

And how do we follow? Via the virtual world of invisible people, myriad junkies and connected digital networks.

Alright. So now, we have a list. A list of people who we believe, can be a mirror image of ourselves. And so pours in the various idiosyncrasies of opinions, news and views. Tons of people. And thus, tons of views. Tons of thoughts. Tons of blogs. Tons of styles. All of them sounding sensible. And you start pondering over the clock on your desktop toolbar wondering when the heck did it jump so fast.

You must be getting an idea of what am I talking about. If no, then re-read this from above to follow completely. It just shows that you've got insaner by the day.

Going further on the mayhem, take Facebook for example. Till the stupid videos and photos appeared, it looked dumb. And now, after customizing them to filter them out and show only reading links, the reading loop repeats!

Oblivious to the fact that the workload increases exponentially. Yes! Once the links are out on your browser, the urge to read them till the final full stop never ceases and then yapping over to social sites to check if your views matched with others. Beating round the bush, again!

And nowadays, weekends end up just scanning these all the way, leading to loss of sleep time and the lovely television boredom movies which you ritualized since you grew up. And we all wonder why Mondays appeared sooner!

And now follows the usurping advice.

1. Curb down dailies and news sites: They gobble up on much of the energy making you to think and start a small debate on some groups and forums leading to a conclusion which, you could only synchronize with. Tons of current affairs happen and you have quite a very large set unless you choose smartly.

2. Tech Forums: These are the nastier lot. Most of the tech punks are out there just to make news out of every crap they incur after exercising their brains. Who cares if you need a button on your mobile that can post links to sites which you are not even bothered looking at! Anything that is significant in your line of work that could be beneficial is a smarter choice!

3. Link posters: Another bunch of time wasters. I'm unable to imagine the time they get to sit, read patiently amid their daily chores and seek for a review! You start to feel laid back by such with the knowledge they possess. Fact is, ignore them. It isn't worth the price of your time.

To conclude, read when you have nothing in the world to do. Better to shed when you have some prior goals set. And dedicate some time onto them.

The links shall appear whenever you continue to track your statuses.

Whenever. 

Dum Dum.


PS: I just read The God of Small things by Arundhati Roy. And so the inspiration.