1. The Hazards of Movie going
I am a movie fanatic. My friends count on me to know movie trivia and to remember every big Oscar awarded, since I was in school. My friends, though, have stopped asking me if I want to go out to the movies. While I love movies as much as ever, the inconvenience of going out, the temptations of the concession stand, and the behavior of some patrons are treasons for me to wait and rent the DVD.
To begin with, I just don’t enjoy he general hassle of the evening. Since small local movie theaters are a thing of the past. I have to drive for fifteen minutes to get to the nearest multiplex. The parking lot is shared with several restaurants and a supermarket, so it’s always jammed. I have to drive around at a snail’s pace until I spot another driver backing out.
Then it’s time to stand in an endless line, with the constant threat that the tickets for the show will sell out. If we do get tickets, the theater will be so crowded that I won’t be able to sit with my friends, or we’ll have to sit in a front row gaping up at a giant screen. I have to shell out a ridiculous amount of money-up to PKR 100 – for a ticket. That entitles me to sit while my shoes seal themselves to a sticky floor coated with spilled soda, bubble gum, and crushed raisinets.
Second, the theater offers tempting snacks that I really don’t need. Like most of us, I have to battle an expanding waistline, at home I do pretty well by simply not buying stuff that is bad for me. As I try to persuade myself to just have a Diet Coke, the smell of fresh popcorn dripping with butter soon overcomes me. Chocolate bars the size of small automobiles seem to jump into my hands. I risk pulling out my fillings as I chew enormous mouthfuls of Milk Duds. By the time I leave the theater, I feel disgusted with myself.
Many of the other patrons are even more of a problem than the concession stands. Little kids race up and down the aisles, usually in giggling packs. Teenagers try to impress their friends by talking back to the screen, whistling, and making what they consider to be hilarious noises. Adults act as if they were at home in their own living room.
They comment loudly on the ages of the stars and reveal plot twists that are supposed to be a secret until the film’s end. And people of all ages create distractions. They crinkle candy wrappers, stick gum on their seats, and drop popcorn tubs or cups of crushed ice and soda on the floor. They also cough and burp, squirm endlessly in their seats, file out for repeated trips to the restrooms or concession stands, and elbow me out of the armrest on either side of my seat.
After arriving home from the movies one night, I decided that I was not going to be moviegoer anymore. I was tired of the problems involved in getting to the theater, resisting unhealthy snacks, and dealing with the patrons. The next day, I arranged to have premium over channels added to my cable TV service, and I also got a Net cable membership. I may now see movies a bit later than other people, but I’ll be more relaxed watching box office hits in the comfort of my own living room.
2. Rising Prices or Inflation Dearness
Inflation ordinarily means the abnormal price hike of goods. In economic terms, inflation or rising galloping prices is the result of increase in the supply of money than the supply of goods. But there are countless factors that cause price hike in any country. In our country, we see how fast our population is rising and how much more the people need in terms of food, fruit, clothes, shoes, soap and other articles of daily use. Our farms and factories are not producing food and goods according to the growing needs of the people. As a result, the princes of commodities shoot up and Govt. is forced to print more currency notes to satisfy the people. This is exactly the inflation we are witnessing today.
The second cause of inflation or rising prices is rise in the standard of living of the people. With the greater demand for clothes, shoes, fine food and other commodities (articles), their prices register a constant rise. Thus, a rise in the incomes of the people is also a sure sign of an increase in demand of goods that results in price hike too.
The third cause is the decrease in exports and increase in imports as it is happening in our country. When we buy more and more things (commodities) from other countries and sell less, imports become more expensive. Poor distribution channels also result in price hike.
Commodities I article move from wholesalers to middlemen and then in the hands of retailers. Enough profit is milked in the process and customers suffer. Finally, heavy government taxes and duties on goods produced inside the country and imported from abroad cause a rise in the price.
The only solution to this giant problem of inflation is greater agriculture and industrial production, greater exports and lighter taxes. In addition, a control over population growth is utmost necessary.
3.The Funniest Incident in My Life
Everyone in his life experiences some incidents good or bad. There may be the happiest, the saddest or the funniest Incident In one’s life.
One Sunday morning I received an invitation from a friend of mine Mr. Sudhir, as I had come from the U.K. back to my native land, I got up early in the morning and started preparing my5elf. My sister gave me a cup of tea early in the morning, then I took my bath, and got ready. My sister then again asked me to take some snacks and tea, but I refused to take as I was very anxious in getting to my friend’s house.
She kept insisting me to take a heavy breakfast, but I did not care for it.
I walked out to the Bus Stop. Soon a bus came, and I got into it and asked the conductor for a ticket for Babar Lane. The conductor frowned at me saying “This bus is not going to Babar Lane. It is going in the reverse direction; you can get down at the next stop and catch another bus.” I was baffled for some time at this sudden bit of information. Then I alighted from the bus and again waited for the next bus for Babar Lane.
I boarded the bus and reached 15, Babar Lane. But when approached my friend’s house, the door of his house was all locked up and closed. I was wondering whether I had come to the right place. As I was gazing and pondering, a neighbor of my friend came and asked me, “Why are you standing here? Do you want to meet someone?” I replied. “Yes, I want to see Mr. Sudhir living in Quarter No. 15”. He replied, “He has moved house on Wednesday and has gone to Changi.”
Frustrated, I came back to the bus stop. I was feeling thirsty and hungry. Soon it started drizzling. I was now in a fix as I had no umbrella. My contusion became worse with the pouring rains. I thought for a while that! had refused my morning breakfast in the hope that I would take it at my friend’s house. At this stage my anger was mounting. I was cursing myself as well as my fate, I was soaking at and instead of going home, I made up my mind to meet Sudhir, come what may.
An idea hit me. I telephoned the Enquiry Office at Changi. The operator told me his address. So, I made my journey to Changi. I reached the Address given to me by the operator. I rang the doorbell. Tapan, a tiny lot (Sudhir’s youngest brother) came out and greeted me with a “Hello, uncle.” The moment I entered the drawing room, I saw the parents of Sudhir sitting on the sofa. They offered me a seat and I sat between them.
As I was going to ask about the invitation extended to me by Sudhir, Dolly (Sudhir’s sister) came with a tray of tea. She was a pretty and vivacious girl. I remembered that I used to love Dolly during college days and had written to her many love letters, proposing marriage. Now Sudhir’s mother began to talk very politely. “Look son, the invitation to tea was a joke, as you know today is the First of April” But you are fortunate in the sense that your proposal of marriage has been accepted by all the members of the family. I was thrilled to hear this news from Dolly’s mother.
My joy knew no bounds. My spirit felt lifted. Dolly was looking at me silently, her eyes expressing her love for me. We had tea to our heart’s content. I rushed home to give the glad news to my parents. This day, indeed, is the funniest and happiest day in my life.
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