So....How much do you earn Beta (Me: when did you adopt me and who gave you the rights to ask so?)??

Hello Beta! what are you doing these days?? Working! thats nice...Where? Oh there...So whats your salary?? Oh..okay..

(me in thoughts) Okay the only reason she asked me was to compare me with her son s salary who was getting a bit lesser of the Gandhi-printed notes.I say Big deal!...

Well these days everyone has a yardstick they carry with them based on which they evaluate you and place in a category or a place in their mind. The yardstick being the % , marks, position , or salary their near and dear ones earn...The materialistic world... .Based on this they would place you above or below them. whew !Well agreeable when it comes to the corporate world to measure you based on what you are or hold..etc.

But one can expect this to be bound to that sphere of life...But unwantlingly this has creeped to my near and dear one s.

Aunts Uncles, neighbors and at times close one like granmas, sisis etc...will also not spare you of the measurement. Where are you working? Whats your salary ? and what about stay. In short they want to know how much money you are left with. Based on this you will be put in a category above / below their baselines based on your answers.

Whew! I know things wont change but this has got to my nerves and so I have started to take refuge in the realms of nature by treking ,travelling,etc.Its kind of the purest way to stay close to nature and away from materialism.

If you are a fresher out of college or a 10th or 12th pass out...BEWARE! those people outside all they are interested is in "How much did u get!"..or.."Whats your salary??"..And whatever peanut-equivalent amount or number you say...you are bound to be congratulated.Some would say its curiosity, and some would justify it as a way of caring.

In other words its going to be rationalized by the society no matter how out of the way it is of their own business.

All you need to stay at peace in such a situation is squash their curiosity either with honesty or resort to gandhigiri. Both of these I have not tried because these ideas popped in my mind just at the moment I was typing these ;). So shall update youll on its outcome the moment I implement it .:).Till then Happy living in fruitless materialism.

P.S: These were my musings when I had just joined my job.The scenario hasnyt changed much since then nor did I get a chance to implement it.:) So me still fighting the weirdness of being measured every now and then.Nevertheless I have become thick skinned now. ;)

Changing Birthdays...

First, the little me was damn excited about inviting people...may they be known unknown ...tom dick or harry. What mattered was the fun of playing games , eating cake and owning all the importance for "The special day" ...excitement of opening the gifts immidiately the last kid has left..and a slight happiness for the remaining return gifts all for yourself...oh what a kid I was...

Then it were the days when the importance dint matter more than the fair distribution of chocolates taken to school and the pretty looking me with a new birthday dress. :) ..Silly me.

The Hostel birthdays...best of my experiences...A patient wait for the known surprise...Time takes so long to tick the hour most awaited...12.00am. Nobody asks when were you exactly born...just an implicit understanding..the day has started and you deserve a cake with your name on it ...doesnt matter what fraction actually goes down your throat...you cut it and we eat it ;)....everybody comes in and you get the loose "bukkas"..mini-blows just to complete the formality and cause some loose muscle to pain.I was fortunate to not have the "spoilt" gals messin up my room with eggs and stuff. Oh how I miss those days..

And now at home with with friends calling up who remember either via a blessed reminder from an angel-site or via self set reminders.Parents wishing as usual as if no years have been added to their kids life...only a day to be celebrated for everybodies happiness..:)..And at work ...wishes from colleagues and friends...reminded by one fellow with sharp grey cells or some other method. All you yearn is the people you value and love the most atleast send two words "Happy birthday"(You may call it maturity or loneliness. Either ways the feeling doesnt change.). No more expectation unlike the younger years where forgetting would be a punishable offense. Now, all you(atleast me) want is you are alive in the hearts of those you value and respect.

So many birthdays and so much give and take...just another reason to value life. Okay Im getting philosophical now.
But ya; I have a new conclusion this birthday(today). I have decided to keep the reminders on for my friends who wish to wish me on my birthday. The reason being the following:
Earlier understandin: Why force people to wish me? Why the artificial happiness? Just let the loved one s remember.
Current understanding: When I can forget birthdays so can my friends. Though we have the truest intention of wishing but our grey cells dont help much...In such cases it is best to angel-sites like orkut and octopop(though they mislead by pre-reminding) to remind you of your valued friends' birthdays.
Also why oppose your expectations for friends wishing by leaving it to their unpredictable memory and sadden yourself. :)
So friends who have hated me for blocking the reminders..I am sorry. The reminders are back .Rest is in your hands :).
Thanks again friends for all the wishes.
(P.S.Hey zaru. Thanks for reminding us(me n amz) we have a blog for expressing;)