Microwaves are dangerous but to me, more potential danger lies in the sound waves that emanate from the mobile users. Imagine, you are sitting quietly on the window side seat in a bus, may be thinking on something important or may be at peace with yourself and suddenly the device rings… with an unexpected or unlisted kind of sound wave. The person at your end responds with an overwhelming and emotional gesture; may be a call from his/ her beloved one. But then soon it becomes a running commentary of where s/he is now, passing through which bus stop, what number bus, whether a seat has been managed and afterwards more extended discussions on family or personal affairs, advising and opining on something or the other. The commentary goes on and on and on. .. On some other occasion you may be next to a business agent and get to know how he is able to manipulate his valued customers. You of course learn so much from the one sided (or sometimes both ways) verbal exchanges.

Now what do you think? Suddenly you get unsettled! You virtually enter into the world of someone else, quite unknowingly. Suddenly a new found love emerges between the users and the device. The instrument is adored by the owner and used so much that reminds me of the children in love with their precious toys. The commentary continues virtually everywhere… on the train and bus, in the shopping plaza, in the fish market, in the public toilets, while in the middle of the road, while driving bikes or cars and so on. Even if you forget your personal discomfort, the conversations often happen in such a precarious situation like when one is crossing the road or somehow getting a handle of a crowded bus and so on that we can’t help but worry about.

On the other day, I somehow had to be at a girl’s residence for a possible match for my cousin. The elders had friendly discussions on all sorts of things under the sun. However, the girl (I noticed, traditionally dressed and a mobile held at hand) hardly talked or showed any interest in anything going on. I invited her to talk on something…her aunt commented, ‘You see, this generation, they can talk only on a mobile!’