One of those days when your loved one leaves you. She slipped into the Goan waters on the beach of Vagator on a bright sunny day. I couldn’t see the brightness on the face as i picked her up from the water. The bright light had vanished. I patted her on the back a couple of times hoping to get that bright light flashing again, but in vain. I thought ‘She’ll be okay. Just a little water has entered, and she’ll be fine if dried in the sun for some time.’ I thought i’ll resurrect her. I was confident of this.
I returned to Bangalore with her, and tried to resurrect her. A day after we returned from Goa, she responded well. The bright white light was back, but flickered a little. I was sure she’ll recover soon. But, i was proved wrong. I realized the water had entered little too much for her comfort and had shorted the motherboard. My cellphone was dead!
I found it funny and weird when people had their cellphone in the list of things they can’t live without. I always felt i could manage without the agony of missing a cellphone since i bought my first phone about 6 years back when it was a fancy, and something i wished to have. Even then, neither was i addicted to my cellphone nor was i totally detached. Cellphones, the very gadget which was an expensive toy of the rich and show-offs soon became a ‘necessity’. Oh, you ought to have a cellphone. How can you live without that!?
I wanted to live without a cellphone, just for kicks, but didn’t get the chance until my working cellphone got conked. And the substitute cellphone had to be given back. I did live without a cellphone for a little more than 3 weeks beyond which i couldn’t as i succumbed to the pressure from my mom, and the one who threatened to work in a cafe to buy me a phone. :)
The three weeks don’t make a huge difference when you have your landline at home and desk phone at work. Unfortunately, the desk phone at work stopped working around the same time. In these three weeks, i managed to go for a treat with few friends at a distance more than 10kms from my home. I also managed to go, with few colleagues at work, to Nandi hills to watch sunrise atop the hills. Leaving home at 4 am on a Sunday morning and without cellphone to contact people was not much of problem. I also did most of my routine work. It worked out fine. I missed my desk phone more, as i had to walk more to talk to team mates about work, than cellphone.
Finally i bought a very low-end, minimal featured handset Samsung C160. I simply didn’t like any of the phones in the market. Either they are bulky or they don’t have any significant improvements other than the higher megapixel or more flash memory. The exception being GPS, which has caught my eye for now. This too is very primitive, and didn’t excite me enough to buy a set with this.
Anyway, with this experience i realized i can live a non-materialistic life. Things i haven’t tried living without are quite a few. On top of the list is a vehicle, the maximum i have lived without that is about 2 weeks way back in 2002. Next is a computer without net connection, the maximum without this being one week. I know i can live without these things more than the achieved maximum, but haven’t got such an ‘opportunity’ yet. Now, temme what are the things you can live without?
Rest in peace, My Nokia 7610.
@San – Who threatened to work at a cafe? details please!!!!! :D
I am surprised you still managed to live without your phone and did your regular activities – I would like to say that I can live without my phone but I am not sure at this point in time :)
My gym membership and my tennis racquet are somethgs that I am hooked onto these days – not sure if its a long term jank or just for a few days!
My ipod or my books during my 90 mins train travel to office as those things come as a saviour to my boredom. Count even my lappy with net connection!
Having said all of this, I feel this place makes me want all this. When I was working in Mumbai, apart from my cellphone I never craved for the other items mentioned above!! I am just realising this as I post this comment!!
Why? why? why? “BTW – I AM NOT A LONER”
:D Lovely post again – I like the beginning :):P
~RJ
aww..
single guy in a far far away land.. i think it’s a good thing to indulge in lots of activities.. will keep you away from thinking you are a loner :)
During the college days when very few of them (in our class) had a cell phone, u owned a nokia 6600, which was quite high end that time. Now when everyone has a cell phone (high end mostly), u have settled for Samsung C160 :-) . U always do the opposite of the general trend isnt it ;-)
@Radhesh
haha… even i was contemplating that.. :)
ironical isn’t it?
As i have written, i didn’t like any of the phones now.. only improvement is on more megapixel and/or more memory.
Since i have a Sony and a Bose music player, i don’t need a phone for music. As i am planning for a good DSLR camera, i didn’t fancy buying a 3/5 MP camera phone. :)
Somebody is showing off here! :D
Btw, you still haven’t answered – Who threatened to work at a cafe? details please!!!!! :D
~RJ
I can never live without a computer !!
(..err…internet connection – broadband with unlimited download and high speed included please !! :P ).
All my friends get their cell phones to school and show-off big time !! ( yeah, our school allows cell phones ! can you believe that ??! ).
Well, my mom was clear in the begenning itself that I would not get a cell until I’d done with school.
Major distraction and all…..whatever !!
I want a cell with radio,camera,mp3 and huge memory !! :(
” I wanted to live without a cellphone, just for kicks ”
FREAKY !!
