The perks of being a journalist

Imagine this. A group of enthusiastic students ready to take out their pens all set to scribble away something that will hopefully one day be of use in the journalistic world. I sat as one of those excited kids, ready to mark her step in hopefully, changing the world one day. A teacher enters, and ushers, “If you are here to change the world, please don’t think that is possible.”

Three years into that course where every day you are asked to push a new boundary, academically, physically and emotionally, today, I am a journalist with just about 10 months of experience. Along with the 5Ws and 1H, what also stuck with me was that particular line. Were my dreams of making a difference really possible, considering the magnitude of problems, insecurities, poverty and sadness that engulfed human existence?

A week old in the real world of media, I had met a Hungarian artist who is now settled in Hyderabad and had her own little world of paintings and sketches. Her journey to India had started with a Google search for animation studios in India. A chance click landed her in Hyderabad. From a tourist in 2001, today she is a total Hyderabadi. That was followed by a series of artists, who didn’t bother much about the remuneration they received from their passion but the message it conveyed.

A few months down the line, I had written articles on various mundane as well as essential topics in the world, from the tourist places in and around the city, the various start-ups in the ‘hi-tech’ city of India to the fashion designers, the do-gooders and even the latest trends in the technology and fashion world. While every chance meeting with a new personality, introduced me to a whole new dimension of information, I realised something along the way.

Changing the world doesn’t mean taking a sword and fighting with the problems of the world. It does not necessarily require one to be against every social norm that predictably dominates our society.

For the start up guy, change is making photo sharing easier for families living far away from each other, for the fashion designer, change is dedicating his/her line to a cause, for the do-gooders, it’s all about spreading a smile. For me, it is every time I let the world know about these people through the power of words. That is me taking one step at a time and trying my best to ensure that their work doesn’t go unnoticed.

True, it doesn’t change the world. But maybe, somewhere, a budding artist is encouraged, a young college going girl gets the courage to start something of her own, a young activist is inspired to stand up and believe in his/her cause. Hopefully, with my ardent desire to travel and know more people, I never stop letting a small fraction of the world know that in every sphere and everyone’s periphery, lies a little scope for development.

A recent conversation, restored my faith on what I have always believed in - The power of dreams. Take a leap of faith and do something that marks development in your vicinity and you have contributed in helping to change the world.

For me, being a minuscule part of this dynamic world, one of the perks of being a journalist is doing my fair share of work towards that change. 

Yours Truly, Shopaholic

An array of colours, all neatly stacked up in racks; the smart sailor jumpsuit rightly matched with denim jacket and paired with a pristine white bag made even the mannequin come alive; the tinkle of the bangles and the glitter of the earrings let her know from far and wide that all the jewellery was right there waiting for her. Ah, it was paradise for her.

She walked past all of the waving mannequins that called out to her to for a glimpse of what was the latest in their world; a world where it was all about the right fabric being cut with precision to fit the perfect body. Yes, the world of fashion.

She stopped in her tracks, grabbed her friend-in-a-hurry to a screeching halt, all to check out that little chiffon dress with animal prints that hung at one corner. As she put it across her and stood in front of the mirror, it was not her reflection that caught her eye but that of the off-shoulder blue and black striped maxi dress. Well, that certainly needed her attention. But, the animal prints were not forgotten. Now hanging at the corner of her hand, they accompanied her to the maxi dress. What could have been a disaster if put together in one garment, it seemed like quite a happy union for the stripes and prints until the trial room. While the animal prints was subject to a lot of ‘awws’ and ‘cute’ comments, the maxi dress garnered a lot of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’. Careful not to disappoint any, she put them both together in her shopping bag.

She was about to reach the billing counter that the bags from across the hall screamed for her attention. Well, not literally but with the neon colours and block prints, you never know! While the bags continued to keep an eye on her, the line of impatient shoppers just waiting to go home with their new possessions was growing. Decided, she couldn’t let go of her current position in the ever-growing queue, but even the bags couldn’t be given a miss! Her friend-in-a-hurry had to sacrifice a little more of her time as she was asked to wait in the queue while she did a quick round up of the bags.

All of them finding their own place in the hugely stuffed rack, seemed to binge a little out of their space to be noticed by her. There it was! A little black purse with a slender silver chain that would go just perfect with her new maxi dress. Happy with the discovery, she didn’t want to spend a second away from the billing counter until she was stopped by the big white envelope clutch that promised to complete her look with the animal print dress. Such easy finds, couldn’t be given away could they? Both the discoveries, now resting on her shoulders were all set to go.

A secret mental calculation revealed to her that the bill will amount to just about Rs. 5,890. Already over budget, there should be no more stopovers she thought. Just then, the classy black earrings on sale seemed to be the perfect rounding off factor. It's on sale, might never find one like this again, she thought.

The friend-in-a-hurry who seemed to have given up hope quickly made way for her and rushed out of the building before any other accessory stopped her. It can’t, she thought. She had eaten her way into her monthly savings by now. But then, once in a while doesn’t matter, she reassured herself.

Her pile of shopping now bumped across the desk, and the meter correctly reading Rs. 6,000, she swiftly took out her debit card. The sides of the debit card now swiped across the machine, refused to register. Once, twice and a several times later, blocked. Still not apprehensive, she reached out to her wallet only to be disappointed with just about 200 bucks. The pile looked at her now with a sad face but earrings glittered out of nowhere. Sparing a little for the ride back home, the earrings were now hers.

She strode past all the colours, bags and jewellery and as she got her bill cleared at the front desk, the earrings from her bag winked at her now promising a beautiful journey together. All for one and one for all, sometimes really does come true right?