“Well, How can Silence have a sound when it literally means absence of sound” is the very first thought that used to come to my mind (and perhaps to your mind also) on reading this line earlier. Not anymore.
I first got a mobile phone about 8 years ago, primarily for communication purposes and also as an alternative to my existing landline. But soon came a mobile phone with FM radio, internet, e-mail, gaming, Bluetooth, MS Office, MP3, dual SIM, calendar, camera with video recorder and MMS. It was pretty much an alternative for my laptop.
Despite such oceans of features available in my new gizmo, the one basic feature that has enthralled me and kept a tab on my wallet while I effectively communicate is the missed call. Today it has become an important part of my (and I am sure yours too :-) ) life. I receive my day’s first missed call at 6.00 in the morning from my friend for our cricket game signaling ‘Wake up Buddy! Let’s play’. I may miss a few cover drives or leg glances in the game but never forget to give a missed call to my mom at the fag end of the game to keep my breakfast ready.
While having lunch, my colleague gives me a missed call, reminding me that there are only minutes left to catch the company cab. I can’t afford to miss the missed call for dinner from my buddies at office, because it is as good as missing their company at the dinner table, along with some interesting and important (you know what kind of important) conversations. During the fag end of my shift my Cab driver throws a volley of miscalls to me to let me know that he is waiting for us, making me think sometimes as to “Who is serving whom ?“. And did I forget to mention the one missed call I (not only me but everybody) literally can not afford to miss. Yeah, you guessed it correct, girlfriend.
In between all the day’s schedule, a missed call from her means, call me back! The most important of all the missed calls one gets during the day, one cannot afford to miss it, or else be ready to pay heavy penalty both psychologically and economically. I have become so habituated to the missed call that when my friend called the other morning to tell me he wouldn’t make it for the match; I ignored his call assuming it to be his regular missed call!
One survey done by some firm says the most commonly used application on mobile phones is SMS text messaging, with 74 per cent of mobile phone users vouching for it. I feel, however, that if a missed call application ever existed, it would certainly have trumped messaging by leaps and bounds. While my mobile phone bills are plummeting, my inter-personal relationships are soaring; thanks to the “heavenly” missed call. The missed call communication involves a very simple yet powerful protocol of mutual understanding and trust and is extremely effective in saving precious talk time making you more productive(which we hear more these days, no prizes for guessing why :-) ).
While attending a soft skill session, I was recently told about non-verbal communication where messages are exchanged through facial expression, body language, posture, gesture or eye contact. I fully agree with the list, but of course I still feel though that the missed call is still missing its true place over there. I hope you also agree........
By Raj
