At the other end of the line… December 8, 2010

Some years back, not very long away, it used to horrify me to find walking people talking and laughing all by themselves. My mind went like “O good gracious! People going crazy all over! The end is near!” Every time I saw them it took a few seconds to sink in me about what’s going on actually, forgetting each time about the last occurrence. Winters were worse! With mufflers and caps and shawls covering up their ears, it took me longer to gauge the affair without those black things stuffed in the ears and no trailing circuitry leading to their pockets. Mobile phones with ear-pieces were just a baby in our lives and I wasn’t that much of a baby-sitter. Now of course it’s a different question with all the ‘Walk when you talk’s. Rather it strikes discord not to see talking people walking (or the other way round). With all those tending to size zero girls in slim fits and striking belly buttons (and the guys sneak peeping at their bellies! Some keeping gaping and the beauties keep showing!) saying “r ektu wait koro sona, ei to ami eshe gechi, Park Street’e” and then submitting to a fit of giggles and falling over the shoulder of the peace loving person next to them who wakes up to find its only Shyambazar (hours away from Park Street), or those plump ladies with fat bangles yelling “mach ta freeze e rakha ache, Puchku k khaiye dao!”, mobile communication has brought personal lives into the open. However much public transport stares at it with rolling eyes, throw disgusted glances, and make disapproving grunts, it seems to take no cue what-so-ever! And on the roads, cars coming to screeching breaks to save a ‘walking-when-talking’ maniac have become a common sight. Traffic sergeants have to often rub sweat off their brows to tackle such lunatics; drivers have severe heart problems with rising palpitations, while the happy-go-lucky passer-bys (with another set of ear-pieces pressed to their ears) laugh their heart out to watch the expression of the narrowly escaped. Cell phones are creating havoc! They are a nuisance posing as bliss! And when you desperately need them, they sing a lullaby “The subscriber is currently switched off, please try after some time.”, as if we are supposed to fall in love with them at a time when our soul yearns to sue them and their owners!

All the swear words are gurgling in my stomach to be spelt out at cell phones while I’m shivering in the chilly December drizzle of Durgapur, Control System book in one hand and cell phone in the other, my lips paining out of worrisome biting, tired of hearing “The subscriber is currently switched off, please try after some time. Beep.” and waiting to be relieved by hearing the most awaited voice at the other end of the line.