that day, my god was a cookie

Technology baffles me. And makes me laugh. And wonder.

This happened some time back. I was checking out this beautiful wall clock on that online shopping site. It was not one of those pricey items. But I was not sure if it was the right wall clock for me. I needed more time to decide. And there was no hurry.

As often happens ( plus, I am a forgetful girl), the clock was soon out of my mind. I was happily reading the online version of Times of India the next day, when suddenly I saw the same wall clock smiling at me from the corner of my online paper. I did not pay much heed; I had almost decided not to buy it.

Next day, I log on to facebook. This is something I do almost first thing in the morning. I am a facebook addict. I was checking out my friends status and photos and going through the usual rush of emotions that facebook  inspires in its users - how thin she looks in red, omg!, why does he have to be so whiny?, and awww, how cute is Mishu. You get the drift. I was busy merrily poking my flat nose in other's business. And then it happened again. Yes, the same wall clock was smiling at me again. Yes, it was right there on my, MY facebook wall; grinning at me like a little devil. I could almost see it waving at me with its invisible arms. Like it was saying, "Hey, take me home, I am yours." My friends say I am a bit obstinate sometime. I refused to give in to the alluring smile of the clock. With a firm click of the mouse, I logged out of facebook.

But other people and stuff can be as obstinate, as determined. I realized that when I was checking out this popular blog by a gossip queen. We girls need to know sometime what Shakti Kapoor had for breakfast yesterday, you see. Yes, you have guessed it right. The same wall clock was right there at the corner - waving at me again, with a grin as evil as possible.

Not that I am much of a god fearing or god abiding girl, but I have grown up on bollywood movies and I remember Shahrukh Khan telling me once that God has this habit of throwing hint at people at the right time ( Yes, Dil To Pagal Hai). And then I get it. God wants me to wake up to the chime of this wall clock every day. He wants me to time the boiling of my vegetables to the turn of this clock's hand. He wants me to start bellowing at my maid if this clock says its more than half past eight. 

But I do not like being told what to do. So, I do not buy this clock. And that day, I remember walking on my office floor with a strut; I have defied God after all. And still alive.

While strutting about, I start a chat with Madhu - the digital genius on the floor. We girls need to share all stories of victories ( and loss) with each other. And I tell her my episode of heroic victory against the Almighty.

I do not exactly remember her reaction, and it has nothing to do with my memory. I think she laughed. I hope she laughed politely and did not collapse down with rude laughter that does not do well to the other person's ego. But I remember what she told me. She told me about cookies. No, not the cookies her aunt used to bake. This is a new kind of cookie - a digital cookie. And online stores use them to track what we are checking out at their sites. Yes, and later they track us down and try luring us back! So much for my victory against the almighty. I was just pitched against a cookie and I had barely managed to not give in to it!

I told you. Technology baffles me. And makes me laugh. And wonder.