Current Shock

It was a dry evening. I and My friend Sreelakshmi were very thirsty and planned to drink some cool drinks from college canteen. We can’t expect anything more than frooti, appy or LMN. Surprisingly we saw a small red tin with a ‘name board’ CURRENT.

Wow! A new drink in the campus was a matter of surprise for both of us. “Shall we give a try?” Sree asked in her usual excited tone. Whatever I and Sree experimented were all flops- Chattinad Dosa, Black Olive, Grape soda…list will go on! I remembered all these; but we were damn thirsty.

It costs Rs.50…we somehow managed to take out the money. Finally we bought CURRENT and were eager to taste. We didn’t expect a flavor less than coke or sprite. Sree took the risk of tasting it first. Oops! Why her expression suddenly changed?

Well, let me also try. Shit! How can we call it a soft drink...? It smells and tastes worse than cough syrups.

Anyway we bought it, we have to finish it. Luckily we saw Meenakshi sitting outside with her friend Kishor. Let her also bear the thrill of this drink. We happily rushed towards her and told her a fine made up story of how good is CURRENT. She said she is not interested to drink. It was my first meeting with Kishor. We offered it to him. Oh! He wants to taste… After having a sip, he also gave the same expression as ours.(Though he regretted later for tasting it without listening what his friend had to say, that encounter made us good friends). Meenakshi smiled and said, “My dear idiots! are you guys mad to buy this stupid thing? If I’d have known, I’d have stopped you. Arey, we used to get this drink for 5 Rs in Mumbai footpath”.

Nothing more to say, the CURRENT really gave use a shock which we won’t forget in this life time...

Why Do People Scrap?

“Because I can stay in touch with my friends dragged me to these social sites” opines Abhisek, an MBA student. The degree of proximity or the feeling that we are always with our dear ones makes social networking sites much popular among youngsters. Whether you are in US, UK or Saudi Arabia, it allows you to know what your friend in Calicut does.

“I simply join when I get requests from my friends” says Aravind who has joined too many social sites, many of the names which he even can’t remember. Social networks have become a part of present society’s daily life. The numbers of such sites are growing so fast each day.

In India, Facebook, Twitter and Orkut lead with maximum number of users. Apart from sending messages (also called as tweet, comment, scraps), these sites also allow you to upload and share photos and videos with others. Simple games and horoscopes also add fun in many sites. It also let you to join communities or groups having a common interest and discuss your opinion with other members. There is a chance for you to follow celebrities in sites like Twitter. In that case, you don’t have to go through their speeches to know more about them. They will let you know through their ‘tweets’. Tweet-fights among celebrities are nothing new today. Gmail and Yahoo have come out with Buzz and My Yahoo to compete with other social network sites.

The criticism against these sites is, it is increasingly making people addicted to it spending hours wasting their time and energy. In the present state, most of the individuals busy with their own business live alone in their rooms communicating with no one. At times he needs to mingle with some one. So if something can make him feel his friend is sitting and chatting next to him or his parents caring as if he is in home, no one can blame… After all, human was, is and will remain as a social animal. We can’t separate society from us. So keep buzzing, tweeting and scraping….

Demanding D

In Guruvayur, hotel business is the most profitable one. Even when it does not have anything special, people are ready to occupy the rooms. Surprisingly the room which has the highest demand is simply a small one, not even spacious.

Yes! People used to book room number D in Jayashree lodge in advance. And when you enter the room you may get surprised what is so special about this room. A small family room with two tiny windows and a dressing room. The room doesn't even have a plug to charge your cell phone. Also you will be welcomed by heavy mosquito bites.

However the best thing that you would get is a feeling that you are inside the temple, just near Lord Guruvayurappan. You can directly view everything in the temple through the tiny window. This makes it the room with highest demand thouh it costs only Rs 275 for a day to stay there. "People used to call up and book the room from all districts of Kerala", says attender Omana. "For last 40 years, whenever I come for darshan, I stay here. I can't imagine staying in any other rooms." says Kalyani Amma from Malappuram.

But Room number D can hold its head high only for a period of three months from now. The lodge owned by thantri of Guruvayur temple, itself will be demolished within that time span for making out a wider temple courtyard. Till its last breathe, both the hotel as well as that special room will help its guests to have a fine darshan with the mantra 'OM NAMO BAGAVATHE VASUDEVAYA'