The Tech-freak Gen Z

Want to feel great about yourself? Take a look at someone from Gen X [considering we are a part of Gen Y] – they will seem way too naive and ‘backward’ if I daresay. Want to feel crappy? Turn around and take a look at the kids [Gen Z I think].

The other day I was with my friend at Croma, drooling over Macbooks when we heard a little boy scream at his mother.

“I want that!” echoed the boy’s voice.

Annoyed at who was disturbing my ‘lone time with the superb Macbooks, I looked up and saw the same expression on my friend’ face. We both then turned around to see who this person was. He was no more than 10 years old and he was creating havoc in the music players' section.

I leaned over to see what he wanted. I was shocked out of my very soul when I saw his tiny finger directly point to an iPod Touch.

I turned to my friend again for support because it felt like I was going to pass out from the shock. His eyebrows were raised so high, they threatened to disappear in his hair. I snorted and turned back to look at the kid who had drawn quite a lot of attention by now.

“No Varun! I’ll buy this one for you.” His mother tried to negotiate with him by pointing at an iPod Shuffle.

The boy glared at his mother as if she suggested that she was going to buy him an eraser in exchange of the iPod Touch.

 “No!” he screeched. “I want that! Only that! This one doesn’t have video!” and with that, thick tears rolled out of his eyes.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned back to the Macbook selection, my mind plagued. When I was ten, I didn’t even have the guts to ask daddy for a walkman. All I cared about was my little teddy bear and the only thing that bothered me was daddy scolding me for getting my hands dirty from playing in the sand. I knew no music, I knew no video. I knew nothing but playing in the sand, jumping around with my loved brother, whispering stupid secrets in my friend’s ear and giggling at the silliest jokes.

From what I heard from my dear friend who made sure he saw every bit of the drama, his mother had given in and gotten the iPod Touch. I shook my head in exasperation. Indeed we are slowly losing that innocence in kids. Indeed, those careless whispers, those childish games and those naive smiles are a thing of the past. . .

Is the tech world going to take the childishness out of the coming? I shudder and I hope not.  Because next thing you know, your five year old kid will demand ice-cream only from Creamstone and nowhere else! :D

Your Life is your Oyster

I sit by the window,

Into the night I stare.

With every element I view,

I see a secret bare.

The dark clouds in the sky

Talk about sadness and strife

But the glittering scattered stars

Give the darkness some life.

The fierce wind blowing across

Talks of the cold and difficult times

But the warm moonlight

Shows some hope in a simple mime.

The harsh rain splashing on the window

Shows how moments can cut through

But the sweet smelling mud

Shows the end is always good for you.

A melange of good and bad is life

I see through a smile and eyes with moisture.

The elements teach it at every step.

Your life is truly your oyster.

Arey re!

Ah-ha! The beginning of a whole new year. Excited? Erm, I am not. What is so new about the New Year? It comes every year anyway! [Okay, *shifty eyes* I know that was lame but eh, lame sells!!] Only yesterday whilst I was walking to the supermarket to buy grocery, I overheard two girls walking in front of me.

“Arey, tomorrow is New Year!” said one.

“Arey, yeah! Daddy is bringing cake, you know.” Rambled the other in excitement.

“Arey, I am so scared re.” Evidently not listening to a word of what her friend was saying.

I snorted loudly at the many ‘arey’s but the traffic muffled it and I was safe.

“Why are you scared re?” ‘Re’ is another word that riles me up. Talk in English or talk in the local tongue. Why mix the two up!? But eh, who’s gonna listen to me! My friends have already tagged me a foreigner because I am so particular about it.

The apparently scared girl widened her eyes at the one who asked the question.

“You don’t know?” She asked livid, as if it was mandatory for everyone to know.

The other girl shook her head guiltily as if she committed a crime with a tinge of curiosity at the same time. “Tell me no re!”

The girl’s eyes widened even more. “This is our last year!” she said matter-of-factly.

“What? What last year? What are you telling re!?”

“Arey! We are all going to die in December 2012.” She exclaimed and shuddered dramatically.

“Your head. We won’t die. We are so young.”

I laughed at that. So young? When the world comes to an end will be decided based on how old the pair of them is apparently.

Still laughing, I crossed the road fearing they’d hear my laughter and turn round to bellow at me, “Arey! Why are you laughing at us re!?”

People I tell you; especially little girls and boys. They are so naive, so innocent and so ignorant. Their innocence is enough to make you smile or even giggle and shake your head at them; enough to give you a lighter moment and cherish the time when you were a naive, scared child yourself.

[Submitted as an entry in TYX's competition]