Saturday 17 October 2015

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

"If I showed you my flaws,
If I couldn't be strong,
Tell me honestly,
Would you still love me the same?"
 - Locked away, By R.City ft. Adam Levine

The lines are straightforward, and Levine asks if he comes out of his protective shell and reveals that he is not that perfect, would people still act the same around him?

Most of the time, we project an image of ourselves which others want to see. We probably do this to fit in and appear more likable. But sometimes, we just want to go out, clear all the projections and reveal who we are. But we don't. Why? It's because of the fear that we'll be left alone and people won't like who we actually are.

Of course, it's difficult to like someone who's cruel or dishonest. However, acting different towards a person based on their sense of dressing or financial position is totally absurd.

If a person is, say, charitable, just for putting up a likable appearance, but actually would rather not help anybody, it would definitely make me rethink the friendship again. On the other hand, if I discover that my friend, for example, prefers Cecilia Bartoli (Italian classical singer) over Taylor Swift, it would hardly cause any Bad Blood.

Miss Peppermint feels that friendship is a two way thing and you have be be genuine and honest, so that the other person also feels comfortable being their true self with you. 

Wednesday 14 October 2015

One Person Less

The thought of death scares the daylight out of me and I fiercely avoid pondering over it. However, hearing the news of an untimely death, forces me to start deliberating over so much.

Is the human body like an ordinary machine? A defect in one of the parts, if not repaired in time, can cause a major malfunction, which results in the breakdown of the machine.

I just don't understand how a living being can just close his eyes, never to open them again. This question probably lead to the belief in souls and spirits.

Maybe, there's a spirit within us, which leaves our body when we die, but after leaving our body, are we still conscious of our surroundings?

It's just very difficult to digest that a person's just gone. He's gone forever, leaving behind memories in the vacuum of the mind.

Seeing gory pictures of blood and battle don't jolt me as much as seeing ordinary selfies of people who no longer remain in personhood. It's sad they would never smile for a camera again. It's sad they would never finish that book. It's sad that the fight would never be resolved. It's sad they would never be able to listen to that album. Above all, it's sad that out of hundreds, they were the causalities.

It's sad that there's one person less on earth.

Miss Peppermint asks:

If you knew that you are never again going to see the person you just spoke to, would you be satisfied with the last conversation?

Saturday 10 October 2015

Shining eyes, Something nice

"Eyes can't shine, 
Unless there's something burning bright behind.." - Infinity, By One Direction

These thought provoking lines are from the song which is on my mind right now. This song as a whole is like a perfect dish; just the right combination of various flavors. I find the song flawless.

Each time I listen to Infinity, my attention is drawn to these lines and I begin to contemplate about what they could convey.  

Going all technical, eyes glow because of a layer called the tapetum lucidum, which is present just behind the retina in certain vertebrates. This layer reflects light because that's exactly what it's meant to do. However, humans lack this layer, and this song in all probabilities was sung for humans. (It's unnerving imagining Harry Styles singing out to his favorite pooch, "Oh baby I was there for you, all I ever wanted was the truth")

Now, going all Miss Peppermintal, maybe, we could say that, the glimmer of happiness and the shine in the eyes, is not possible, unless deep within the person, there's a happy memory playing or something making him ecstatic. A person's eyes glitter when he's accompanied by the people he loves, or when he's doing something which he passionate about, or maybe when he's simply in a blissful state of mind. I'm sure that even Leonardo DiCaprio won't be able to make his eyes shimmer when he's miserable on the inside.

They say that a sparkling diamond is a woman's best friend. Well, Miss Peppermint says that those who make your eyes sparkle are your best friends.

Friday 9 October 2015

The Remote Runner

It's story time!!

He was young. Chagrined by a brother who was 7 years older than him. He was tired. He wanted to watch television. He wanted to spend the next hour in bliss with his favorite cartoons. But no! His brother's intentions were also similar. Only, brother wanted to watch a match, some people running around to kick a ball though a net, against some other people, not some cartoon character prancing around in a make believe world. They fought. The two brothers were at each other's throats over their television time. As expected, our hero, the younger one lost. 

Note: Although I've made our hero's character seem pitiable, please do remember he's only eight and quite dumb naive. 

He decided to do something drastic. He hastily picked up a bag which his mom had used to lug in the groceries that morning (extra large, mind it!) and threw in some clothes. He shuffled around the house, making as much noise as possible. But no one gave him any attention. He gave up and moved on to write his goodbye-note.

Paper..? Now where could he find some paper? Okay.. Where could he find someone who could find him some paper? He rushed to the kitchen.

Him: Mom, I want some paper.
Mother: Ah, finally! I'm so proud of you! If you want any help with your homework,you let me know! 
Him: No no! Not for homework! 
Mother: Why do you want paper then?
Him: Oh, it's a secret. By the way, do you know how to write a goodbye note?
Mother: Ha ha ha no...! Here's some paper! 
Him: Thank you! Now, how do you spell "frustrated"? And "returning"? And "television"?
Mother: *writes it down* This is how!


Regardless to say, his mother was in tears. Of laughter! What was her eight year old up to?!

So our hero picked up his grocery bag. He lefts his note on the dining table. Shooting a last glare at his brother, he stalked out of the house. He anticipated that someone would come running behind him, begging him to stay. He anticipated the sound of footsteps, the sound of panting breaths. But nothing. 

As he shut the door behind him, he started having second thoughts. Suddenly, his brilliant  idea did not seem so appealing any more. But being a determined young man, he marched down the corridor, on his attempt to prove his point. 

As he stormed down the stairs, he began to think. He had made a decision which should have made his family members weep and wail! (At least according to him). But he hadn't got anything! The reaction was nil! He knew what it must be like to be those people who sell insurances at the mall. Working so hard and not receiving anything in return!

By the time he reached the gate, some of his steam had fizzled out. Nevertheless, he walked out, onto the street. By the time he reached the first turn, his stomach start turning somersaults. By the next turn, he heard a rumbling sound. And it was coming from inside him! His rebellious stomach had turned against him and was calling out for his mother's cooking. And as he tried to crush this rebellion, he found his main ally, his legs, joining forces with his stomach and there he was, tracing the path back home. Anyways, he assumed that he had been out long enough to receive an ostentatious welcome, and to gain the remote for at least an hour!

He was disappointed. Nothing had changed. He watched his brother still entranced by the television. His mother was still busy trying to get the the potatoes just the right brown. 

Fuming, he decided to stay in that very house, rather than to run away and give his brother unchallenged control over the remote. 

In the kitchen, his mother shook her head and smiled. At least, she had made it till her aunt's house.