With our social media addiction, in a world increasingly connected virtually, how easy is it for us to connect in real life?
We live in a world where sending emoticons is much easier than expressing emotions in real. This truth caught me by surprise in the middle of an ordinary day.
While I was buying vegetables and haggling with the hawker over prices, I felt somebody’s gaze on me, I turned around to see an elderly woman looking at me, and just as I waited for our eyes to meet, she blinked and looked away. She was probably in her seventies, the grey and white in her hair matched the white plaster of an old wall. Her body looked like a building which had been vacated by its inhabitants long time ago.
She clutched the solitary currency note tightly in her fist, and questioned the hawker about the final amount, with a puzzled look in her eyes. But soon, she handed over the note to him almost as easily as someone surrenders to the battle even before fighting it.
All this time, I stole a glance or two to look at her, and when I turned around, I could see from the corner of my eyes, that she did the same, but with the fear of getting caught.
It was clear that she wanted to catch my eyes and connect. She looked like a lonely soul. Maybe buying vegetables or running a household errand was her only chance at socializing. May be these chance meetings gave her an opportunity to peep out of the window of her soul and reach out to people. Only to think about them in the solitude of her balcony, where she would sit sipping her tea, while the sun shone on her, covering her with an angelic halo.
As I continued with my purchase, I saw her fiddling with her bag, as if she was reluctant to go. As if she wanted to try for one last time to connect.
Being a pro at connecting online and having virtual friends from around the world, I felt amazed at my inability to respond to a human signal coming from such a close proximity. I finally mustered up courage and felt an adrenaline rush akin to proposing someone, before I finally smiled at her.
Instantly her face broke into a splendid smile, as she stretched her lips from ear to ear. No matter how small the stone, it always creates ripples, in the quietest of waters. And so was the case with her.
She slowly moved away, while the smile on her face lingered on. Once she disappeared from my sight, I realized that she had left something back.
It was her smile that was now sitting pretty on my lips.
Image source: social media addiction by Shutterstock.
People Enthusiast/Writer/Trainer/Happy Soul read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, indivisual posts do not necessarily represent the platofrom's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Hiding family issues to patriarchy, 'House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths' throws a light on several problematic aspects within the typical Indian family.
The spine-chilling Burari deaths that happened in 2018 were brought to light again with the Netflix series ‘House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths’. The eleven member Chundawat family were like any other middle class family who had been living in the neighborhood for the last twenty years. They also had a grocery and plywood shop in the same vicinity.
Rajeev Tomar the policeman who entered the Burari house after the incident, stated that he had never seen a scene like this in his entire career and the visuals still haunt him. He was in shock to see the entire family hanging with their hands tied and their eyes covered. The documentary mentions that there were 11 diaries that were found with various other notes that further deepened the mystery surrounding the deaths.
Jivuben, who became a mother at 70, travelled 150 kms twice a month for IVF procedures. It's a miracle, but there are Qs like who will raise the child as he grows?
After struggling to conceive for almost 45 years, Jivuben Rabari became a mother at 70! She welcomed her child through C-section in the eight month of pregnancy.
Jivunben who is reportedly 70 years old and her husband who is 75 hail from Kutch in the state of Gujarat. They had been struggling to have their own baby since four decades and were unsuccessful. They finally were able to have their child through IVF (In vitro fertilization).
Those were foolish dreams. What good can come from leaving a monthly paying job to pursue something so irrationally unstable?
The fifth winner of our March 2020 Muse of the Month contest is Manisha Sahoo.
You cannot choose not to be a mother. This is a truth I realised after being a reluctant mother to Miu, yet, becoming one without realising I was.
I was a mother to a little kitten for fifty-nine days.