DMC Issue 8

Mind it!

Hi readers,

Even before the word evolution was coined, there have been numerous phenomena, civilizations, demographics and all those elements which might have had even a modest aspiration to ‘improvise’; have been evolving. We will also get to witness many other evolutions in the years to come, as long as the human brain remains as the supreme free download torrent of ideas. Now in order to answer your mind’s inquisitiveness, as to where I am actually heading towards with the evolution aspect, I‘d like to straight away get to this week’s agenda on track!

On my way back home from work, there was this group of friends; 3 guys and 2 gals, having a very animated chat. I couldn’t but notice them because they were all standing right infront of my seat. Among them was this pair who is the inspiration for my current issue of DMC. I figured out that they were having a tiff about something and the girl was in no mood of talking to the guy. She kept giving cold looks to him every time he tried to amuse him with his comic faces or silly nothings, neither was she interested in the laughs and fun the rest of the group was enjoying. Suddenly the girl said something to the guy. She said it so ‘loud’ and clear that the guy literally stopped his clown gimmicks and replied back in a very rather courteous manner. Though whatever she told the guy was loud and clear to him, it was softer than even a whisper to everyone else around. Actually the girl said whatever she said, without actually making a sound. She typed something on the message application on her cell phone and showed it to the guy. He read it and the big smile on his face changed into a sad frown, at the speed of light. Now I obviously wouldn’t know what was written in that message, however what I was reminded of was the classic way of evolving a new usage of a tool or a thing which already has set functions to be performed. We message or talk on the phone with people who are far away from us. But this girl evolved another way of using her phone in that particular situation of hers. There are sign languages for those special people who cannot talk or hear, there is brail for those who cannot see. But those who have all their communication senses normal and active; have smart phones at their disposal! But yet when one chooses to type a message on the phone and not send it, not to dial a number to call or not use a hi-tech phone in ways it should be used, it is very interesting to see which other way it is put to use. Phone companies spend months and years to develop the most sophisticated of technologies to address to the unique demands of consumer expectations. This girl in picture was using a Blackberry. Tell me, would the Blackberry guys would have ever thought that their phone’s features would be put to such shame, as one of their customers is using their phone and not actually using any of its features the way they need to be used and yet has actually communicated with another person!

Our mind can evolve new ideas or improvised usage of things which are already improvised and built to address the very function which we intend to execute. This is why; what no thief can enter, nor moth can destroy; is our mind. This is why we are called human. But all things kept aside, what we fail to remember is that we are also called to ‘be human’. Let’s evolve ideas and ways to always make the world a safe and a happy place to live!

DMC Issue 7

Friendship…how far does it sail!

On my ride back home a few evenings ago, when the train door opened and as I was about to get in, I saw this big gang of young college girls squatted in a circle inside the train. What a sight that was! All of them chirping with their high tone voices, laughing and having a great time. As soon as I saw them, even before I could get in, I figured out that there isn’t place to even actually get in. I moved quickly to the next door to get inside. Thankfully I was quick enough because the doors shut within a few seconds. What I did notice was that when I was made to play this ‘catch the next door' game by those young lasses, they all mischievously began giggling as the other passengers too had to get in through other doors. They enjoyed this ‘rasta rokho’ until they got down 4 stops after. This incident reminded me of my college days and my rides in our local buses with classmates and friends. Wow, those days and those experiences with friends are priceless.

This group of girl friends in the train depicted that phase of life which most people in cities around the world experience. Having fun with their group of college friends is an integral part of that special phase of life. The mischief, the friendship, the naughtiness, the loud behavior and all that comes with it. But this incident in the train showed me more than what met the eye. All of them were on the same ‘track’ and the track was towards one direction and it’s just that each one of them or a couple them got down at different stations. Isn’t life EXACTLY as this situation? We are with college friends for so many years of our acquaintance with them and in that period of time we all journey towards the same direction of life, which is; acquiring a good education and achieving a degree, which then helps us in getting a good job. One goal but different destinations. Studying the same course (common track), reaching towards the same goal – degree. However, seldom do all our friends end up together at a common destination. We all study together for a few years, but there is no guarantee that we end up working at common place for another few years. We are all on the same journey, but we choose our individual destinations. And happy are those who are lucky to get an opportunity to work in the same company and be together everyday for a few more years, just like those two girls who got down at a common station and walked back home together.

