Skip to main content

Smile, please!

“Smile all the way, and you’ll be fine. Master the art of smiling, that of turning up the corners of your mouth, lifting up your cheeks, and perhaps sport a dimple.”

    This is what has been taught to us. Smiling is good. Faking it every time, even better. It is a custom that we have to retort to every “how are you” by showing that Mona Lisa smile. You are quintessentially frustrated, angry, melancholy, irritated, sullen or crabby. And the supreme solution for it is to smile. Show your teeth. Grin. The smile therapy. But it doesn’t seem to work. Not for me. I smile often. But that doesn’t mean it is a genuine spread of my lips. Well, I was in a morose mood the other day, and this girl came up to me and asked, “How are you doing?”. And I waspishly replied, “I’m grumpy and angry. But I’m bound to say that I’m fine, isn’t it? Because the word ‘fine’ apparently describes everything- whether you’re happy, sad, joyed, bored, angry, or whatever. So, I’m fine!”

   I immediately, and obviously felt awkward after that. That girl has never since then cropped up that question. Well, there is one thing that a fake smile can definitely not achieve, and that is the sparkle in your eyes when you’re genuinely happy. The forced smile, by all means, can’t work.

   Welcoming 2014, I avow that I will laugh when I’m ecstatic, cry when I’m melancholy, flare when I’m angry. But I’m certainly not going to sport a lie and say that I’m fine. Not if I don’t mean it.

  Do you feel the same?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nothing lasts forever.

Hey, back after a long time. But a beautiful memory just grabbed my attention, and I just couldn't resist writing on it! I went to the 28th  National Convention organised by SPIC MACAY, a famous society for the promotion of Indian culture amongst youth. It was an enriching experience, and we stayed in NIT Karnataka. The place was extremely serene and beautiful! We were allowed to visit the beach nearby, and I was filled with ecstasy at the very mere thought of visiting the beach. I got a chance when everyone was away for yoga. It was about 5 am in the morning and the sun was rising. Suddenly gripped with excitement, I stuffed some snacks, my diary and my water bottle in my bag and rushed off to the beach. WOW. This was the only word that I could utter when I finally reached the beach.I exclaimed when I stepped on the soft sand of the beach.  The sun was rising, and the scene was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I further took steps towards the cold, salt...
6 comments
Read more

Rs. 28 is the poverty line? Lol, that means even the roadside beggar who earns 30 rupees per day is not poor.

Bringing down the poverty line is no doubt a harsh joke played on the poor. This move has inevitably led to thousands of people deprived of the benefits associated with people below the poverty line. Our great government is trying to show that many people have come out of poverty all these years, by lowering the poverty line.  After the disturbing statement by congress spokesman Raj Babbar, who said, "One can have a full meal for Rs.12" and the congress Rajya Sabha member Rasheed Masood's statement "You can eat well in Rs.5 in Delhi", I think that these people seem to live in a bygone era. Even a minister from Assam has seemed to join the line, by commenting that anyone can have a full meal in Rs.20. Have they become so austere that showing a little sensitivity towards the plight of the poor is too much for them? Such pretentious behavior needs to witness strong condemnation. Such derisiveness towards the poor completely shows the lack of connectivity and sensi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Lecherous Stares

This has been happening since 5 years. The only difference is that now, I'm irritated and fed up to the core. I walk towards my home, at half past three in the afternoon. The entire walk is surrounded by no one except men. Men scratching their tummies as I walk by. Men staring at every nook and cranny of my body. Your lurking eyes silently make me doubt my school uniform. Is my clothing at fault? Tongues out, eyes ravenous.Your eyes are better scanning us than even an X-ray machine. When I bend down to tie my shoe laces, you leap with excitement. You are finally successful in making me conscious of myself and my attire. Maybe it's my over-sized shirt. Maybe it is my skirt, which even though reaches till the end of my knees, somehow arouse you. Or is it my belt?  People tell me to behave like a 16-year-old, to talk about " happy and merry " things. How can I, when I'm a prey to so many men everyday? More than me, it is my young sister that matters. She notic...
Post a Comment
Read more