Shyam and Riya have been bosom friends since childhood. They regularly message each other. To be more precise, I should say they now WhatsApp each other to know how their days go on and to collect notes of the college classes they are not present in.
There was a time when they both frequently messaged. This messaging rapidly increased as the two got Jio connection on their mobile phones. They were not familiar with WhatsApp culture. Before that, they sent SMS twice or thrice a day unless they had recharged any SMS pack. After getting a Jio connection, their rate of telephonic conversations also hiked. There was such a time when they did not often meet. They met only at tuitions or sometimes at each other's houses.
They had no personal phones then. As result, they had to use wired land phones but only for emergencies. Two of them used greeting cards to wish each other on their birthdays and new years. They used glitter pens of different colours to write on the cards. Riya even wrote a few lines like a rhyme consisting of some interesting words she had thought of beforehand.
They now reminisce about the shift in the modes of communication as they grew older. One day, Shyam said to Riya, "Our emotions are not that intense. They have been very light, you know. It's not only for us. It's happened with all I think. What do you think?"
Now, Riya was baffled by such a question and was unable to answer. But later, she found that Shyam was not absolutely wrong. There may be an emotional imbalance occurring in our daily lives.
I think we have many similarities with them on this matter. We all have been witnessing this shift for a long time. When we chat online, we are prone to expressing emotions through emojis and stickers. But I think the emojis, stickers convey emotions that are artificial, plastic. Sometimes, it seems there is zero percentage of actual emotion. Nothing can be a better way to express your emotions than a face-to-face meeting in real-time. But we cannot always meet our dearest ones. So, we have to take the help of digital communication.
I personally think when you write something for someone the emotions are purer, more intact as opposed to using emojis and stickers. The sentences you write can have the power to syringe your emotion to others. That is why letters, telegrams and even self-written messages bear a cleaner form your of emotions–I think. You have all rights to disagree with it.
Most of us forward a simple 'Good Morning' message on WhatsApp. I'm not questioning any creativity or labour one has to put into it. Instead of that, if someone writes us a note in the morning or types a simple good morning from his heart, it is more beautiful, to me at least.
Now, these emotions, feelings become more diluted, more artificial. These are entirely my own opinions. Again, you have all rights to disagree, throw it into the bin - just don't use a garbage emoji. I'm sure there is one.
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