Rita’s side effects

I was in Pune this past weekend to spend some time with mom, dad and my brother Chinmay. It was a lazy Saturday afternoon. By then, I was getting that most pleasing feel of a weekend. Four of us had a tasty lunch cooked by my sweet mamma and we were trying to stretch ourselves in the beds. While reading the news paper, dad showed us the Movie schedule at one of the local multiplexes. There were two new promising releases in Marathi with a very good star cast. One at 6:15 PM. Another at 8:30 PM. I wanted to see ‘Rita’. The show would start at 8:30 pm. We zeroed down to check the availability for both and then take a call. The ever tempting sound sleep was something I couldn’t resist then. I decided to take a nap.

We reached the multiplex at 5:30 PM in evening. It was not much crowded then but the people were arriving into their sleek and solid cars with attractive dress up to look above than others. The colorful crowed was making the overall atmosphere live and was inviting the glamorous night soon. My dad came in with the tickets for ‘Rita’. Wow I wanted to see that movie. Then was the time when I would see it finally. J. We had two hours in hand as it was just 6 PM. “What to do?” Dad asked. We were looking around if we could find a place to spend some time at. And we saw the Big Bazaar’s huge building next to that multiplex. “Shall we?” Dad asked. “Okay let’s go” we all agreed.

We entered the Big Bazaar. It was really big. I could see that the compartments and the stands were over flooded with so many branded products. Many departments under one roof with so much of variety. I think that’s why people rarely visit local markets these days but do visit these huge bazaars. I went to the cosmetics section where the salesgirl promptly stepped forward to serve me. “Oh come on let me see it myself. I can read English. Just stand there silently”… I wanted to say this all but I told her that I am having a look around. I wanted to buy one cream from past 2 months which I saw there. I picked up the product immediately. Well that was a START of one unavoidable activity called as SHOPPING. We went to each and every department on that floor. I took table mats for our dinning table though we have one. But yes I got them for Rs.20 less than the outside price. We also got the required and also not required grocery for tomorrow’s lunch.

“There is still some 1 hour left. Let’s go to 2^nd floor.” Chinmay said.

We then moved to Ladies and Gents accessories and garment floor. My goodness! It’s my weak point. How should I stop myself from not looking at the dresses and tops and kurtis. Some powerful power then pulled me to that section and I started checking each and every dress. After some time I realized I have liked just one kurti and still not convinced 100%. I left my thought of buying that as I didn’t find it to be worth the price.

“Tai… Tai…” Chinmay was calling me. He had got some shirts in hand and wanted to take my opinion. I suggested one smart shirt which looked perfect on him. Mom and dad also came in. Suddenly my eyes got fixed on one tee. Well that was not bad at all. And looking at its price I decided to go for it. Dad looked at the shopping trolley. “we should have watched 6:15 PM movie”, he said with a smile; a smile that suggested a lot of things. Finally we went to a billing counter. After getting all the discounts and the free gifts we got our final bill. It was 2500.

Wheww... was that necessary? I mean we just wanted to pass some time and not so much of money that too in just 2 hours.

We are thankful to our parents that they sometimes allow us to do such instant shopping but then where are we heading to? These malls are though proving the perfect shopping destination for today’s generation but certainly the “Huge Savings while shopping” is what they are trying to brand themselves does not happen at all. The unnecessary shopping always takes the front seat and our car runs into 4the gear after listening to offers and various deals. This is a terrific marketing gimmick played by these big business people. They have actually caught the right nerve of masses at large. They keep some people on all floors just to keep announcing about the new offers so that the customers run towards the section to have a look at the offer and half of them end up buying the things they do not need. Shopping in these malls requires that extra skill to avoid the unnecessary attraction. Then only we would be able to take that benefit otherwise as they say, “Old is Gold”, the more traditional grocery shops would anytime be preferred. After these amazing side effects of movie watching the watch performed his duty. It was 8:08 pm; we finally went to the movie with big bags in hand. But yes I enjoyed that shopping…the unnecessary shopping!

My Mobile shopping!

My Mobile shopping!

Finally the day arrived I was waiting for..I had to buy new mobile from last six months but as they say the muhurat never arrived. Today we finally got out for a mobile survey to get the best of it.

“Which mobile u want to buy?” Vivu my brother in law asked me. Of course Nokia, I replied thinking this can not be a question at all. From the time I have started using mobile which is around six years back I have been loyal to Nokia. I must have changed 3 mobiles. In my whole family and even in my husbands family we have never used anything else. Nokia is handy to use, its operations are easy and its comfortable. Done! You cant get so much of simplicity in anything else. Thak thak thak! So much of surety.

We entered one known shop. Shop keeper smiled with a question mark on his face, which suggested, Yes please?
My husband without wasting time said “we want to buy a Nokia mobile.”
The shop keeper showed us various Nokia models. Telling what is best and what went flop. Every time I touched the mobile.. looked at it as if I get to know things by touching. Ru my sis in law then tried to catch my attention and showed sony ericson which she uses. One exception in entire family.. I looked at it as we greet some unknown guest entering home.
Hell! Why not a single model is appealing to me? We are trying to do the cost benefit analysis also. Is it worth for a price we are paying?

