Wednesday, August 21, 2013

All’s well that ends well



Measured in degrees of stupidity, few can match my resolve. “I will continue to use my old phone until I win a new mobile from a blogging contest.” Unfortunately, this was a public declaration made in the presence of family and friends. In my biased mind, I was fairly certain of winning one. Many are doing it, I can do it too! This illuminating streak of stubbornness has its roots in my being a true Leo. Maybe Salman’s infamous commitment dialogue played some role. I am not sure, but what I do know is that once the commitment was made, it was impossible to give up.

So far so good. I jumped at every contest which fired my imagination and offered a smartphone as a prize. Holiday destinations, tablets, Reebok vouchers were nowhere on my radar. The target was a sleek smartphone. I even dreamt of the courier guy delivering the prize, clicking a smug picture with my prized phone, uploading it on Facebook and viewing more than hundred envious likes.

Well, nothing of the sort happened.

Why I wonder, why am I not able to pen that perfect post, which can win the hearts of sponsors and judges alike? The self-esteem was bruised. The confidence punctured. Serious doubts about all the effusive endorsements dressed in hyperbole, ‘Keep writing’, ‘Good one’ ‘Enjoyed it’, began plaguing the mind.

At a time when the country is going to hell, my obscure rant may appear inappropriate. Not really! Consider the fact that some are amassing crores simply by lifting their lungis, winning a writing contest is indeed a small pleasure. And isn’t life all about small pleasures?

Unable to watch my glum face, the husband suggested a novel idea. “Why don’t you ask our son to send his old HTC? You can uphold your resolve and yet upgrade to a better phone.” Hope flickered. But as luck would have it, sonny dear somehow managed to drench his HTC bought a year ago. The funny thing is that whenever he wants a new gadget, he manages to eliminate his present one in mysterious ways.

Now I am stuck between my resolve, and my old phone which has become quite an embarrassment. The Kindles, the Flipboards and the WhatsApps are adding to my misery. ‘Read on your Kindle’, ‘Come on WhatsApp?’ ‘Click our picture’ say friends. For all those who regularly rub lemon on my poignant cuts, here is a declaration.

“I have an old phone which does not allow latest apps. Okay? It has an archaic four mega pixel camera which is as unpredictable as Ranbir Kapoor’s love life. Please don’t ask me to click pictures. Since it is a small phone, I am unable to read long posts, so don’t expect me to respond immediately.”

Phew! I said it.

Regardless, I am not buying a new phone. As I whine, my blog wins
the award for being the best blog in the ‘News and Media’ category. Phone be damned, time to rejoice and thank all my readers who visit this blog. This is my 'Miss India' moment, albeit two decades late - complete with the cupping of the face and popping of the eyes. So a big thank you for spending your valuable time here.

Finally, the resolve was about not buying a new phone. As far as I remember, there is nothing against buying a tablet or an Ipad.
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60 comments:

  1. Hearty congrats. Goodbye to whining :)

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    1. Ha ha. No whining for six months. After that its back to normal.

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  2. Good on you, Alka! I can't think of anyone better in News and Media category with your incisive posts on politics. About the smarphone problem, let the husband buy you a phone,that way you are not buying one yourself :).

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    1. It is because readers like yourself spend time here. Thank you for being a part of my journey. I have learnt a lot from you Rachna.

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    2. Congratulations Alka, You truly deserve this award and a smartphone too

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  3. Ha ha ha ha well done Alka..............! Do I see you contesting in the humour category next year? Well, you won and now time for a treat. Go and buy that I Pad, click pics and upload. And guess what you can then Face time and you won't need other apps :)

    Well done once again.

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  4. Congratulations again, Alka! I think all the competitions pale in comparison to this award. Go buy yourself whatever you want - you certainly deserve it! :)

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    1. True, thank you for being there in spirit and in words. Hope to meet you some day.

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  5. Many congratulations Alka! This is truly the WIN - sponsored contests apply other criteria than just the writing. So, go ahead and get a Tab or whatever.

    Me, I just meander along on the cheapest of phones - not due to any oaths - but cos my eyesight is just not up to doing much more than answering calls on phones :)

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    1. Got my iPad Suresh. The phone can wait. Waiting for the results of Colgate Moral of the Story contest.

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  6. Congratulations Alka...i loved this post...going to be a regular now.

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  7. Congratulations Alka....proud of you...

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  8. Congratulations.. !!! You definately deserve a new something like an iPad or tablet.. !! Wishing you many more such awards in future..!!

