Amruta sat on the chair feeling uncomfortable. Was it her feminine instinct which craved for a conversation? Or was it the fact that, for the past two days her husband has completely ignored her. All his attention and care were focused on that shiny black gadget he was holding in his hand. Long before, Amruta had reconciled to the fact that, her husband valued his mobile more than her. It further aggrieved her, when during the last fight, he blurted out, that the mobile was more responsive and gave him happiness than her. Does a non-living object have so much of power, that the only sound in her house for the past two days was from it - either calls or messages, the latter being more?
Amruta wanted revenge. She too had a shiny white gadget. She took it out and with a vengeance, she got down to make it active. And lo.... It was as if, the shiny white gadget was craving for her cuddle and care. In a matter of seconds, the mobile swung into action.
Hardly half an hour passed. The black mobile and the white mobile, competed with each other in breaking the silence of the house. As the mobiles competed, its owners became more vigilant about the ongoing competition. Neither was in a mood to quit or slow down. Even those long forgotten friends from schools and neighborhood where messaged from slumber to win this battle of ringtones.
As the action was becoming more intense, Minu walked in. This 16 year old tall, fair and slim teenager, is a replica of what Amruta was once. But there was a difference, and therein lies the huge gap.
As a 16 year old, Amruta never dared to walk in front of her parents wearing a shorts and tee shirt, whistling, wired in, swaying and lost in her world. Amruta could only imagine that she is listening to some songs from her shiny blue gadget - an expensive gift from her last birthday.
Amruta sat frozen for a minute. She wished, she was dreaming about the whole situation, but no. With a heavy heart she realized, this is reality.
She wondered, why she was upset? The battle of ringtones was on. Her daughter was wired in, hence she didn't have the slightest idea as to what's playing in her mobile. She wanted to ask Minu. But how, with what face? Isn't she guilty of having fun with her own mobile in the first place?
"So you are the parent and you can get away with anything, but when it comes to me, there are ridiculous restrictions?"
"I'm just listening to some songs. What's your problem?"
"Aren't you both already busy with your mobiles? Why bother me?"
Amruta shrugged at the possibility of these questions from Minu. She promptly kept aside her mobile in silent mode. She walked towards her husband. Sat besides him and said, "Our daughter is watching us." She couldn't make out whether he understood the gravity of what she said but for some unknown reason, he agreed to listen to her. He kept aside his mobile, looking lost.
Amruta knew, now she had a chance. She asked Minu about her day. Minu was taken aback. Usually, their conversation starts and ends with a fight. But today her mother wanted to know about her day. She looked at her father, whose expressionless face was even more confusing to her. Minu replied hesitantly, "Its fine".
Amruta smiled, that warm smile of the mother in her, which always melted Minu. In a flash, she pulled out the chords from her ear and started talking - about her classes, her scooty, the traffic, the exams. Minu was elated - because her mother was not fighting but was listening. She was happy because her father was also listening. She was in seventh heaven, because the deafening silence of her house was replaced with laughter....
And there in the corner of the table lay three shiny gadgets, who lost the game this round but is lurking for the next opportunity.
