Inseparable

Pooja lived with her Husband and her 10-year-old Son and was very content in her life. Son, Rean was studying in an International school, very close to her house in his 5th grade and he was reasonably good at studies.

Srinivas was a production Head for a Pharmaceutical company, He would invariably be back home by 6PM, unless there was a breakdown or any major issues’ in the factory.

Pooja qualified in Micro biology and had to resigned from her job after the birth of Rean and got busy with her son and post that never felt the need of getting back to a job.

She was an active member of their residential society with close to 500 Independent houses; she was elected as a Secretary in their welfare association, she was “go to man” for any kind of trouble in the society. She was also involved with a social working and a spiritual organisation.

Her schedule and aspiration were simple and content, after sending her kid and Husband to school and office, she used to take her scooter and go to the association office, she used to check if all the requirements of the colony were met, because of her tireless effort the colony was awarded the “Green and Clean” award by the government for the consecutive last two years.

She made it a point to be back home before her son returned home, Help Rean to do his home work and spend a lot of time reading books for him on varied subjects and also played. She was not very keen watching Television, and didn’t allow Rean also.

When Srinivas was back she and Rean, welcomed him with a big smile and then they both would have coffee together and share the entire days activities with each other. This was the time Rean was allowed to watch TV for a while.           

After having an early Dinner all three would go out for a walk, sit for a while in the colony Temple, come back home and Sleep.

Monthly once they made it a point to go for a Movie and thereafter dinner at a very nice restaurant.

Summer Vacation was at Srinivas Parents House and Christmas vacations were at Pooja’s Parents House and they would take Rean for a Holiday to exotic location in India in Dassara vacations.

Everyone known to them would appreciate for the kind of disciplined life style they would follow. 

Pooja’s Brother, Ravi visited them and it had been more than Six years that he and his family had come to India.

Ravi had brought a lot of gifts for everyone in the house; in fact, he and Srinivas were classmates and close friends as well. He gifted a Laptop to his brother in law and a Higher End Phone for his sister and loads of toys and chocolates for Rean.

Pooja said, why do I need such a High-end phone, I am using a phone, which can receive and dial calls and if required some SMS, Ravi Said, “Sis, today’s Phone is just not for calling, you have many other things which you can do with it, let me explain…”

He continued “Now you can get in touch with all your old classmates and friend with social Media, book tickets for movies, do your banking, book a cab, know your health parameters and many more, all in your hand”

She interrupted and said, “I do all that from my system, and I don’t have any urgency to find out every minute about what is there in my bank and chat with my friends”

Ravi Said, “I have got you this smart watch synced with your phone, and I want you to use it that’s it, I am not going to talk to you about its advantages now, you will learn by yourself in some time and that’s it, discussion ends.” And he places the phone in her hand.

After some time, he picks up the phone and took a pic of the entire family and uploads on her Facebook and puts that as a status in her whatsapp and Instagram… Pooja starts getting reactions from all her friends instantly; she was happy and got chatting and catching up with some of her friends…

She was added by many of her friends in school groups, Girls School group and then pre-college group, college and her ex-colleagues and many other groups, one from her colony’s kitty group as well…and she was surprised to find, her Bhajan team also had a group.

She was added into the entire group as she was an active member, but was not carrying a smart phone till now. She took some time to understand the operation of the phone and how it works.

In a few days she became an expert in handling the phone, now she liked cooking new recipe and took help from a number of site available, she felt it handy to read and prepare in kitchen itself and would comment her feedback on the site as well, not only that, her new recipe would be displayed in her Facebook and other social Media.

She was very active in the entire group and would have a comment or opinion on whatever posting in her WhatsApp, she was spending a lot of time with her Mobile.

Teaching Rean had moved to Youtube, she would want him to see explanation of his subject and understand it visually.

She was looking at postings of her classmates, who were working in different countries, the way they were travelling and parties every weekend…Somewhere in her heart she also wanted to do that.

Being active in association activities and in her social activities, just to overcome her complex, she started posting all activities on the social media. From tree plantation to her Bhajan or visiting a Slum to do service, more than the actual work, now her focus was on, if the photo is shot well and then she would write details describing the activity, which would be made up, most of the time.

Now she would want Srinivas to take them out to different restaurants. Malls and all happening places every week end, the idea was to click nice photos and post.

She went to the extent of buying the most fashionable clothing, so that she can look hip and happening… She once suggested Srinivas to change the car as it was four years old, and the reason was “what will friends think, we are driving the same car for such a long time”, but he put his foot down.

Whenever her friends visited her from abroad, the entire group would get together and what’s next??? mutual appreciation for each other, they would bombard photos.

Without realizing, Rean was being neglected and his performance had gone done, Pooja always was very supportive and would encourage Rean to do well, but now she was blaming him for spending a lot of time on TV, and not studying and was scolding him.

If Srinivas would try to put forward any of his point with regards to her mobile addiction, she would immediately revert back with all the feminist ideologies, she has learned from her WhatsApp university and tell him that I am not going for a job, that is the very reason you are ridiculing me, and would say I am going to apply for a job. Srinivas was not sure how to handle her addition and kept quite so that there is not much trouble at home.

Looking at her friends, she now started insisting Srinivas to apply for jobs abroad and even asked her brother’s help him to find one.

Spending time with family had become a rare event and Mobile would be always with her…if she is also in a group, she would be checking her message. She was staying back late-night chatting with her friends and that was affecting her sleep very badly. she started getting moody and Irritated … any notification on her mobile, she would instantly jump to check. Srinivas was noticing the change, but he could hardly do anything, if he would mention anything about her mobile there would be an argument at home, so he kept away from her mobile and she also started locking her mobile.

One of the days when she was video chatting with her friend Sree, she gave coffee to Srinivas. Sree could see Srinivas running to the sink and spiting the coffee out, and flushed the cup of coffee down, she asked “what is the matter”? Srinivas came up and said “your friend has put salt instead of Sugar in coffee”, everyone laughed it out, but somewhere Pooja understood, she is not able to focus, and mobile was creating trouble in her life.

Next few days, she wanted to put an effort to keep the mobile away, but the moment she heard a notification, she couldn’t resist… and marathon nonstop browsing used to start. She even tried keeping the mobile off, but the moment she finds herself alone, she would switch on… After trying to put an effort from her end, she one day admitted to Srinivas that she is facing these issues and would like to get out of it…

Srinivas appreciated that she has realised, but was not clear how to take it further…and that’s when she gets a notification on her Instagram and she opens to view the video and engrossed in that and moves on the next and next…Srinivas kept wondering, what can he do to help her out and get his family peace back.

Pooja and her Mobile- Inseparable, still waiting for Help....