@RJ,San
Give in to the suspense and tell us about the cafe threat ;)
Anyways i know cellphones should neither be a distraction nor should we be addicted to them but you can’t help being so easily in touch ,tat easily n quickly ..
u call,cant reach em,u can leave a voice mail or rather send an sms…
landline u call,call,call,no one picks up,forget answering machines ,they r not al that popular here :)
so the point is that no matter how much we argue,we r used to cell phones and its not impossible to live without em,but its a lot more easier :D
rest in peace dear 7610 ;)
and welcome ! dear Samsung c160 :D
btw,u got a Sony n BOSE player?!!i thought bose headphones ! ? :O
@Priya
cellphones allowed in school ?! omg
@Megs – He’s no ears to us!
@Priya
Once i had life, now i’ve a computer! ;)
@RJ & Megs
I got a music player free with the Bose headphones..
Now, don’t temme i’m showing off here..
i’ve already done it earlier:
:P
And the cafe threat.. was by a ugly stupid moron whose identity is not worth mentioning in my blog :D
what say ppl? :P
i pity that cafe person,you r undervaluing the person :D wat say ?
No, i am pretty sure the person is a scum on the face of earth.. not worth any more mention than i have already given..
If you have to undervalue someone, then you can compare him to that cafe person..
wanna say anything more? :D
@San/Megs – OK I am lost now!!
Megs – you know tht girl?
@ Meghana :
Yeah, cell phones allowed in school !! We also assume that if cell phones are allowed, then even mp3s, ipods and other gadgets are ! :-P ;-)
Oh, it’s allowed only for the 11th and the 12th class !! Not for all !! :-D
@RJ
Why did you assume that’s a girl?
There was no mention of gender anywhere!
@Priya
Which school are you in? Cellphones were banned in my college!
@San – I can’t imagine a guy working in a cafe to get you a cellphone. And did u call me gay??!!!! huh
@Priya – Neat school. In my school even wrist watches weren’t allowed..lol..:D
Once a guy had bought a pager so that he could see the cricket scores and his gadget was confiscated..aarghh..tht sucked!
@RJ
okie, you are right in assuming a girl :)
no more comments from me!
@San – ohhooooo…somebody is blushing blushing!! :D
@Megs – You have to find out more – he’s not telling me anythg!
@RJ and San -lollllll ! he wont tell me anything da ! ;)
@priya
when we were in school,which is like hmmm 6 years ago, i remember one guy got a cell phone and we were all like-wow ! rich kid ;)and he used to sneak into the loo and take calls ! in btwn breaks
pager i pod :) naah ,we used to carry more “innocent” stuff :)
masala dosa-bribing the ayah :) sometimes some gals had the guts to even order pizzas !lol
@Megs – good for nothg..huh…!! :D
I too once lost my cell back …but it wasnt a big problem as that time I wasnt in a job..but now I cant think of one day without cell…But I experienced that too when I left it at home n went to work twice or thrice… i have lived without TV for 10 days back when there was no computer or internet ..in 1996…
I support u buying a cellphone which does what its supposed to do..send and receive calls n sms.
@Megs
* ignores her and moves to next person *
@RJ
it took you so long to realize that!
@Reema
10days.. quite an achievement! ;)
what !!!!!!!! u ignored me ,I.G.N.O.R.E.D ME,ME,ME !!!!
:D
you’d know why i did that :P
Reading comments,figuring it out,cracking the puzzles somewhere on the way took some time before i could pass a comment.Reading the post dint actually take that much time:p
Life without-Materialistic things…Hmmm…
I cant-a-cant live without the cell-phone…nothing is cheaper,easily accesible,affordable than a cell-phone.It is the ONLY way i can keep in touch with very ‘IMPORTANT’ people in my life.
You mentioned that you went for a trip and a treat also.In 3 weeks time(thats the duration ryt?),these 2 activities wud have taken a max of 3 days (weired calculation).What about the rest of the days.DInt you feel ALONE n LOst??
Thats so damn difficult!
I cant live without so many such things.Leave alone comp,What about TV or a music system(Some source of music)??
I remember visting a village(a ‘really’ remote village with no toilets) in AP.I had to stay there for a month with family.There was no TV,no daily newspaper.Thats when i realised the importance of TV.
And hey,I have been living without a vehicle for years.So,i guess i can give up on that as my necessity.:)
@Bhavna
:)
Hmm.. those two meets were on weekends.
rest of the days – i had lots of work.. so that kept me from the thought of being lonely :)
weekends, i also had french classes..
The key to keeping yourself from feeling lonely is to occupy yourself with some action.. Just do it.. don’t think about it much..
ya i do get cranky if i don’t get newspaper in the morning! :)
Trust me, thinking is such a waste of time :)
@bhavna
no toilets ?! what !
@sandeep
real upset,not talking
@Megs – hurray, welcome to the club :D
@Bhav – missed the no toilets thgy, r u serious? what was the alternative? I mean..no not wanna know! Oopsy!
:D
@San – *HUH* :D just for fun!!
