Monday, October 30, 2017

'I will shame you on social media' is the new 'Tu Jaanta Nahi hain Main Kaun hoon?'

As an owner of an e-gifting site, my customer service team often seeks my help in answering customer grievance emails. One of the most common problem faced by them is finding a solution to the social media mavericks who allege to 'shame you on social media'- 'write the same on blogs'- 'tell everyone online if you don't give me this'- 'give you bad reviews online'. Now all of these Instagram and Facebook prodigies whose emails we answer everyday trying to calm them down by stuffing their hoods with freebies and discounts are no less than the 'Modern Age bullies'.

Each time I read one of these emails where the conversation starts with accusations and how 'Indiagift has spoilt their life by delivering the wrong cake' or how 'Indiagift has totally ruined their day by delivering the midnight delivery bouquet at 11:57 PM' and ends with threats of social media shaming. These so called educated and savvy men and women are no less than the goons we found on Punjab, Haryana and Delhi roads who screamed- 'Tu Jaanta nahi hain Main Kaun noon? Both are feigning their high profile status albeit one in the real world and another in the online world. So heavy is our digital usage become now that our digital footprint is giving us the power to hold an online site to ransom lest they use 'online shaming'.

While I agree that Twitter and other social media channels are a very powerful tool to help a customer reach out to the company and seek redressal. But how many times has a customer used this power with responsibility? How many times has a customer gone through the official channels of communication and complaints solving before naming and shaming someone on social media? Also, when has that same repeat customer praised the same company over social media when they kept up their service promises and delivered par excellence? Has the same over vocal person been highly enthusiastic about word of mouth publicity for the same company that helped make their day? Or they just took to social media when the company had one bad day with one bad service/delivery/product.

We've had days at Indiagift when we took the informed decision to ignore customers crying foul over twitter. We didn't give explanations to the other trolls who joined hands to shame someone without knowing anything at all. We didn't tell everyone that the customer was just looking for a freebie(which they might have clearly mentioned). We didn't 'Name and Shame'. Then why is a customer so quick to put our name on the line? Why is a customer so quick to generalise 'all websites as fraud'? Why is a customer so quick to deliver social media 'threats'? For now, we have a no tolerance policy to anything that we haven't faltered on. When we faulter, we admit the fault, apologise and make amends. Even if that means losing out money on that sale. But we honestly accept and pay up.

Then why can't a website owner expect responsible customers?
When the consumer has a consumer forum which he is quick to point out as his final measure to get that freebie; wish we had a owners forum to ban repeat offender online shoppers ?

Quoting Jon Ronson, Author of 'So you've been publicly shamed'- "Social media gives voice to the voiceless people, so its a sad irony that a way to survive social media is to go back to being voiceless."

Sunday, September 10, 2017

An Open Challenge to a Pervert

I am talking to you, you pervert.
You who eyes my chest as I sweat it out in the gym.
Lest you forget, I can see your torn underwear when you try to touch your dirty toes.

I am talking to you, you pervert.
You who stares at my legs when i wear that nice dress.
Lest you forget, I can see your knees too when you wear shorts on casual saturdays.

I am talking to you, you pervert.
You who sizes up my backside as I walk along the road.
Lest you forget, I can see your ugly butt cleavage when you get off the car.

I am talking to you, you pervert.
You who licks his lips when I take my grocery delivery.
Lest you forget, I can see the paan stained teeth that you so try to conceal.

I am talking to you, you pervert.
You who has a chest, a butt, two legs and a face . Just Like I Do.
The only difference is yours is covered in hair and Mine.....Not covered in Fear.

Atleast not anymore!

I am talking to you, you pervert.
And I am willing to talk you out of it.
I am willing to help, I am willing to educate, I am willing to counsel.

I am talking to you, you pervert.
Because I want no perverts anymore.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Bali without the 'Balaks'



Our 2 little balaks, aka our dear daughters have always been a part of our travel itinerary wherever we go. We have been less adventurous in choosing our destinations ever since the kids arrived and always pick and choose places with beaches, parks and all other things that kids like. Our travel themes have also changed from being pacey and partying to laid-back and relaxed. From the nightclubs and the pubs we have now moved to beach houses and amusement parks. From musical concerts and DJ weekends to sundowners and special brunches, travel has taken a different course.

