Connections We need

A day before the Budget announcement, my phone went bust early in the morning, only to leave me in a day-long tizzy.

I am an active user of digital banking, so I hardly keep cash at home. The little sum that I had went to fund my son’s morning cab to school and daily pocket money for lunch. I was unwittingly caught in a situation where I had no money in my hands and was left wondering how to reach office (for a business journalist, the day before the Budget is critical for last-minute planning to ensure the important news day runs smoothly). I couldn’t access the cab-hailing or grocery apps, which are linked to my UPI and credit card. My spouse was travelling so I couldn’t seek immediate help either.

Fortunately, my mother was visiting me at the time. I borrowed some money and the phone from her, but that was not the end of my troubles. Since she uses the phone mostly to make calls and exchange a few WhatsApp messages, she didn’t have the common apps that I require. I downloaded them, but I could not link any of my digital wallets to her phone because, well, the one-time password would be sent to my registered number.

The day became more hectic as I had to rush to the nearest market for milk and groceries, then to the nearest ATM which does not happen to be in the nearest market for me, and leave the phone with the mobile repair shop before I could leave for office.

While most of us have some idea about how dependent we are on our phones, the extent to which its absence can affect our lives dawned upon me that morning, but by the end of the day, I viewed my day differently. I actually managed to survive the day with minor adjustments.

It was not that difficult to arrange cash, which I was used to doing only till a few years ago, before Covid hit, to be precise. I had to step out of the house to buy groceries and withdraw cash, which was not all that bad. I survived an important work day largely without any glitches even though I must have missed a ton of calls and messages (emails on my laptop kept me busy and updated of course). Secretly, I was also relieved that it was not incumbent upon me to answer all calls or messages, and I could choose who I wanted to contact that day. Still, I gave in to the constant feeling of missing out something important, and bought a new phone on my way back from office as the repair could take time.

On the other hand, my mother didn’t seem to miss her phone all day. While I was using it, there were no missed calls, notifications or messages crowding the phone. I asked her about it later and realised why she wasn’t perturbed when I borrowed her phone that day. She has her own routine for the day—when she is visiting, she likes to spend time on spiritual pursuits, a bit of cooking, and putting things in order that I, my spouse and my help so often miss out doing. Otherwise, even at 76, she likes to live independently in another city and manages the household alone along with a help. In her free time, she volunteers at a community-led spiritual place, as it gives her a sense of purpose and fulfilment, instead of spending time on her phone or watching television.

It made me realise how important it is to keep oneself engaged in old age, whether it is to earn money or to simply feel productive and fulfilled. Life is about the people we love and the things we do for them and ourselves. There’s no retirement from living.