Back in the 90's, communication device was a shared family asset. For those who didn't have access to landline phones at home, STD-ISD-PCO-cum-Xerox centres came in handy. Remember that creaking sound of small bills being printed on tiny rolls of paper the moment the receiver was put down???
We had a dial-pad landline phone at home. I thought this was pretty cool, until I chanced upon a rotary-dial model at a neighbour's place. It was love-at-first-sight!!! Every now and then, I used to find excuses to go to uncle's house, just to get a chance to play with those magical, rotary dials. Most of the times, the need to make calls from someone else's phone was genuine. However, occasionally, I used to cook up bogus excuses such as "Our landline is not working, have to call dad. Urgent", which worked just fine. Instant access. I used to pretend calling a number, and then say "Line is busy" and leave. In doing so, the primary aim was achieved, without any collateral damage. White lies. Sometimes, when uncle /aunty was outside earshot distance, busy with their chores, I used to do miniature role-plays, pretending to be a grown-up, dealing with some office shit!! Reminessant of a by-gone era, these landline phones provided sound exercise for the mind. Didn't we all remember half of the numbers by heart? For everything else, there was that diary, which had all the numbers, written alphabetically. Any wrong entry, upon discovery, fetched much rebuke and ridicule. The style quotient of these archaic devices was taken for granted then. In hindsight, I must admit the product design exuded oomph and class, which can put all the Galaxies and the iPhone to shame. Any day!!!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
ConceptOnce in a while, we all reminisce about the good ol' childhood days. Back when the lifestyle had a carefree rhythm. Archives
August 2020
|