Happy are those who are blessed with true friends and with lasting friendships! I am glad that I have such friends and also lucky that few among them have remained with me since my childhood!

DMC Issue 6

11 - 05 - 2011

Addiction or Vanity!

I am all glued to my new iPhone 4 since the time I bought it. Well why not; the makers of Apple products actually intensify their new product research programs to such levels that when the product actually hits the market, people camp outside Apple stores to buy them. And we all know this piece of info, but yet I thought it could be FYI to those who don’t.

Have got some awesome songs on the phone which keeps me melodiously occupied through my journey to work and back home. So much so that I forgot to disembark from my train at my station yesterday! Thankfully I realized it at the very next station and swiftly got out off the train.

Well, the world has so much to give us, materialistic and emotional. I wonder if there is an invisible ‘fevicol ka jod’ that keeps us so attached to few things and actually makes us forget the world. A mind blowing invention is the touch sensor to various appliances. Something so fascinating ought to capture one’s imagination and fascination into the wilderness of technology. But what is more attaching or detachable in life? And which of the later is easier? I for one think that attachment is even at time instinctive but detachment from something super techie and excitingly intriguing is tougher than finding a needle in a stack of hay.

Almost 6 out of every 10 people on the train are plugged with earphones attached to their phones for the obvious reason. But when you actually just look at them, it feels like you are seated in the compartment for people with hearing impairment. There is a strange silence in the train in the mornings. You will hardly find people talking to eachother. This is where, on the tracks, you learn that silence is Blackberry or iPhone or Nokia or choose your brand!

Have a good weekend readers!

Issue 5

3 - 5 - 2011

Tuesday is my use day! Use the day to delight you dear reader with some ML dose for the week.

I have had a fantastic start of the week for I now possess (proudly as a gadget freak), a sexy black iphone 4. What a dish she is. Caress her with a soft touch and it opens doors to unimaginable excitement. She feels like soft silk and she makes you feel like the whole world is on your palm waiting to be clicked open.

In a foreign land, it is easy for some people to adapt with the local culture and for some it is like as if they have got into an old dress of theirs which had been hung unattended in the wardrobe. As for me, the past 3 months have been as though I were jetting in and out of Philippines and India, rather than the feeling of being in Dubai. As I have repeatedly mentioned in my previous issues of DMC, of the proportion of population between expats and locals in UAE; which is 20:80 Majority of expats are from the beautiful land of Philippines and my culture rich motherland India. Many a times, especially this past week I have encountered many a familiar face on my metro rides. When I say familiar, I am mean the faces of those who regularly are seen in the same train that hop into. So even in a new country, amidst total strangers, you still feel like you are among known people. I offered a seat to an Old gentleman on one of the days in the past week and he was more than happy to offer it to his aged wife accompanying him on their leisure trip to the dessert…eerrr…global city Dubai. When you do good, goodness follows. The very next stop I got a seat vacated by one guy who had reached his station. There was this lady who very often takes the same train as I and almost everytime she and I are seated on the same seats that we sit everyday on our rides to work. It is so that she and I can see eachother inspite of she seated in the ladies car and me in the general car of the train. So a couple of days ago when we both boarded our common train and parked ourselves on our seats, incidentally we both looked at eachother and gave a very… what I call ‘I don’t know how to describe’ kind of a smile. What an ML J Also, here I would like to mention another simple, small, but yet very touching incident. I was on my way walking to the bus stop in the morning today, while listening to my favourite tracks on my iphone. What I did not realize was that I was also singing the songs obnoxiously loud. There was this guy walking very swiftly ahead of me and he suddenly looked back with a BIG smile, came hurriedly towards me, held my palm, gave a jolting handshake with such joy in his face. He was sweating profusely, had a bottle of water in one hand and I assume he was in hurry to reach some place. While greeting me with his handshake, he said “Mashallah, what a beautiful tune. I don’t understand what you sing, but beautiful tune and mashallah lovely voice yours. The heat is little now for me! Allah sends joy through people from nowhere” Big smile. Without even knowing it, I just made a stranger so happy. I felt an indescribable joy after that short encounter with genuine human affection.

Peace!