Facebook - My Opinion

Story starts as the girl caught her soulmate cheating on her. I wouldn't call it cheating though, but Geet did. Anshuman was chatting with an unknown new friend of his on Facebook when at the same moment his girl (smarter indeed) decided to barge in and spy his account. And in next twenty minutes, his account was licked like the left-out liquid-chocolate in the cake containers. Danger Calling! Irate contained Geet in next few minutes and his mobile was inundated with texts at an expedite speed of hundred per hour! All sorts of blames and accusations sliding in and pushing him away, far-far away from their love and the bridge seemed to have been struck by a heavy crag this time. His mistake, as Geet said was to flirt with an unknown girl (via chatting) and to become an oblivious, obsequious and  fawning animal which she perhaps hated. They fought! Can you believe that this juvenile couple fought for five continuous days only to end up breaking things off and parting ways. Yes, Anshuman and Geet separated. Cause? Facebook. 

(Hey, I am not a story writer, pardon me if this looks a pretentious display of characters.)

                                         *********************

Facebook has become a necessity, it has become a second identity for most of us and many of us belong more to the second one. Today, people are expressing themselves, expressing their personal lives out loud on this social networking platform which hampers the definition of the word 'personal' itself. This question poops out from my garbage collection(Did I tell you that I gave my mind a synonym?), Is Facebook the cause of many break-ups, deaths and accidents happening at an increasing scale now and then? Is Facebook to blame?

Well, here's my thought and opinion:

"Mostly people around blame Facebook for the malicious and shocking accidents that take place on the whim. However, I'd say that it is just a connecting medium and has no feelings. It's what you make of it and how you use it. Honesty, truth and faith resides in you and Facebook has no role to play in it. So, stop blaming this networking platform just because some morons don't have common sense to use it. It connects us all and is an efficacious bridge defining friendship in it's own way. Use it wisely and it will help you connect, even to those who are far off." Do you agree?

I'd rather ensconce myself by tagging the topic debatable, but as a Facebook addict, it hurts listening criticism. Being an addict is also harmful, I know but I'd rather say it's just a phase.( I won't get a chance to interact this much 5 or 10 years from now!). My mom says, "फेसबुक और तुम्हें शादी कर लेनी चाहिए!". Great sense of humor she has! By the way, is Facebook single? 

As for that couple up there, "Forgiveness is a silent punishment". Geet forgive Anshuman, he's missing you back there, on Facebook.  

17/09/2011, At Sonal's Door..

Okay, I realize that this blog is going gaga over my interaction and my love for the one and only Sonal Kalra. But the thing is, she is just so energy-inducing and 'mast' that I can't just keep myself from visiting her page more than thrice a day which indeed brings some reflections here too. "A Calmer You" is the best thing ever happened to me. And it's 'cause of Ms. Calmness( Sonal) that my parents are first time happy seeing me reading HTCity, at least on Sundays'!

Here's another short, inept and dedicated piece written which ensued after I met Ms Calmness herself! Check out the picture below. Isn't she photogenic?

With Sonal Kalra at HtCity Office

17/09/2011
This was the first time I met mam and also am the first from her fan page. Though a very short and very 'study-study' meeting, she made me feel like a close friend. I loved every bit of it. But there was something else also that I felt..

- - - - (Sonal's way, 3 points!)- - - -

#1) Nervousness and Elation clashing: It all started as soon as I saw that huge Hindustan Times building for the first time and Oh my Gosh! I felt my hands and feet wriggling and my mind coming up with thousand questions in a single moment. And that moment when I told you my name! Loved that cute smile that you gave me. I could sense the shortage of words in me, probably 'cause words obey you more! But as I said, she knows it all.

#2) Simple yet so elegant: You live simple, you act simple and you think simple! This is what makes you so lovable, adorable and connecting to all of us Sonal mam. Right from your cabin to your sense of dressing, it's just so apt. And that chocolate you gave me tasted more sweeter, I guess you know why!

#3) Sweet, charming and melodious Voice: Though I heard her voice in the videos before, but when my ears felt you speaking in front of me, it was like a flow of melody with a smile covering it! You are endowed with an inbuilt tongue-sugar filter mam! (Ye ulti-seedhi cheezein banana shayad aapse hi seekha hai, ya fir shayaad Chaddhaji ya Pappu Singh se!)

I just want to say to Ms. Calmness that I second you in not giving you a celebrity tag 'cause celebrities are way too far away from us. You are a simple(yet elegant), sweet(yet charming) and confident(yet so interactive) soul who serves the purpose of life, that is, spread Calmness.

We all love you,
(All the fans of Sonal Kalra)

********

"Dear Rachit,
You are a wonderful person and I hope you have a wonderful life ahead.
Lots of Love n Calmness.
                                                                                    SKalra
                                                                                    17/9/11"


This was what I came home with. Kya? Party mang rahe ho?

