happiness and food

Looking back at 2014 and a few weird things that happened, I can’t forget a week during November when the broadband connection at home suddenly went off. Yes, there was no heads-up even. It was all-of-a-sudden. November was also the month when I took up my first ever serious challenge about writing. When I say serious, I mean to say that I was really focused and determined to complete it. I stayed up late at night to finish my posts and publish them even when work took away all my energy and most of my time. I took up NaBloPoMo and I am glad I almost completed it. I published 23 posts and personally I was very satisfied with writing on a wide array of topics and felt good about how my blog’s stats and followers grew.

Not pointing fingers about missing out on the 7 posts of November but what happened during the last week of the month was something that I had least expected. The internet at my place died for 7 straight days and if my calculation stands correct, this was a situation that happened with me for the first time in 6 long years. So, as expected I was not prepared to handle such a disaster. I did not know how life is without a working internet. Everything came to a standstill and I was sulking everyday yet praying for a connection restoration.

I am not someone who is a lot involved in household chores and stuff. I have delegated quite a lot of these things like cooking, cleaning etc. and hence my time away from office is the time I read or write.  The laptop has replaced the chopping board and instead of dusting the house, I prefer wiping my laptop if at all that thought comes.When I get back home or finish my work after my evening calls, I use my “me time” to the best I can. Whether it’s social media, writing a blog post or buying my weekly groceries, internet to me is the best invention ever. Not to forget, paying my bills or recharging my phone, almost every other possible chore is accomplished online. Without a working broadband, during those days – I had nothing to do. The cooking was already done, the house is sort of clean and organized, nothing on the idiot box is fun to watch so I was like a lone soul with nothing to do. How much can I water my plants and how many times can the bed be made. The dust on the microwave and refrigerator was wiped off yesterday, no more can reappear again in 12 hours. So, all in all, I was left with the phone in my hand, and I was tweeting and tagging Airtel complaining and sharing my frustration.

After the initial days, I tried my hands at something new. That’s when I tried UA’s recipes and Pesarattu with tomato chutney became a household name at my place. I called up a lot of people and spoke to them after a long time. I also started giving instructions to my help and gave her directions about what to do and what not to do. Irritated, she finally asked me, “Madam, aaj kaam nai hai?”. And I replied with a sigh, “Kaam hai par computer kharab hai..” This is what happens when one enters into the working zone of someone else.

My routine life resumed only when the broadband connection was fixed and I realized how dependent I am on such technological inventions. Having said that, I don’t feel sorry about how clueless I had become without internet. When anything new is invented, we talk so much about how something new can help us lead better lives. Tell me who explains how to deal with life when these things one day suddenly stop working? Something that is meant to improve the quality of your life and suddenly slips to coma like it happened with me.

Have you faced a situation like this? What would you do?

New Year, New Possibilities. Thank you Readers for making 2014 such a great year and encouraging me to blog. Your comments, likes, shares and tweets keep me going. I promise to write better!