We haven’t heard from Suju- pati in ages” said Mona- athai looking worried.
“Her telephone’s out too,” said Nita- athai , “We had better go and look her up.”
Sujatha or “Suju- pati ” was their aunt and the grand-aunt of Bullet and Poppet. She lived by herself in Chinnapapasamudram, a suburb of Chennai. Bullet and Poppet jumped up excitedly. Suju- pati’s garden was ideal for playing hide-and-seek!
As the train chugged along green fields and coconut groves, Mona- athai said, “ Her phone seems to be perpetually out of order.”
“Why don’t you get her a mobile?” asked Bullet.
“That’s an idea!” said Mona- athai . “Wonder why we never thought of it before.”
“She’ll never be able to manage it,” said Nita- athai .
“Why not?” protested Poppet, “Even our maid has one.”
“You’re right,” said Mona- athai .
Reaching Suju- pati’s place, they found that her phone had been dead for over a week.
“Why didn’t you complain?” asked Nita- athai .
“No point,” said Suju- pati , “Chandran, the linesman, is away attending a wedding.”
“That’s absurd!” cried Mona athai . “We’re going to buy you a mobile.”
“A mobile?” said Suju- pati , “I’ll never be able to use one.”
“Why not, Suju- pati ?” demanded Bullet. “Everyone does.”
“It isn’t difficult,” added Poppet. “We’ll show you how.”
State-of-the-art
Mona- athai went to the nearest town and got her a beautiful set that very evening. Suju- pati read the price tag and groaned. “So expensive! It’s more than my telephone bill for the whole year!”
“Well, you don’t need to think of the price,” said Mona- athai , “it’s our gift.”
Nita- athai spent the better part of the afternoon teaching Suju- pati how to handle it.
“It’s really very simple,” she said.
“Let’s go to the lakeside and Suju- pati can call Mona athai on her mobile,” suggested Bullet.
Her call came through safely and Mona athai was delighted. “There! What did I tell you?”
“Now, let’s call her and see,” said Poppet. But Suju- pati’s mobile was switched off!
“Suju- pati , you must keep your mobile switched on,” said Bullet, “otherwise how will people speak to you?”
“What! Keep it switched on all the time?” cried Suju- pati aghast.
“Just charge the battery when it’s down,” said Nita- athai . “Plug on the charger like this. See?”
“I don’t see at all!” cried Suju- pati . “What’s the use of buying this expensive phone if I have to do all the work? I never had to do anything to my telephone!”
Mona athai explained the difference patiently.
Finally Suju- athai was able to operate her mobile and the party left for Chennai happily.
They tried calling Suju- pati after they reached home.
“It’s ringing but no one is picking it up!” said Mona- athai frowning, “How strange!”
The same thing happened the next four days. The phone rang but no one picked it up.
“I’ll have to go and see what’s up” said Nita- athai .
Suju- pati met her at the gate.
“Is your mobile working? Where is it?” asked Nita- athai .
In my locker, of course,” said Suju- pati , “you don’t expect me to leave a six-thousand-rupee phone lying around, do you?”