@RJ
:X
@Megs – kaltimaster!! :)
Oh god!I never thought i will be bombarded with such questions:o..It was very difficult to manage…No alternative…It was like the roadies thingy..actually worse than that..But thats ok.I got a dose of camping.Even you got to try it once:p
@Bhav – Damn – sounds fun! :D actually not! I don’t know..its like mixed reactions :D :P
whoa bhavna ! where is place ?i cant imagine u there :D did u have a mirror to put on kajal n lip gloss ;) kiddin u man !
My cell phone is my love too! I can’t live without her… I’m sorry to hear that yours almost drowned… What most ppl don’t understand is the emotional value a cell phone shares with the user… Ppl look at me strangely when I caress my phone and kiss it… oops, did i say that out loud? :D
@megu
hoge!kajal n lip-gloss??? sometimes i can live without them..:D
@rj
it is fun to lead a nomadic life at times..:D
@Niks
caress cellphone?! i didn’t go that far! :P
@Megs, RJ, and everyone who’s interested in knowing who threatened to work in cafe:
I’ve told Megs who was the one who threatened to work in cafe, she’ll tell you guys ;)
What say Megs? :P
@San – Hurray! We will get it from Megs!
@Megs – ?? Kaun? *I am getting a feeling that you could be the cafe gal* ??!!
@RJ
:-)
wait for Megs reply ;)
@San – Dead sure it has to be Megs :)….
@Megs – Where r u hiding? :D :P
@rj,san
what ?! i thought this discussion came to a dead-end !
btw,i will not disclose who the cafe person is simply because sandeep has “hurt that person’s heart” by saying some not so kind words ! he has under valued the cafe person ..so :X
@San – Dude, what did you do? Not good not good :D
@Megs – I am sure he will make up to that person tomm…keep watching :D :P he’s a good soul!
There is some suspense thriller going on here….
*(biting nails)*
@Bhav – Big time. Two people are putting us to all kinda suspense.
I have no idea what’s happening – I am just curious to know abou the cafe girl? Is it Megs? Is it anyone else?
Who is it? Phew!
@RJ
Ask megs.. She knows it :)
and Megs… why are ‘you’ angry? :P
@rj and bhavna
it is some person who told me not to tell anyone ,so i am not telling you guys
@sandeep
obv,that person specifically told me u heart his/her heart !
so i am angry at you ! that you do such things to people :X
sorry,typo there
@sandeep
obv,that person specifically told me u hurt his/her heart !
so i am angry at you ! that you do such things to people :X
actually you should be angry coz that person fakes :P
@Megs
who is that person that told you not to tell you anyone? :P
@San/Megs – Confusion-mongers!!! How many people are involved? San, megs and whose this you? that person? faking that person?
*I still feel the cafe gal is megs* :D
@Bhav – ur comments?
Welll…RJ n Me are feeling like real refugees here…I have a feeling i know that person…
hey,its not megs…
Hiya sandeep, just blog hopping, landed here thru Nikhil’s blog. cool post dude,
Its true that we’re leading a quite materialistically non-material life, me too can’t live without my mobile Sony ericsson 700i, people wouldn’t understand this, My mobile has become a part of me, I just couldnt stand seeing when some strangers ask for my mobile and don return it more than a minute and of course big time books
Sorry to know that ur mobile drowned,
Thanks Barath for dropping by.. see you around :)
Hey! What such a LOOOOOOOONG discussion ?!!
Sandeep, no new post huh ?? Too Busy ???
About discussion, it’s b/w Megs and RJ.
Hmm.. ya nothing particular in mind. so no new post..
busy.. a little bit.. french exams on sunday :)
@San/Pri – *Megs ignoring RJ*
All the best for the exam dude! what level is it?
Thanks RJ
it’s the first level.. basic thingy :)
Megs ignoring you!????? :O :P
@rj
Who says megs is ignoring you…??
Why will she Ignore YOU?
:p
@SAn
All the best:)..
@Bhavna
Thanks! :)
@RJ
expect Megs reply soon.. i guess she’s busy with her exams :)
what is going on out here !
why are u all ignoring me !?!!
this is injustice
i will fight till i die ! :D
Can’t live without cellphone of course. But also my blog. Not blogging for a few days leads to withdrawal symptoms these days :P
hey RJ,sorry
confusion ! i am not ignoring u :)
just wanna say that cafe person is no longer san’s well wisher ! so the issue is at rest now :)
@Lekhni
Withdrawal symptoms?! :D
I got to be beware of that :)
You’ve got a nice blog.. thanks for dropping by.. see you around!
@Lekhni I can understand withdrawal symptoms..infact I even posted on the same topic in my blog :D :D
hey cool post! so much has been written that dont know what to write! :)
so its just a compliment that its agood one! and i read your post writtent after this, but have no interest what so ever either in tennis or politics per se, so didnt comment there.
btw adding you to my blog! :)
Hey Sakhi.. Thanks :)
Will write on different topics :)
see you around!