The Real Image

The Real Image in a virtual world!

There was some event at my son’s school. Diyan was excited as this was the first time parents were invited to be a part of an event. Me & my wife sat on the second last row of the hall & soon, the show began. The event lasted for two hours which involved some group activities & drawing competition for the kids. Almost all the parents were cheering their kids except one. White short Gujrati kurta-pyjama, rumples on his face, thick glasses, a dark brown stick, trembling hands & barely able to stand on his feet but was trying his best to encourage almost every toddler. Thanks to those gossiping ladies through whom I came to know that Hemant bhai is seen in almost every fuction dedicated to children happening around the vicinity. No big deal, right? An old chap, nearly in his 80s, who might have nothing to do at that age, is trying to fritter away time.

Couple of days later, I took Diyan for an evening walk at the nearby park where I saw Hemant bhai for the second time. He was encircled by a couple of grownups which looked like some sort of gyan session in progress. We spent half hour at the park & were about to leave when Diyan yelled, “Hello Hemant uncle!” The man seemed to be quite a familiar face among kids. This was the first time I was introduced to Hemant Damodar Shah. After a real basic introduction, we part ways, considering a waste of time.

Few days later, my wife insisted me to go for something that most of the men hate the most, Shopping! Left with no choice, unwillingly I joined her. At the supermarket, I asked my better-half to continue shopping while I sat in a coffee shop reading my unfinished novel, “Disclaimer”! Only few transcripts must have passed when I heard, “The touch of Gone Girl in this novel is awesome”! I beheld to see the person who has already read the novel, Hemant bhai was gazing at me with a smile. We greeted each other & I offered him a seat. I kept my novel aside & we got into a conversation. I was quite amazed to see his passion towards reading when he recommended me some even better novels of the same genre. After a brief discussion on authors & family background, I asked him a general question about his past time at his age.

It was then when it all started, The Real Image!

“Aah! My day is quite boring”. I smiled & Hemant bhai came back to me with the same question. “Well, I’m a digital marketer by profession. I promote businesses & their services for their desired target audience”. So that would require internet, right? said Hemant bhai. “Yes, of course”! So basically, you are surrounded by internet & technology all the time. Yes, indeed! – I grinned. ‘Hmmm’… & I injected the fuel into the conversation which was about to fright a roller-coaster ride. He started to show me “The Real Image” of my life by elaborating my daily schedule vs the past time at his age!

‘Your dawn begins by checking the notification on your smart phone whereas I start my day by thanking the Almighty for giving one more day to live with my loved ones’. I wish I could disagree but that was a fact… He continued! ‘On the breakfast table, you are in a rush to go to work & engrossed in your own thoughts scheduling the day, in which you totally ignore the emotions of your spouse who’s constantly looking at you for a smile. Mine is too boring… ‘On my breakfast table, I’m surrounded with my grandchildren, daughter-in-laws & my children discussing various topics. That actually helps me understand if there’s any issues in their lives that I can help them sort out with my experience’. Unfortunately, I haven’t spent much quality time with my family as I’ve been busy in making a better living for them. Hence, in my defense, I countered Hemant bhai with my explanation. He gave me a wicked smile & said, ‘we will come to that later’. I realized that my perception about this man is going to be shattered! ‘You buy your household stuffs online, perhaps, I visit my regular shops as I wish to see the products personally & have more faith in the person selling me the product than the company/brand. I'm an Orthodox who still believes in human touch'. I again contradicted! Yes, but that actually helps me save time. I don’t have to go to the market & waste my time in buying something which is available online. ‘& you are saving that time for?’ asked Hemant bhai in a sarcastic tone! I was speechless! He continued with his yorkers… ‘Thanks to the technology that now even groceries are available at your doorstep whereas when I didn’t visit my grocer shop for a week, he came at my doorstep to see if I’m okay. You spend half hour with your children in a park once a week & make them spend most of their time on smart phones/tabs/x-box whereas I spend most of my time with my grandchildren encouraging them in physical activities so that they don’t ruin their childhood in this so called “technology world”. You wish your friends Happy Birthday on social media whereas I invite my friends & their family for a small get-together & get to know what’s happening in their life. Basically, technology has helped you in connecting with the whole world. My life is too boring as I’m connected to only a few who knows me personally & would be there for me if ever needed. Buying products or groceries online is indeed time saving however they won’t come to see you if you fall sick. What’s the use of that time which you can’t spend with your loved ones? Celebrating birthdays on social media is good but that celebration won’t turn into memories for you to cherish. We dint had cameras hence we made memories in every moment that we lived & the images are still fresh in our memories whereas your generation is all about selfies & posting on social media for some irrelevant likes/followers from people who does not exist in the real world & the generation calls it, Real Image!

Technology has brought the whole world on your palm but now you are far away from reality. Technology is a gift & people have abused it to such an extent that a mother comes to know that her son is on a road trip with his friends through Facebook’. I was speechless & surrendered!

Lastly, he said, ‘I have my own IT Company with more than 500 people working for me. I have slogged myself in making a better future for my family. By the age of 60, I did well, of course but that was materialistic. Now, I’m 86 years old & when I try to cherish moments of my life, I can’t find any. The money that I have earned won’t help me relive those 60 years that I’ve spent in earning them. Technology & money can never provide you a substitute for the time that you have used in making a better living for yourself & for your family. Spend quality time with your loved ones as they will always be there for you. “Live your life!” Hemant bhai was about to leave & his questions were still running in my head.

With a light hand on my shoulder, he whispered, This is the real image son!

When my wife saw me, she could easily read my mind & I explained her, why was I numb! Surprisingly, she agreed to Hemant bhai views. We all are so damn lost in our own virtual world that the real world hardly exists. While going to bed, I promised myself that the new dawn will be a new start!