The Jammer Man !

An old man lost his wife few years back due to depression. Post her death, he developed a disliking for his family also since no one spoke to him and all kept sitting in their corners and were engrossed in their mobiles. His family included - his son, his wife and two grand-children. Sometimes, he couldn’t even make out if anyone was at home - ?even when everyone was there.?

Tired and fed-up with the situation, he decided to ask his family for at least two hours in a week to sit together and talk together. Everyone agreed that the best place would be dining table. But on the dining table also, while having meals, no one left their mobiles.

The formula had failed. Now the old man came with another formula, asking all to watch TV together – may be a good movie. All family members came but again someone was watching Netflix, some Prime and some Disney. This idea too failed.

Few days passed and one day while having late night walk, he met his old friend who was going out for dinner with his family. He was happy and also jealous too. He decided to speak to his friend and take his advice to resolve his issue.

His friend said – “I was too suffering from the same syndrome and I decided to secretly install “Signal Jammer” switch it on through remote for about 1-2 hours daily during breakfast and dinner.?Not able to get the signals my family had only one option – and that is to talk to each other.

The idea was good and then the “Signal Jammer” was installed in his room.?

He adopted the same strategy his friend had suggested. With remote, he switched on “Signal Jammer” during morning breakfast first. Everyone panicked - “God this signal. Again signal issue.” ?The old man smiled and started eating his breakfast. After 5 minutes he initiated the conversation by asking his son – “How is your work happening. I believe everything is going great.” The son started explaining the current scenario.

Next day too the old man did the same thing. Now he asked his grandchildren about their studies and sports etc. The kids started speaking about the school, teachers, games and exams. The old man also started sharing stories and old memories and how naughty their father was in childhood.

Then next day, his daughter in-law also started telling about the new things she was leaning.?

After few days this old man decided to apply “Signal Jammer” during dinner time also. But now the reactions were not that strong.?The atmosphere had started changing.

Few days passed and one day before the dinner, the old man decided to put forward his desire to have South Indian meals. Since it was not immediate possible, the only option was to go out to a restaurant. Loaded in their car, sitting on the front seat with his son, they all went to nearby restaurant.

As they all walked inside, the old man saw his very same friend sitting with his family and enjoying food. They both mischievous shared smile and also their thumbs-up?. The old man assured that he engaged the entire family with his stories and incidents. Everyone laughed and enjoyed.?The strategy was working perfectly.

When all came back from the restaurant and everyone went back to their room wishing good-night, and the old man also came back in his room, suddenly, his door knocked and he saw his daughter-in-law standing and smiling.

She whispered very softly, folding her hands and tears rolling out of her eyes - “Thank You Papa”.

The old man was stunned. He had no idea what had happened. He smiled and asked his daughter-in-law to explain - “What happened Beta. Thank you for what”.?

The daughter-in-law handed him the remote of “Signal Jammer” to him and said - “Papa, I knew when you got the “Signal Jammer” installed in your room. I only paid the person in cash so that no one knows about this secret. I also saw you exchanging smile with your friend in restaurant. After many long days, I saw you relaxed and enjoying every bit of minute when we all are together. I had also seen tears rolling out of your eyes when you succeeded first in making everyone talk. And, I saw you creating and telling stories that were more of fantasies. In all this happiness Papa, today you forgot to switch-off “signal jammer”, and I did it for you. After many years we all looked like a family. This ‘mobile’ has made all of us ‘immobile’. Thank you for bringing all of us together.”?

The old man was silent and happy, even though his plan was no more a secret. He could realise the need for talking to each other in his daughter-in-law eyes. His throat chocked and he just whispered - “Jeete Raho Beta”.

The daughter-in-law turned back and went to her room. Not realising that, in the dark shadow, there was one more person who was listening to all this conversation. Standing silently – he was a son, a father and a husband. After all, he was the one who had left cash in the drawer to be paid to the “Electrician”. He knew “Mobile Jammers” cannot be installed in the houses, and instead, he installed a remote switch that disconnected the Wifi-Signals.

No one wanted to challenge what the old man had decided. No one wanted to know that they know everything. What they realised was - “Why he decided to take this extreme step.”

Guess, the old-man kept applying the “Signal Jammer” for few more days and gradually, the mobile phone disappeared from the dining table.