The power of technology

It is a simple request from a mother to her daughter — "Darling, do me a favour and get me the newspaper from my bedroom please?"

No response. My fault for intruding, she is busy reading a mobile text and I know the importance of being in touch with the world — which is precisely why I need the newspaper.

Of course, in my time, ‘touching base' was something we did occasionally. These days, it has a more permanent meaning, especially when it concerns anything that is transmitted electronically. Somehow fingers and keypads are not that easy to separate.

A few seconds later I try again, "Darling, can you get me the newspaper from my bedroom please?"

No response. How rude can I be? Give her a few seconds to reply to the text message. Haven't I always insisted on not interrupting others?

So, a few seconds later, I try another gentle request, "Sweetheart, can you please get me the newspaper? It's upstairs in my room".

No response. Perhaps she didn't hear me? I do tend to mumble sometimes.

A little louder and crisper this time, but no pressure at all, "Honey, I really need the newspaper, can you bring it down please?"

Can it be that she actually does not hear me? Her eyes are completely transfixed on the mobile screen.

Now I seriously begin to get concerned. I recall seeing this movie about a person who died so suddenly that her spirit still continued with daily chores and got increasingly frustrated because no one seemed to notice her.

That accounts for the lack of response — I am dead!

A quick, painful pinch test proves otherwise and now I take it personally. I challenge myself to get through to this ‘techno-teen' frozen before me. Ego conquers my inbuilt maternal patience and I give it one last shot.

"Sweetheart, can you hear me? Today's newspaper? On my bed? Can you get it for me please?" Just a hint of agitation can be heard through clenched teeth, but no — nothing! Not even a blink!

By and large, increased decibels from my vocal chords kick-starts obedience, but hey; I am no old-fashioned mother. I am a new-age mother who believes in and understands the wonders of technology. I am a mother who realises the necessity of moving with the times.

So I whip out my Blackberry and start typing energetically — in upper case of course, to convey my current state of mind:

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, ALL MOBILE AND INTERNET SERVICES WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS. WE DO APOLOGISE FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE. HOWEVER, SHOULD TODAY'S NEWSPAPER NOT REACH THE TV ROOM IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS, WE WILL UNFORTUNATELY HAVE TO EXTEND THE SUSPENSION FOR 30 DAYS, AS WELL AS TERMINATE TELEVISION BROADCASTING TILL FURTHER NOTICE.

WE WISH YOU A PLEASANT DAY.

Beep ...

Do I detect movement?

Are eyeballs darting across the screen? Are eyebrows moving in closer together? Are eyes slowly peeling away from the phone to glare at me? Are legs very reluctantly unfolding to hit the ground? In an agonisingly slow, sloth-like movement, is a body hauling itself out of an armchair?

Exactly 10 seconds later, the day's headlines stare at me.

The power of technology! How did we survive without it?

Almas Menon is a freelance writer based in Dubai.