Land Line Phones

from my memories..

I have done all my schooling from a single school and never had to change it. Although I had many friends in school, but three of us were the best ones. One wrote stories with me, other one gave me a lift to school every day on his Hero Ranger cycle. When the school was completed, we made a pact that whatever happens we will meet each other thrice every year, on each one's birthday. We followed the pact for few years. Now since we all are in different parts of the world, it is not practically possible and moreover we have lost touch. 

When  we were about to complete our 10th class, sooner or later we all had land-line phones at our homes, which was a great thing to own at that time. Through Land line  phones when we called our friends, we had to talk to each others families also. This way we kept in touch with each others parents and siblings also. The family values and culture came naturally to us. Whereas now with mobile phones it is so easy to talk to a friend. You just send a short text message to him/her directly and the message is conveyed, no one else has to know. Earlier you will have to talk to your friend's mother, brother or sister, say hello to them, ask them how they are, and tell them what is going on with you.This way you become friends with all of them and this encourages family culture and respect. Parents always knew who their kids are going out with.

One more interesting thing about those land-line phones. For our early morning walks, we had a Phone ring code system to call each other without disturbing others. If I woke up earlier (which I did mostly), I will give a small ring on my friends phone, and if he gets up and is ready to go for walk, he will send a small ring back to confirm. No call charges to be paid, free communication. :). However this system sometimes failed when I got up early and reached our usual meeting spot for early morning walk and my friend sleeps again after sending confirmation ring.

At one time, since I loved to write, I had sent my address to a local news papers "Pen Friends" column. Even when the phone number was not published, people (mostly girls ;) ) got the number from the directory and used to call me. It was really fun (for a while) to talk to some of them. Before that phone used to ring for me only on rare occasions like my birthday or calling for their birthday, or annual Diwali and New year wishes.