Now and Then

Now: Watching a movie means a new release at high-end multiplex, popcorn and pepsi in a mall on a crowded weekend…
Then: Watching a movie meant a black-and-white Bengali classic on Doordarshan at home with family with home-made papad or alubhaja…

Now: Shopping means casually picking up new clothes from a branded shop because I am upset/happy/preparing for a trip/preparing for a job interview/preparing for a festival/it’s on sale/it’s just too pretty/I have to have it…
Then: Shopping meant an annual ritual with family before Durga Puja…

Now: Eating out means piling on the junk food and alcohol on weekdays/weekends because friends insist/it’s a treat/there is a new place which has come up in Bandra/we are celebrating something/we are distressed about something/there is an IPL final…
Then: Eating out meant semi-annual Chinese food at Barb-Q with family…

Now: Traveling means jet-setting to eight countries in four months…
Then: Traveling meant sleeper class train to Kerala once a year with family…

Now: Communication means being constantly connected on whatsapp, texts, gtalk, email, facebook…
Then: Communication meant waiting for thirty minutes anxiously at landlord’s place to receive a long-distance STD call from dad…

Now it's a colourful umbrella of events, people, activities. Then it was just about letting the raindrops spear through the clouds straight on me...