Is inflation our real problem??

The entry into the 21^st Century was celebrated with a Big Bang, the “New Millennium”. Everyone was excited at the prospect of growth in various field, science, arts and technology. The future seemed full of possibilities but somewhere ,I think we forgot about humanity and the impact of these changes on us ‘Humans’, our relationships ,cultures and beliefs.
In the last decade or so, there were many changes. If I were to ask someone of the changes they could recollect. I am sure the answers would be cellular phones, Laptops, tablets and all those technological advances. Some would probably start talking about economies and its ups and downs, some would mention the inflation. How the value of money has changed and start reminiscing about those old days when there was so much one could buy for a rupee, now you wouldn’t know how the 500 rupee note you broke got spent.
Inflation , is everywhere , wherever I turn my head I hear it like a latest gossip. People enjoy talking about passionately for long hours. Very soon kindergartens may start teaching I for Inflation to the kids. So often I hear some of my friends complaining about it, especially the increase in the petrol prices as that affects most. They have caricatures of it in newspapers , even facebook is not spared, injecting humour into a serious “problem” afflicting us . Sometimes I wonder if it would make more people  Go Green, use public transport or ‘walk  while you talk’ ;) but that’s what I like to call "wishful thinking" . People are so used to the comfort and luxury, they absolutely can’t imagine sacrificing it in their wildest dreams. 
Diesel prices, of course, have a direct impact on inflation of food, what with  increase in  costs of transport. Then I hear complains like “do you know the cost of sugar? Rice? daal?”  Honestly? I don’t! I rarely bother with prices of these articles. I never even check them, as they are necessities I can’t live without. If I have exceeded the budget I would rather cut down on luxuries like burgers, pizzas and the likes. People complain of daily food costs. But I always see the restaurant and fast food corners crowded. If raw food is so expensive, how is it that we can afford restaurants!
Recently people have become more conscious of what goes into their body. They are  so shocked when they hear about the chemical fertilizers that are used to grow food that they want go organic, and I say great idea, that leads to another complaint. “OMG! Organic food is so expensive! it’s practically double the amount!”  And I so itch to ask “did you worry about the price when you bought your fancy cars, or your designer clothes and branded watches?”  but instead i express shock, followed by "God alone knows what this world is coming to!"
I don’t know if it’s the 21^st century that is making us weird or the economy, wherein the upper middle class has money (I mention upper because I feel somewhere the middle that existed in 20^th century is on the verge of extinction) for every luxury imaginable but no money for things that keep them alive and healthy, while the environment pollution free. Have priorities changed so much in the last decade?? Have we become more materialistic and money centred that they have forgotten how to really LIVE? Has ‘LIVING’ now become synonymous with modern apartments and bungalows, long cars, grand parties , fancy restaurants, branded clothes, new age technologies (mobiles and laptops with 3G and 4G) ? Have we become so petty , running behind money and comfort have we lost the sight of the bigger picture? Is this the kind of culture and thoughts we want to pass onto our next generation?? If inflation was the cause of all our worries, shouldn’t it have curbed our desires for the expensive luxuries we can’t afford??  

PUNCTUALITY- NEED OF THE HOUR?

"Kal kare so aaj kar,aaj kare so ab, pal mein pralay hoye toh bohni karega kab."

How many can say that they are punctual?

Few of us would like to, but even to a paragon of virtues would find it difficult  to remain so, under any circumstances.

Ironically, when one is punctual.. There is no one around to really to appreciate it. So there goes the incentive to be punctual. 

The other negative aspect of being on time is, that you generally have to wait for the others, thus feeling foolish, standing like a lone wolf. You don’t know what to do and you start playing with mobile to avoid stares directed at you or so you think. You keep looking at the watch every minute and calling up the other person to shout curses down the line, all the while praying either that time would actually fly or your friend would.

The other examples of punctuality would be with your studies, be it in school or college, especially when no one else gets things done on time. This means you are the centre of censure of the whole class.  When the teacher smiles her appreciation and sets you up as an example, you feel pride slowly invading your being which quickly evaporates at the wrath you see in your peer’s eyes. You are nicknamed the teacher’s Pet.

 Even at work if you show too much enthusiasm about punctuality, you are not endearing yourself to your co- workers. And if you are not punctual, your boss isn't too pleased. Now that’s Catch 22 situation one likes to steer clear of.

Moving on to parties, not that I am a party animal, but concept of punctuality in parties are even weirder. If people call you by 6.30 they usually mean 7, so you try to reach there by 7.30 and in spite of being an hour or so late, you are probably the one of the first to reach there. If you try to reach late, invariably something goes wrong and you become so late, the party is practically winding up. And then you have to hear about all the fun you missed. (As luck would have it, the party you were on time for, probably bored you to tears and the party you missed was rocking) 

I sure there are many other examples i may come up with if i think hard, but there is a limit on how much i bore people.

Now I wonder if punctuality is a boon or bane! I think I will stick with revised slogan of tardiness “Aaj kare so kal kar kal kare so parson, itni jaldi kya hai bhai jab jeena hai barson.”

P.S. french proverb ' while we keep a man waiting, he reflects on our shortcomings.' 

TO DO or NOT To Do

We are at least once in our lifetime caught in the dilemma of to do or not to do 

It may be for various reasons, some of mine were/ are

To study further or not

To search for a new job or not

To take a chance and say YES

 or take the easy way out and say NO

invariably if one notices , Leaning towards safer side is almost always the case.

Safe in this context I am sure you have deduced by now to be NO

As with Yes comes commitments and responsibilities, It may also have its own repercussions, Failure being one of them.

Hence I need to contemplate well on the matter before taking anything on.

There are many words that flits through my mind like a Warning  just when I need to be decisive like "Look before you leap" or " from the  pan into the fire"

Makes me perspire just thinking of it.

There is a part of me I like to believe has an adventurous streak, buried in the deep dark recesses of my mind, raises itself and compels me to take the chance..

Then the moment passes, my years of developing a more, shall we say practical personality has probably suppressed it.

Or the "adventurous streak" was probably figment of my own imagination , defending my life of absolute boredom , bordering on an being  insipid.

Because if I was actually adventurous would I not be able to make reckless decision ,throwing caution into the wind, with no backward glance or thought  for the future?

Rather than weighing the Pros and cons so much that by the end of it , pros are starting  to look like cons,

If I had taken the time from all the pondering I was doing I would have realized that the opportunity had passed me, leaving me SAFE.

safe from making decisions I rather din't......

........Instead I sit by the window on calm evening and wonder what life would have been like if I had only  taken the risk said YES