From shadows to the stars

This one is to all the clingy ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends out there. Hollywood movies have taught me and probably a lot of other people that when you break up with someone, you end the relationship by saying "Let's just be friends". It leaves behind an impression that you have broken up on good terms and cherish whatever memories you have. Of course, this is almost never true. Breakups are never mutual nor do relationships end in good terms. Saying "Let's be friends" is just a polite way of saying "Let's never meet again". (By the way, that is not my definition of "being friends", but in this context, that is what the phrase is supposed to mean) I don't know if the American people say "Let's just be friends" and part their ways. What I do know is, in India, people take this phrase in its true meaning. i.e, people want to be "friends" after a break up. The only existing record of such an incide...

Cinema. A place where people go to watch a film and eat popcorn. I remember listening to a comedian (don't remember which one) making a satire on the film industry. Is the whole "cinema" experience an elaborate set up to just sell popcorn? Can you imagine yourself eating popcorn in any other situation other than while watching a cinema? I don't understand this habit of eating popcorn when watching a movie, especially in the theatres. And why popcorn? It doesn't satisfy your hunger, it doesn't even taste that good. Although it was just a sarcastic comedy routine, I got to thinking about it. Of course, cinema is not an elaborate set up to sell pop corn. But it's not entirely insane to suggest that some corporation/ profit seeking organisation has successfully linked popcorn with watching movies. After thinking for a while, I realised that most TV sitcoms are based in cafeterias, restaurants - i.e, places where people eat. Seinfeld and his chums s...

I have observed that a lot of people have the ability to strike up conversations and connections with strangers and with new acquaintances. I am not such a person. In fact, I have trouble picking up conversations with some of my cousins and relatives and even so called "friends". I do not feel uneasy or uncomfortable with this lack of skill. You could call this being shy or a general disinterest in communicating with people. I would have called this condition as being "socially awkward" but after Googling the phrase, it turned out to be something a lot bigger. Quite recently, one of the members of my extended family came to my house. The usual "hellos", "how are you?", etc followed. My dad wan't home and my mom was answering the phone.  And there I was. Just sitting there, not knowing what to do and what to say. I looked around, hoping something or someone would come to the rescue. Alas! No such luck. After 10 minutes of painful s...