Sonal just mentioned me..!!

Interaction as they say is always good. It teaches you, makes you experience and your social life gets a little bigger as people start to know you.

I have mentioned her name many times here, Sonal Kalra, Editor, HT City, author of the bestselling book 'A Calmer You', and weekly columnist. Her articles have always been a source of inspiration, fun, and calmness. Such life related and rejuvenating topics are hard to dig out. Coming back to interaction, I started interacting with her through her facebook fan page some weeks back. Back then I didn't expect that this was gonna be my new home page on facebook! I was surprised and overwhelmed to see her interacting so smoothly and willingly with her fans. Seldom do we see the editor people coming this close to the masses.

Below is a recent article written by her, take a ride through and maybe you'll find an answer to your much awaited question, 'Do you look fat?'

A Calmer You - By Sonal Kalra
(Photo above is very small. Sorry for that, follow the above link in that case.)

<Elated>

Did you notice my name at the end of the article? "Rachit Gupta"? You must! This is the best gift and a warmest thanks I have ever got in my life. So unexpectedly it came and just gave my lips a reason to stretch wide. (Sonal had decided to thank her avid readers and fans by mentioning them in her column and this Sunday she chose me). It feels great when your inspiration thanks you itself, so calmly. It's been great interacting with her and her fans.

This post is dedicated to my calmness teacher who, every Sunday gives me a reason to smile and learn something about life. To Sonal mam, Lo Jhappi!

 P.S - You can reach to her at facebook at facebook.com/sonalkalra13. For reading her columns online log on to: epaper.hindustantimes.com on every Sunday.

ChOOsE HaPpIness..

Gulp! As the tasty little momos dive into my much craving throat, I wonder what being happy is. Is it just a state of mind? After all happiness is what we sapiens strive for. In these past days, I was sad, depressed  and totally lonely. I had no one to share my emotions with. I felt darkness replacing my umbra, slowly and peacefully. As the time passed, I fought with my own thoughts and just tried to face the reality of life and then myself in that much shiny mirror. Slowly I carved my own definition of happiness and I used this weapon to cut through that dark sheath.

The other day(when I was under sadness) I googled what happiness is and I got:

Happiness is what you feel when you're NOT feeling....

self doubt

depressed

hateful

fearful

worried

unsatisfied

bored

grief

shame

guilt

discontent

anxious

annoyed

angry

irritated

stressed

frustrated

upset

down

sad

envious

or

jealous

Pheww! Now that's a really long list. Just check from this list and if you'r not feeling any of this, you'r Happy! What a balderdash. Happiness is just a state of mind, not a feeling(my opinion). It cannot be quantified and it cannot be stored. Happiness is something which comes to you when you feel good, pleasurable and satisfied. Happiness is what comes to you after sadness and remorse. Happiness is what you are searching for in this long road. As Abraham Lincon rightly said, "Most folks are about happy as they make up their minds to be", being happy is in your hands. You'll be happy if you let yourself be! Alternatively you'll be sad if you let yourself be!  Happiness knocks on your door only if you let yourself go, stop worrying and strive for it. Just sulking won't do any good, instead it eats you right from the pith and starts tearing you apart.  Don't let sadness sheath you for it gives pain and does no good. Though it seems easier said than done, sadness sometimes is inevitable and you really can't help but get hurt and shut down your system of emotions. Remedy for this situation is very simple. TALK! The more you express, the lesser sadness curtails you! Search for an ear which is true, honest, modest and humble towards you. There's always one, around you. And remember, search for a 'true' one, not a 'best' one. 

I read her articles every Sunday with utmost interest and I have never missed a single one since I became aware of her column. So much connecting and life-related topics she roots out! Today, it was about 'Sulking' (my thing for sure!). And it rightly said, "Life's pretty short and we all know it. Then why risk shortening it by torturing your poor heart with mundane matters of life ".  Every one has problems and every one gets despondent at some time or the other. The key is how fast you come out from there and how fast you get yourself back on the road. In the end it's choice that matters. Choice of 'what you want to be', choice of 'how you want things to be' and choice of 'where you want to be'.

As a whole, happiness and unhappiness are opposite sides of a judgement about your situation. If you judge your situation as bad for you, that's unhappiness. If you judge a situation as good for you, that's happiness. That's what I feel.

In between all this chaos of thoughts, I hope you found a reason to be happy or I should say, a reason for not to be sad. And happiness? It's born from the internal workings of our own minds.

P.S - Go through Sonal Kalra's article in today's HT City(4/9/2011). I am sure you'll find some calmness. To read the article online, follow the link: A CALMER YOU - C'MON, OUT WITH IT NOW