Life Without Phone

Life Without Phone

 

“This is a story of a kid, Jerin, who wanted a phone, but when the time came to fulfill his wish. He stepped back, but why?”

Jerin belonged to a lower middle-class family, consisting: father, mother, sister, and grandmother. His father is a plumber, and his mother supports his father to run the family by selling pickles, and snacks. His sister is 5 years older than Jerrin, but more responsible, she understands the circumstances of family, and contributes her share by taking tuitions. Jerrin is the youngest one, studying in 5th standard. He is the trouble-maker, always comes with new demand, because he was the youngest of the family, his every demand used to be granted.

One day, he was returning from the school with his friend exchanging latest gossips.

Sam: Do you know, Chris bought a new mobile?

Jerin: oh! Really.

Sam: Yes, his life will become so easy now.

Jerin: What? How is that possible?

Sam: You do not know; with the help of the mobile phone, he can make call to anyone at any-time. He can see all kind of cartoons in mobile.

Jerin: Seriously! OMG, that is wonderful, Is this phone such a wonderful thing?

Sam: My Friend, there is no life without phone. That is why I have decided to ask my father for a phone.

Jerin felt awful, in their home there was no phone. He reached home, and told her sister that, we should buy a phone. Sister was aware of the family’s condition; she said, we will buy the phone once our financial condition becomes better. But Jerin was adamant of his demand. He confronted his father about his new desire.

Jerin: Do you know father, what Sam was saying?

Father: What?

Jerin: There is no life without phone.

Father: It’s all rubbish, we are living a joyful life without phone (Said with a subtle smile)

Jerin: No father, you do not understand. Phone is so essential; it has several uses. You can make call to anyone at any time, you do not have to wait in STD booth or for post man for your messages.

Father: I know, phone has several uses, and we will get one for sure! But not now, I have lots of other expenses to look after.

Jerin did not say a word, and left from there. He decided to not eat anything until his wish is fulfilled. Everyone tried to convince him, but nothing could change his mind. At last, father agreed to buy the phone, and said to wakeup early, so that he can go with him to purchase phone. In the pleasure of getting new phone, He went to sleep early. After some time, he hears someone calling his name. He woke up, it was a white room but there was neither entrance nor exit. He got anxious, and started looking for his parents. Finally, he heard a voice saying, “Hello Jerin! How are you?” He saw a huge man dressed in white shirt and pants, with white beard. Jerin got petrified, and asked timidly, “Who are you? Where are my parents?” White man introduced himself as an angel. Jerin felt reluctant to accept his words.

Jerin: Oh! Come on, angel exists only in books, and cartoons.

Angel: Well! Here I am.

Jerin: Okay, why did you bring me here.

Angel: Because, I am the one who grant wishes and, I got your application for a phone, and I want to cross check whether you truly want or not?

Jerin: What do you mean? I know what I want, and that is why I demanded, just do your work, and allow me to go back. Tomorrow, I must wake up early.

Angel: Fine. Why do you want it?

Jerin: Because there is no life without phone.

Angel: Hahaha! Poor child, so aren’t you living now?

Jerin: Yes! But what do I have in this boring life?

Angel: Let me show you a glimpse of life with phone.

Jerin: Wow, it would be wonderful!

(Angel creates a portal)

1st scene: All the playgrounds are vacant! No one is interested to play in playground as all the children are busy with their online games. Hence, the playgrounds are being transformed into shopping malls, house plot.

2nd scene: It was Jerin’s grandmother, she was waiting for Jerin to tell the bed-time stories, but he was busy with his phone. Grandmother felt sad, and a kind of loneliness.

3rd scene: It was Ramu postman, who visits Jerin’s house often to deliver the letter. He was sad because he lost his job. As everyone bought phones, there were no letters to deliver.

4th scene: It was a library scene, where books were talking among themselves of how smart phone has taken their place. There were only a couple of people in library. It was the same place where Jerin used to visit with his friends to read comics.

Angel stopped showing the glimpses, and asked, so how was the life with phone?

(The whole room was brimming with unknow silence. Jerin felt his words were trembling, he was recalling all the beautiful moments which he spent on playground; with grandmother, Ramu postman, and in Library with his friends.)

Jerin, timidly, “I am wrong! Of course, the phone will offer many things but it will take away the opportunity to build beautiful memories with my loved ones. I thought there is no life without phone, but never realized that life without phone is also beautiful!”

Angel: My son! Sooner or later; the phone is going to rule the world, but decide how much power you are going to give to this revolution. You application is with me, whatever your decision may be, it will be granted.

(Jerin hears his father’s calling, he wakes up and realizes it was a dream. Jerrin walks to the passage where his father was waiting for him)

Father: Come on Jerin! Get ready quickly. The shop might be opened.

Jerrin in low voice: No father, I do not want to the phone right now!

Father: What? But, you said, there is no life without phone.

Jerrin: What I have is precious: I have peace, joy, and an opportunity to build real bond. I know, phone is essential, but you can buy when there is actual need for you. Speaking for me, I need time to create relationship, memories with real people, embrace the change, and set the boundary, so that I would not lose the precious things I already have, and sorry for troubling you with unworthy demands.

(Father, mother, and sister were astonished of how wisely their little one is speaking, and grandmother at the corner listening to all these was thanking the angel. Angel with a mischievous smile stamped the application “rejected.”)