MAARIF BLOGS

THE NEW ERA OF BUSINESS With the rise of technology, we’ve seen a big shift in people’s preferences. The things we used to do a few years ago are still being done today — but the way we do them has changed. This means we need to adapt ourselves to technology so we can stay relevant in the market. Just 10–15 years ago, if we wanted to buy something, we had to go to a physical store. But today, we can order that same thing online. Platforms like Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho, and many others now let us shop from the comfort of our homes. Earlier, cash was the most common method of payment. But now, even the smallest shops — whether in villages or cities — accept digital payments through apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay. This shows that no matter what level a person is at, they’re either choosing or being forced to come under the influence of technology. Many old-style markets and businesses have shut down simply because they didn’t adapt to technological change. On the other hand, ...

Time passes so fast, we don’t even realise it. We never think that one day, friendship can end. But people really change with time. He used to tell me, “You are like my brother.” And I believed him. I trusted him so much. I used to share everything with him like he was really my own brother. I once told him, “My father is not in this world anymore, so you are like the sixth member of my family.” And he replied, “Yes, you are my best brother.”  Whenever I felt sad or quiet, he would ask, “What happened?” I used to say, “You are the younger one, don’t act like the elder brother.” But still he would say, “Just tell me, yaar.” And I would tell him everything. Because for me, he was truly my brother. I am the kind of person who doesn’t make many friends. I don’t like meeting new people. I prefer to stay in my own little world. When I do meet someone new, I behave very shyly — just like a bride feels shy in front of strangers. That’s exactly how it was when I first met him. In the beg...