Facebook

Facebook has altered my daily routine. The first thing I do waking up every morning is brush my teeth. Facebook has replaced my toothpaste now. It’s an addiction. I wake up to see how many comments on my update, how many likes on my picture, how many comments and generally what the world is up to.

In the days of yore, my idea of fun was bean bags, cups of chai, namkeen or matthi and being with like minded, trust worthy people I called friends. With facebook, even the meaning of friends has changed. People I might not even know reflect in my friend list.

When was the last that we went out on a picnic, watched a movie with friends, lounged at a cafe, played a game of cards or badminton and NOT facebooked about it??
Enter any get together/party/event, most of the people in the room would either be BBMing or updating about their whereabouts, uploading pictures or just telling the world how much ‘fun’ they are having in life. Trust me in this mad race of telling the world about our ‘fun’ times, we actually miss out on the real fun.

We were at a concert the other day. Mohit Chauhan was performing. I have a vivid picture of the stage, the lights, the sound, how Mohit almost tripped over the wires, and how the guitarist just posed and played his part. My friend doesn’t remember any bit. He was busy shooting videos and taking pictures and updating ‘how much fun’ he had at the concert. I fail to understand how one can have fun if you are constantly on the phone. You have to drink in the moment, absorb all that surrounds you, see, hear, feel...only if you lift your face from that godforsaken phone of yours. I guess it’s the virtual peer pressure, the need to tell the world the ‘cool’ things you are doing, the ‘cool’ places you are at and the ‘cool’ people you are meeting.

It’s because of the same peer pressure that I overheard someone complain how badly she wanted to go shopping. Back in the day you wouldn’t repeat a dress in the same circle of friends but could easily wear it elsewhere. Now you CAN NOT repeat a dress, period. Everyone has checked all your clothes in your innumerable facebook albums.

And then there are funny rules to the game. Your popularity is directly proportional to the number of likes you have got on your update or the number of comments on your picture. My cousin and I almost picked a fight coz we chose not to comment on each others’ pictures or comments. Yes this is called virtual ignoring. And this is no exaggeration when I say that couples have broken up because one didn’t comment or like the other’s update or picture.

So you know your quote friend unquote has got married not because you received the invitation card or attended his/her wedding, but because the relationship status changed from being single to married.

In fact a month ago when Delhi was hit by an earthquake, people tweeted and facebooked about it instead of running out of the house. The need of being the first one to break it first might even cost us our lives.
On a lighter note, I read something funny ironically on facebook. A newly married guy updated- suhag raat hain, ghoongat utha raha hoon main. Heights!!

incomplete...

Like my scribble-stories that I start and leave unsaid
And those thick books, unread

Like a gym membership that works as a charity
Like my favourite TV show losing its popularity

Like the much awaited movies
That I walk out coz I am so bored
And an almost interesting chat
That I log out coz I aint sure

Like the song that I so love
Alas only for a minute
Coz right after the first verse
I start to fidget

Like ideas that excite me
And just excite me

Like the dishes I cook hungrily but hardly sit down to eat
Like many a things I skip and leave incomplete

Like those things that have a beginning but do not seem to end
This verse I promise is no different,
Coz I...

Sardiyaan...

Garam angidhi mein barsaat ke bhunte huye bhutte
aur sardiyon ki sulaghti moongfaliya...
chashni mein chip chip jalebiyan
aur sust chai ki chuskiyan...
haus khas ke kile pe hawa se baatein
aur ridge road ke thande meethe goonjte sannate...
kabhi kabhi aaj bhi dil ke veeran kone mein sardiyon ki sarsarahat si dastak de jate hain...

Ek baat...

Ek baat
Shabdo ki mohtaaj
Khud se jhoojthi hui...
Lavjo ko dhoondti hui,
Kabhi aankhon ke raste bahar aana chahe...
Kabhi dabi muskurahat ban ke reh jaye
Aur lab par aate hi
Phir ladkhada jaye

Avaz se dushmani ho jaise...
Yeh baat nikle toh nikle kaise...?

Lokesh Dharmani- 18th Oct 2011 7:37 p.m