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And the commercial Christmas just got over, and everybody is happy. Thanks to globalisation, Santa now has outsourced his production to the yellow men once Uncle Sam tried to wipe of the face of earth. The poor elf’s with the knowledge of making small toys for small kids are rendered jobless as now Christmas in the year 2007 is all about exchanging pre-requested gifts for all ages. And we have gone digital – 42-inch plasma telly, 7 mega pix digi cams the size of a credit card, game console, and mobile phones and latest from Honey-I-shrunk-your-gadget factory somewhere in Asia.

So what am I getting at? ………. Fook dat! I’m full of double standards anyway!

And I get back to my weekday routine by reading free newspapers on my way to work. 3 newspapers I read, all sharing the same info, and making me an info-junkie . And somewhere in some column I read about a girl who was explaining what she was blessed with for this years Christmas gift.
“A turntable, as I have an Ep with a rare interview of Ian Curtis from my favourite band Joy Division. I’m excited as I can now listen to it.” Says a Nina aged 21.

I smiled , thinking that in this digital era when everything is in its most space-saving format and just a goggle-click away, why would Nina want to retrograde and stuff her 20 sq feet dormitory with a turntable just to listen to an Ep ??!!.

I smiled , as I have heard that before, ………yeah, from my own mouth, and not so long ago. And I’m sure you have done it too. This was perhaps the time we were looking for a hero, a representative, an idol, a self-expressing image. An image that speaks to others how different and special you are.

The more shallow ones used just T-shirts with prints, the snobby shallow ones used brand names, be it a bag or a car. Every one who wanted to be a rock star wore their music, in walk, talk and looks. The ones not bold enough to look, talk and dress like a rock star, bought special and rare info and merchandise of uncommon bands and opinionatedly debated on it. Some didn’t bathe, and some just wore black. But yes, my point is that we all did this to be special and different. And for the people who do not fit into any of the above. ………. I’m sorry for you.

But does there come a point when one grows out of it? …. Not! We just use a new tool!
And when I smiled reading Nina’s need for a turntable to listen to Ian Curtis’s rare interview on Extended Play, I just realised that my new tool would be my smile that said, “ been there, done that baby”

After 7 months of disappearance, I am back at my desk. Now let us celebrate the release of TBF 2007. What…it is not 2007 yet? Well I know, and it’s not Christmas either. I had been battling to find some thing to write about. However, the 7 month break had actually broken my flow. Therefore, I decided to take it slow and easy.
So….yeah! Bond!….. how about him?! (applause from the audience!) sorry, for a moment I imagined myself as David Letterman.
Yeah, I did watch the Casino Royale last weekend. It is actually amazing how my social life took a turn to liveliness. Now I can discuss, I can be a part of a group, I can put my view, debate, and no longer feel isolated amongst my new colleagues who have been trying to find a subject of common interest at the lunch-bench.
When topics like – children, holidays, real estate, football, telly, golf, and “I too had a friend/aunt/cousin who….”are thrown on the table, i keep my mouth shut, opening only to stuff food into my mouth.
Finding myself a lonely corner would be anti-social, but sitting at a table with others and not saying a word is also anti-social. I choose latter, because – if you sit at a table all by yourself ignoring others, will make you a jerk, but sitting amongst people and yet maintaining silence will make you ambiguous…. A mind fuck for the lunch-bench mates.
Just then, I heard someone say “Bond! Has anyone seen it?”
Great, I have seen it! (Sorry, i have to repeat the next line) Now I can discuss, I can be a part of a group, I can put my view, debate, and no longer feel isolated amongst my colleagues who have been trying to find a subject of common interest at the lunch-bench.
However, I decided not to. As people discussed, debated, and dissected the subject, which I too could have been a part of, I drifted my mind into psychoanalysis of behavioral requisites amongst colleagues at lunch hour. And this is what I figured out – The uncomfortable silence, as they are termed, is what we all are afraid of. Stressing yourself to break the silence will only give you regrets, so let the other person be the one to do it. Learn to enjoy the silence.