Disconnect to Bond

 Disconnect to Bond

A family of four—a father, mother, a teenage daughter, and a son—were laughing and having fun. The giggling was nonstop, and they were pulling each other's legs in the midst of the candlelight placed in the centre of the hall. Once the power resumed, they started playing some board games, and all four hit the bed, wishing each other good night.

The next morning, an old man came to the house and handed over four different covers to each family member. He did not speak a single word and left the house. Once the old man left, each family member opened the cover to take out their respective mobile phones.

The next weekend, the old man came on Saturday morning to collect the mobiles from all the family members and returned them on Sunday evening.

After 12 weeks, the old man assembled all four family members and asked them to narrate what happened over the weekend. Each person started appreciating each other, highlighting their needs and the fun they had. The father said that after many long years, they were interacting with each other and their bonding had improved.

The old man said, "If my son and my daughter-in-law had spent time with my grandson like this, he would not have committed suicide. The reason I forced you to hand over your mobiles is to ensure that you all live well for each other. After my grandson's death, I volunteered and met families like yours and collected their mobiles."

"If you learn to disconnect from your mobiles regularly to spend time with your family, such disconnection will help you connect with your family better. I know that I will not get my grandson back, but I can prevent many grandsons and granddaughters from such isolation."

"If you don't have such an old man around you, you can still stay away from your mobile while your children demand more attention."

M.L.Narendra Kumar