Looking at each others faces we came out of the shop. Vivu asked, “okay tell me what exactly you are looking into a mobile?” “Well I don’t want to listen songs through mobile, I am not a game freak.” I said. “Tell me what you want and not what u don’t..”vivu took me on track.
“Okay I want nice camera and I want to check mails.”
“Why are you not looking at other brands? There are so many choices. Just have a look around.” He said. My hubby and me looked at each other with a smile. Lets see! We said.

Now this time we went in a big showroom. It was a very crowded sunday, and the shop seemed like a fish market. After a lot of efforts we reached the salesman’s desk and mentioned about our budget and not any particular brand name though our eyes were still searching for Nokia somehow.
“Hey look at this..its like an i-phone!” vivu got excited all of a sudden..we rushed to him and grabbed the mobile to have a look at it.
Ooh Its Samsung…1st thought came.
So what! look at the features, Its amazing! i-phone technology in a mobile. Its a touch screen phone with all the advanced features.
“Okay what is the price?” Excitement went up after knowing the price. Its within the budget.
Woww what a phone! Look wise, technology wise, price wise everything seems to be perfect!
Man..am I leaving Nokia?? Really? Could not believe myself.
Shop keeper started his job of marketing that phone.. but I actually was not listening to him. I was looking at my hubby if he is okay for not opting Nokia but other brand.
He was also happy with that model and smiled saying its my wish and I have to take decision.

Finally I opted for Samsung. I broke the history of being a Nokia freak. Everyone was happy about my wise decision and so was I. It was worth in all aspects.

We came home with the brand new mobile. I put my sim card into it and started operating..well its not at all tough. Its almost like Nokia.

Many times we become rigid. We streamline ourselves so much that we ignore other best possible options. Opportunities bang your door but you cant listen to them as you only listen to your favorite song and close yourself for rest of the world. You need to push yourself a little ahead and experience new things. Being loyal is always right but being rigid is not. We lose valuable moments by not trusting them enough. They can turn out to be Golden moments of our lives but we should give them a way. Open your mind, Stretch your arms and welcome the new beats. Life mantra is nothing but to experience ever changing time and fly with the wind.

I looked at my old mobile. He was sleeping. Looking tired after doing hard work for two years but calm, peaceful and happy in a satisfaction that he handed over his job to the right candidate :)

Striking the right chord !

The alarm rings in its best musical tone..its 6 AM My hubby snooze it to get that most wanted 15 minutes sleep. And its 6:15 AM. Why the clock has to be so particular? I ask myself. Trying to get out of the bed with lots of efforts I decide to go early bed tonight and complete that never ending sleep.

Looking out of the window I can breath the fresh morning. Little showers allover, the climate is sunny..birds are chirping and vehicles are burping. I see the trees around my home which is a rare site in todays date. With the wet look every where, they look like newly wedded girl after bath. I look at my husband .. small kid trying to open his eyes. I love him in this mood. I smile.. he smiles..Another day begins on a good note..

I enter kitchen..my mom in law seems busy in cooking. She is the 2nd person I meet every morning and we start our routine. I make tea for everyone and we sit together on our glass dinning table. I love this time. I wish I could also read a newspaper while having tea as they have in movies but I realize you have to wake up early which is .. anyways lets wait for weekend I say to myself. Mom breaks the silence by planning the day ahead. I finish the tea and start cleaning the floor which is my department in overall shared work. Its 7:30 now and my hubby reminds me that I have to work out also. Why I have to work out. Thought strikes me, Why am I not slim and trim by nature? I work out in hurry take the bath in hurry get ready in hurry eat the breakfast in hurry and get out of home in hurry..All this hurry to catch the bus at 8 AM.
I get out of building and look at my window. 1st window my mom in law doing bye bye.. behind her, my father in law smiling..next window my sister in law waving hand and last my hubby doing his special bye. For a moment I feel like being some famous actress waving hand at my fans. I really love my family..they are so sweet.. Smile appears.
We seek love and care nothing else. Such small things can bring so much happiness to us.. We can do wonders with this I believe.

I am waiting for my bus now.. checking watch atleast 4 times in a fear if I have missed it.
And there she is..wearing her white blue uniform taking turns smoothly appears as if a belly dancer moving herself in best possible ways. She stops before me as an obedient servant and I get into it.. same faces looks at me..machine coded smiles and I go to my seat open the window to take that cool wind on face.

Everything happens as regular and in order. No change. I have to go to office. Wait for some work to come. Look at the people around and think are they same what they are pretending themselves as? Is everyone here happy for being here? Are they in this positions because of the dedication and work they have done or is it something else which took them here? Why there has to be so much of politics around? Why the things cant be straight and people cant be great? Am I happy being here? is this what I want? Am I really into right direction? Will I enjoy this for a long?
Our driver honks and I open my eyes.. oh I can see the glass building of my office..people with bags into their hands, walking fast..security guards managing the traffic.. that typical smell..that typical noise..that typical scenario..

You have reached Reshma come on get up.. I get my Identity card out..one more typical day begun…