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  10. ha ha...lol...tablet has a sim slot, and isn't a phone anyway.....Congrats for the award :)

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    1. My old phone is good for calling and messaging. And waiting for the results of Colgate Moral Of the Story contest.

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  11. Well you deserved the award :D As for phone well... same boat. Me also waiting to upgrade ( or win free via contests!)

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    1. Thanks doc. Some of your latest posts are winners.

      Btw, I really liked the one you wrote for Ambipur.

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  12. Congratulations Alka, very nice post and dont worry, I too have a stone age phone. But for me it is quite good as I use my phone only for calls and messages :-p
    I am actually fearing for those days where my current mobile cracks up and then I will never see another such simplistic mobile in markets and then have to buy those iphones which is completely useless for me and waste of money.
    I carry my camera for photos and wait to get back to home to check my updates on internet :-p

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  13. Alka! I am disappointed! You forgot to talk about world peace and your admiration for Mother Teressa.

    P.S This memorable win demands that you stop torturing yourself with an antique phone. Go splurge!

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    1. Ha ha. Yes, it is indeed a happy moment, more so because of all the good wishes.

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  14. Ah! those contest nightmares, Alka. I do stand by you on that :) Congrats on winning the IBA.

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  15. Congratulations, Alka. I am not going to say well deserved (because we all know it that your blog deserves all the awards). Your Miss India moment had a few things missing; the practiced hand on the heart and the completely surprised look ;)

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    1. Thanks,it was quite melodramatic, but I was alone so no one captured it on camera.

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  16. Congrats!! Well deserved win!!

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  17. Congratulations Alka! You still rule the roost when it comes to political satires, notwithstanding the fact that politics has become a joke in India:)Wish you win the smart phones too to add a small feather to this big cap:)

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  18. Wow! congrats for the award Alka. Let the news flow in humorous way!

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  19. Hearty Congratulations, Alka!! Go for the smartphone... you have earned it!! :D

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    1. Ha ha thanks Shilpa. Waiting for the Moral of the Story contest results.

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  20. :D

    Alka Ma'am, I can well relate to what you wrote above. I was gifted a Motorola phone when I cleared my first year in college (which was ages ago). My friends soon upgraded to the latest models but I stuck on loyally with my phone. So much so that it was even chucked out of the third floor by my friends thrice, (in order to force me into buying a new one) but it still survived. :P Only two weeks back I moved on to a new phone after shifting base to Delhi only because I needed a phone which could carry two numbers. But I'm still oblivious to things like whatwaszzat... yes, Whatsapp. :D

    As for waiting to win a phone in a contest, you can anyday treat yourself to a new phone irrespective of the results as your posts are always winner-material. The IB Award is just a small example.

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  21. I will stick to my commitment for another year, though it is difficult to sustain my social life in Gurgaon where the maids, grocers and vendors have better phones. sigh! :) :)
    Being a doctor, you need a smartphone.
    And thank you for stopping by. Means a lot.

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  22. Congratulations on ur winning Alka!
    Have been here quite a while reading ur posts but felt too inferior to leave a comment as ur writing was always way ahead or someone like me, just began her journey :)
    Keep it going!!!

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  23. This one has ended extremely well! Congratulations, Alka! It has restored my belief in God.

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  24. Congratulations Alka!! I had already wished on Twitter itself, but looks like tweets are inaccessible from your old phone :P Well deserved I mean especially when some guys are earning crores by just lifting their lungis:D

    Well, in another news, 'Lighthouse insights' our (hubby and me) social media blog has won in the SM category!!!!

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    1. Thank you Vinaya. I stay away from Twitter but I did get your message. Congratulations to you too. Only yesterday I was looking for an article on media and I came across your article in lighthouse insights on ten best campaigns on social media. Very informative and very pro.

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  25. Congrats Alka. You deserve the awards:)
    Cheerz
    Vishal

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    1. That's very kind of you Ranveer, thanks. Means a lot.

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  26. Hearty congrats alka . My first visit here but going fwd I will try to be a regular . Coincidentally I am typing this on my HTC :)

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    1. :) :) Ha, ha!
      If I remember, you were here earlier too.
      Anyway, welcome back.

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  27. wow Alka..this is sooo neat !! as a blogger nothing is more amazing than being recognized or being appreciated for your writing !! congrats again ..

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  28. Hearty Congratulations Alka!!!

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  29. Congratulations once again Alka. :)
    And you will definitely win a phone one day. Haven't you heard of that dialogue by SRK that when you really want something, the whole universe helps you to get it. :)

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    1. Oh yes, after Salman, I have SRK for inspiration. I am not giving up. Yet.
      :)

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