I wouldn't say I wasn't enjoying this sort of travel style. The kids were cooperative mostly with the usual small hiccups here and there. So we had settled in a pattern of travelling where the whole holiday would revolve around a beach destination with lots of sand toys, multiple swimming costumes, several beach hats and umpteen smiles and laughs. All for that perfect family holiday. I loved it that the kids loved holidays. But something, somewhere was amiss.

It was the 'WE' that was missing from the Family Holiday. I might not be too young anymore(after all  being on the other side of 35 has its disadvantages) but I still have that small romantic bone in me. I missed those couple moments where you'd drink the bubbly watching the sunset(without being disturbed for a diaper change) or you managed a early morning cuddle for that one extra minute(without being asked to feed them milk) or you drank yourself silly(without being bothered about who looks after them the next morning).

All of this coupled with the fact that we were hitting the all important milestone in our relationship- the coveted decade together fuelled my insides that were already yearning for a couple trip. I took the very difficult decision to take our first trip sans the kids in 7 years. Getting the caregivers ready(aka Dadi, Nani, Bua and Nanu) was the easiest task. Having the kids onboard(lured by a massive gift wish list) was also surprisingly easy. The toughest task was deciding where to go. Everywhere I looked(and believe you me, I did check everywhere), I saw travel spots which were either too beachy or too far off for a 4 day vacation or too familish....I aaas hell bent on doing a trip which was otherwise tough with the kids.

I set upon finalising an itinerary to see the Northern Lights though I soon realised that my limited budget for this extra bit of sudden pleasure didn't allow me that. From Finland to Norway to Seychelles to Krabi to Croatia. I travelled the world in my thoughts. Endless late nights checking midnight travel deals later, we arrived in Bali. Thanks to the lovely travel experts of gofro.com who did all the tough task of scouting through the flights and villas for me. Finally they found me the cheapest yet shortest flight to Bali with the most perfect pool villa in the most happening spot in Seminyak.

They gave me the luxury of a night flight(something I don't like with the kids) and slept like a baby through the flight. We arrived in the city with Mohit all charged up for some holiday partying and me all worried about what's going back home. A few Rose's later life started settling down in our exclusive pool villa and we were all set to party.


Party Party Party!!!!!
Without getting into any censored details, the three days and nights that followed went about in a trance. Literally! We danced the nights away to music we couldn't hum. We ate food that we hadn't tasted earlier. For a change no pasta, no pizza, no french fries! We drank liquor concoctions that we'd never had before. We slept for hours on the beach, we danced the nights away and we almost re did the vows.(well, thats another story altogether). I almost lived an entire couple lifetime in those 4 days.

While I was almost embarrassed when people asked me, 'how my second honeymoon was?', I was in two minds to genuinely give them details. I admit the first one might have been all about 'lust'(Blush...blush), this one was all about Love(Proud, Proud).

A lot of preparations and a huge amount of effort went in from our elders in holding the fort at home and I cannot thank them enough for this amazing break. My verdict on whether I recommend a vacation for couples without their kids- You bet your horses I do. (That doesn't mean I don't love my kids or don't enjoy our family vacations).

P.S Dont let my kids read this!

Friday, February 10, 2017

Reinventing the butterflies

That's us ...10 Years back on the same day....
10 Years
3,652 Days
87,658 Hours
2 Kids
3 Addresses
36 Holidays
5,259,000 Minutes
Countless Hugs
Timeless Memories
Lifetime of Happiness
315,600,000 Seconds TOGETHER & Counting....

Coming SOON...

As i sit down to think about the years gone by, I am overwhelmed that someone spent 10 years with me. Soon...

Around 15 days shy of a decade of being together, I recall, reminisce and recollect everything that has transpired in the past years. From Ludhiana to Delhi to Gurgaon...From the spendthrift wife to the mother of 2 to the business partner, we've played various roles. But the part we played best was being ourselves. Letting each other be ourselves.

From rooting for CHELSEA to enjoying shopping for MAC to CAROBAR to accommodating Narendra Modi, we have done it all together. From Canary Islands to Interlaken to Kumarakom to Venice to Santorini, we have travelled the world together. From laughing to crying to shouting and screaming, we have done it all. From fighting the night out to the cold wars to the loving make up to the office arguments, we continue to do it all.

From an individual to a couple to a Family to business partners, we explore, we invent and we re-invent the relationship each day.

Too much PDA!! Well, WTH, Its 10 F...ing Years after all!

Cheers
Knock Wood
THU ....THU...THU...