Progress

 As a senior citizen she struggled to learn how to use her new mobile phone, a beauty her daughter and son-in-law had bought her with love. It had features she had never used before - like a camera, and internet, with chat applications. Her grandson helped her patiently to learn the basics of how to use a chat app so she could send voice messages, and answer the video calls whenever they called. “You also can call us, ajji! You just have to press this button”, he enthusiastically explained. “You can call me even if parents don’t answer the calls. But only after my school hours”, said the precocious 12-year old. 

Before she knew she was part of several family groups to chat. There were umpteen good morning messages, loads of videos of temples and other religious places that many other seniors like her shared. The younger ones too weren’t far behind in forwarding interesting videos and pictures and news tidbits. She consumed them all with interest for the first few days. One day, she chose to record a message and share in the groups she was part of. Since there were three separate family groups, her only grouse was she had to record the same message three times. Her grandson wasn’t around to explain how she could share the same message across groups!

“Dear Bandhu,

“I am so impressed with all those messages you share each day in the group. It has made me learn about so much new and feel as though I myself have travelled to those exotic places. I thank you all for them. There are many life lessons too that we all could implement.  

“However, I am more interested in news about yourselves. What is happening in your lives, and what you have been doing, etc. Will you please start sharing such messages too?”

Her voice message received scores of thumbs up and applause emojis. She felt happy. She looked forward to hearing updates from all her relatives, distant and near.  

Next day, people sent updates on their lives to ajji in the group. A few more followed thereafter.  The happiness though was short-lived. The messages in the group reverted to be the same old forwards soon after. Sure and soon enough her daughter called to school her on the etiquette of engagement!