"FREE" FOR FREE!!!

“Watch this content for free! Lettuce free on the purchase of fresh vegetables and groceries. Pay 20% less and get some medicines free! It’s our anniversary month; get a pedicure free! Shop with us for Rs. 4999 only to get free vouchers! Pay for three and get a ride free! A burger on burger, free!”

Oof! I am confused now. So many freebies to chose from, calculate and prioritize. Someone is strategizing our every move for free!

I am not sure but lately, I have started feeling that these strategizing marketing bots are costing me a lot. I am eating more for freebies, sitting in a salon only to order cold storage items for free, travelling more and dressing up more to avail all the vouchers. Last but not the least, taking less rest (which is free in the comfort of my home) and popping more pills to rest my body at a cost. I am at the rescue of machine’s advice, for free, when my mind forbids me from taking human advice even for free. Am I part of a vicious circle, for free?

In a nutshell, I have formed an opinion now that all these inessential options are not for free!! Seasonal discounts are now replaced by all-time raining concessions to lure my heart and numb my mind. Precarious topics cloaked by superficial matters are drawing my attention, for free. Stay with me if you somewhat agree.

Courtesy : Google Images

I am now thinking about air, umm, which is free, but I’m not concerned. Water, at a marginal cost, not free, but India is already drying up and might follow South Africa’s postponed Day Zero too soon. Mother Earth presents us with nature in abundance for free, but my eyes miss it for they are glued to the digital devices which consume data, at a nominal fee.Since my head is bowed down to a 5 inches screen and the neck tweaks if I look upwards, I am missing out on the bird watching and spectacular hues of the sky which are actually free. Before an unbearable cost-model is launched for renewable sources of energy, i.e., fresh air, water, and soil, I think it is time to pause, reckon and prioritize my freebies.

Do you foresee a situation wherein I’ll be given free pure air or free unpolluted water in case I make judicious usage and decisions? Can some free time added to my lifespan that I can spend without running in a nowhere mad race? Could heart and brain smile together for once? Could hugs, probably from grizzly bears (as humans tend to go virtual) bring all the missing warmth, for free? Could someone concoct bedtime stories for me without judging my preferences, for free.?

On a liberal note if I may, things that I really love for free these days are the hearty laughs in the park and the elderly clapping, to maintain their fine blood circulation. In my heart, it feels as if they are applauding me, prodding me to go on and live my freedom in the free atmosphere. Concurrently, my mind encourages me to jog more, to ultimately accomplish my digitally controlled health goals. I love it when my friend calls me for no purpose, curses me for not giving her time as my “free time” is occupied by futile freebies.

I think it’s time to rest my itchy fingers and assess the freebies on my phalanges!!

Meanwhile, do share your freebies list here.

NATURE'S CALL !!!

Whenever I am out for a walk on the road or taking a stroll in a garden, I find at least a dozen pair of eyes staring straight into my face. I guess this does not happen just because of my charms but also because there’s nothing more soothing (or beautiful) to watch.

We all have been harping that “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder” for ages now. Agreed. But when the eyes view shades of yellow, blue, white and black; would they still continue be the beholders of beauty? Don’t look confused! These are not the rainbow hues but the colours of litter or garbage in various forms spread all around. Be it a journey to the nearby park or the travel to the office, my eyes get violated on a daily basis. Yes, you read it right! Alright! You want me to close my eyes? Done! I tried that too. But then my nose has another story to tell with the malodour it smells or even the air it breathes in or for that matter the tarred mucus it generates due to smoke in the air.
Don’t tell me that it’s just me who is privy to this fact. You all have “been there, seen that”.

My fingers are crossed for the success of the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan” for which I unfailingly devote a part of my dear salary as cess. It might bring some respite to my lungs, no sooner than later.

Courtesy : Google Images

An unprecedented phenomenon is sharpening my brain on a daily basis, that is, “the traffic”. I use all the formulas of time, speed and distance to calculate the shortest route possible in a limited timeframe also using technology, Aka, Google maps in the entire process. But this year, I noticed something new during the wedding season. Every time I saw a new car decorated with flowers, my heart ached and my brain reckoned because that single car meant a soon to be formed “convoy” with each car having one passenger, that is, the driver. It seems they have literally taken ‘Mein aur meri tanhayii’ way too seriously. Another din which causes ear barotrauma to me and makes me think aloud is the loud DJ song and people shouting at the late night parties. I wonder if the high decibel hullabaloo which causes noise pollution is to express surprise for “the chosen ones” (The bride and the groom) !! Gosh! Excuse me if I sound like a party pooper to you but requesting “the DJ wale babu” to play your favourite racy number in a low decibel would also do the magic! Just give it a try. Thank you!!

I know this blog is not a forum to change the world, for better or for worse for that matter. And you got it right, there is a “but” coming. “BUT” guys and gals! Please gang up, drive together and cleanse the environment and bring back the natural colours of likes of lush-green, sky blue and transparent air back to eternity.

It’s been quite some time since I wrote something. There’s a serious reason for that. I was stuck and choked in the traffic and breathing a comatose air until a friend gifted me an air mask (to breath in my own CO2 though) and then found the courage to pen this out.

I guess we all can do our bit or more importantly, not mindlessly go about our daily business of ruining our surroundings, mindlessly. I hope the nature police pays heed to this chronic situation of natural elements and help us all to live’ not survive on what’s left.

Fingers crossed till then!