OVER A CUP OF COFFEE - cosmetics

Over a cup of coffee

Cosmetics

Consumption and mass consumption has become the central point in a business oriented world. Target the larger population is the mantra. But this has nothing to do with various Asians occupying top positions in MNCs thought  Gopu.  He knew well that the sincerity with which we are giving results for these with cut-throat competition is the deciding factor.

Degrading the various practices followed over centuries (bad??) and pave new ways in simplicity and hygiene and what not – what a service we are doing, Gopu mused.  Sometimes he gets confused too, when some of his friends, in the name of bringing new, sell products, which they pretty much opposed as unhygienic 2 to 3 decades back.  Old wine in a new bottle.  His close friend Shyam always is very critical of this fact and many an argument has taken place between these two.  The friendship between these two is the common interest of faith in the almighty and also school and college mates from Trichy. 

Sometimes Gopu too have doubts about the sincerity of his friends and thought how a toothpaste with red colour was denounced as brick powder and harmful and salt/charcoal/neem should not be used find a new avatar.  Thus the old ones have found a new name and when it comes to items with herbal ingredients practiced in the thickly populated countries, every effort to denounce the old product and neatly packed new ones came into the market.  Have you tried this with the new formula asks the MNC which once it mocked as crude and unhygienic.  In fact, who will go in search of the herb “Keezhanalli” for cure of Jaundice if a new medicine comes in the form of tablets and easy to get in a pharmacy.  But who will also know the side effects, with research coming out with statistics only on how many benefited and of course, awareness has come of late, with everything coming to public domain, with what happens with each of these product. Thanks to the internet.

Even as these thoughts rushed in his mind, Gopu had invited Shyam for an evening chat on coffee shop on a posh Rs.200 a cup, which once used to happen in some café or bhavan or uphar on Rs.10.  Even present day cost in these old ones will not exceed Rs.25.  Shyam did come in time, as he is stickler to time concepts but could not find Gopu.  He did come, a good 30 minutes late, profusely apologizing for the meeting with the boss.  Shyam put the natural question of asking for the delay.  Gopu explained that the discussion with the boss was on how to expand the market for some spray which enhance the power of men to attract women.  Shyam could not control himself and became quite angry hearing this.  Shyam then said to Gopu, we are people who think that women are not just for satisfying men in bed but it is one part of life, that is all.   The whole part of life is explained with dos and donts in our scriptures, clearly bringing out how humanity as a whole can benefit.  A few business interests cannot interfere with our way of life just to make a fortune for them. 
He added see what Steve Job of Apple said from his hospital bed:  Steve Jobs’ Last Words

I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In others’ eyes, my life is an epitome of success.  However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to.  At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.  In the darkness, I look at the green lights from the life supporting machines and hear the humming mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of god of death drawing closer…

Now I know, when we have accumulated sufficient wealth to last our lifetime, we should pursue other matters that are unrelated to wealth…

Should be something that is more important:
Perhaps relationships, perhaps art, perhaps a dream from younger days

Non-stop pursuing of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God gave us the senses to let us feel the love in everyone’s heart, not the illusions brought about by wealth.  The wealth I have won in my life I cannot bring with me. What I can bring is only the memories precipitated by love.  That’s the true riches which will follow you, accompany you, giving you strength and light to go on.  Love can travel a thousand miles. Life has no limit. Go where you want to go. Reach the height you want to reach. It is all in your heart and in your hands.

What is the most expensive bed in the world? Sick bed…
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.

Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.

When a person goes into the operating room, he will realize that there is one book that he has yet to finish reading – Book of Healthy Life.

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Further Shyam said, I am not against new products, but for the sake of making money, denouncing the whole way of life by some vested interests is unacceptable.  Gopu had no answer and as he wanted to have one more coffee, asked Shyam too have one more, which Shyam politely declined.   Gopu after finishing his second coffee cup, bid bye to Shyam telling him they will meet again.