Age of instant gratification
Gone are the days when ‘sha-saw’ (red tea) and flipping through the morning newspaper in the chilly winter mornings, wrapped snugly in ‘tapmohkliehs’ (a traditional wear) alongside shawlas was as essential as breathing in oxygen. But alas! Times have changed, and smartphones, growing smarter with every update, have rudely nudged newspapers out of the morning routine, possibly making the next generation just a tad lazier.
How long before newspapers bid us a final adieu, replaced entirely by the era of breaking news where even reputed organisations need to double check? As our wise elders cautioned, anything done in haste is often the devil’s handiwork.
Nowadays, newspapers are mere relics of morning rituals for the older folks. The younger generation prefers YouTube binges and indulging in sensational headlines with clickbaity titles, half of which are about as fact-checked as a politician’s promise.
This predicament isn’t confined to just our city; it’s a global conundrum. The world is swapping out newspapers for quick-fix news bites, leaving the once-reliable morning read in the dust.
With only our fur for the night
Shillong’s frosty wind bites the skin as soon as you step outside, especially during the wee hours. Walking barefoot indoors, too, feels like you’re tramping on a board of ice. Winter sure is unsparing.
We have warm clothes, heaters, air conditioners et al; we get through this.
But our furry friends have only the fur to help them brave the treacherous wintry nights.
Yes, the stray dogs, quite a handful of them now it would appear, are nowhere to be seen at night bar a few courageous ones here and there.
Only recently, a few were seen sleeping on the seats of two-wheelers in a city locality to avoid the freezing ground. Some who successfully found shelter were huddled together as well to beat the cold.
Come summers and these little troublemakers will get back into their unscrupulous ways — chasing motorcycles and vehicles, rummaging for food and littering places. But right now, winter affects them as much as it affects us. The least anybody can do is put a piece of warm cloth for them to nestle on, if you see them struggling with cold.