I was on a vacation after like, months of waiting. The
vacation was meant to be peaceful and devoid of unwanted calls and work. I
couldn’t manage that. No. I was carrying work to be finished and to be
submitted on the scheduled deadline. The mother and the family was annoyed. Why
wouldn’t they? Even I was. How could I just not say No to them? But I had
reasons. The most valid one being responsibility of getting the work done.
But the phone just didn’t stop ringing. And when I didn’t
want to reply, they would simply drop in a message at every hour or minute.
Even when I was out meeting my relatives and friends, the phone would simply
make a sound that said, hey another notification! Read the message and get back
to work. All I wanted to do was relax and sleep, read books, laugh my lungs out
when I meet my cousins and friends. But no. It wasn’t simply happening. Ma got
worried as the dark circles on this face started becoming the highlight and I
looked eternally sick and tired. Even if I wanted, I didn’t have the courage to
switch off the phone, it wasn’t an option even!
But I guess God had different plans to bail me out of this
situation. Something amazing happened. We had planned a short trip to Maldah,
West Bengal on the occasion of a puja that is held annually held. While packing
the bags, I was warned that we would attend a puja and not office or work
calls, or sit there with a laptop and dongle to complete work. Then, it struck
me that overstressing myself wouldn’t do any good to me. I gave a call to the concerned
people informing them about the status of the work and that I needed to travel
with family. I cannot work for the coming 3-4 days and if they wish, I can take
up work after I am back. Thankfully, they agreed and let me go.
And I was on my way to Maldah without a laptop, internet,
and the smartphone. I switched it off and kept it in the cupboard. I told Ma
that I would be using her phone in case I needed to make calls but that would
be a very rare case. It did feel weird to carry just a bag full of clothes and
a book after a long time but the next 3-4 days just did wonders for me. I was
there in a peaceful environment attending the rituals, being part of the
meditation sessions, sit and talk to people whom I hadn’t met for years and
simply relax. I enjoyed my sound sleep without nightmares and panic attacks
about work, not having to wake up by the phone alarm but the ringing of the
temple bells. I even went out for walks with my uncle during the morning hours
before the puja rituals started.
Surprisingly, I didn’t feel incomplete without the
smartphone and the internet. The only thing I knew was that I should be
enjoying my moments of bliss and peace now, sitting aloof from the part of the
world with whom I interact throughout. I can do without them for a few days and
let my mind breathe in some fresh air.
