Life

We all love our parents don't we? And of course, our parents loved their parents didn't they? Then I have one question; why were old age homes invented?

Sure everything revolves around money today. That's a fact. Fact fact fact. Am sure Mr Gradgrind from Charles Dickens' 'Hard Times' would be so proud of me for saying this. No emotions involved...just a mechanical life: Go to work, make money, come home, eat, shit, sleep, wake up the next day and do it all over again.

Has it never occurred to the kids who dump their parents in old age homes that their parents could have dumped them in an orphanage as well? Or left them on the streets? But they didn't! They took care of you; when you lied, they scolded you; when you were down, they encouraged you; when you hurt yourself, they took care of you. How do you have the heart to dump someone who gave birth to you? Who brought you into this world? Who made you who you are today?

Life is too short to live mechanically. It's the small things in life we need to appreciate. It's the people in our lives who make a difference. I learned recently:

"One day, you need to have someone with
whom you can look back at these memories..."
Photograph by: Tanushree Dwivedi

It took time, but I learnt to live.

However be the days, I have learnt to live,

Now I have known this, what's happiness and what's sorrow;

Both are weathers of two moments;

Neither they wait nor stay.

Life gets made of two colours, 

Now angry, now placated.

This, this is here...

- Der lagi lekin maine ab hai jeena seekh liya, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Learn to live, yes. Seize the moment, yes. Make memories, yes. But never do these things alone. One day, you need to have someone with whom you can look back at these memories. Family, friends, strangers, lovers...everyone means something at some point in your life. 

Airtel: They're full of Air and never Tel

10 minutes ago, I recharged my phone with a balance of Rs99. Having a BlackBerry, I am unaware of most of the plans Airtel has to offer for their recharge. I didn't bother to ask (I take small fault here) and the guy at the store didn't bother to tell me what I was in for either.

10 minutes later, I check my balance. I still have Rs3.50 and have been recharged with Rs0.10. What the hell? Didn't I just recharge? I walked back to the store, despite being sick, and asked the guy what the issue was. He asked me to call customer care. Okay, will do.

The first time I called 121, they cut my balance AND my call. My blood was boiling. I called them again. This time, the guy told me I have a special account. Why the hell am I not aware of this "special account"?! First of all, why do I NEED a special account? I am more than happy with my regular account! He furthermore tells me, when I asked him if I could transfer the balance, that I cannot. Before I could even express my complaint and utter inconvenience, he cuts me off by saying "Thank you for calling Airtel. Good evening."

There was no customer consideration. Most people would agree with me when I say that Airtel are just rip offs. They cut your balance for unnecessary things, send you annoying messages, call you at the most random times and give you "special accounts" that you are unaware of. They have never been clear about their different recharge plans and which one is for what.

My mother too had a recent experience. As my father was in Africa, she had to call him. Airtel charges per minute. When dialing, my father would answer and the call would cut immediately. My mother has been on the phone for not more than 20 seconds, but has been charged for a minute. Why the rip off?!

It is sad that despite having so many customers, Airtel has the need to rip off people.I agree this was partly my fault for not inquiring, in my situation. But my mother was nowhere at fault. Airtel should be reminded, with Rs99, I could have bought myself a nice meal. And with the Rs5 you cut off my mother's call, She could have bought a packet of biscuits. Please be reminded that we are the customers and the customers are always right. Especially in this case. My father earned that money and now it has gone to my special account, which is of NO use to me. I would have been more content if I had donated that Rs99 to an orphanage or towards any other social service.

I recently learnt, "The Medium is the Message". Clearly, Airtel is neither a Medium nor a Message.