The Stupid Box...err...Screen....!!

Recently my father had watched a show in the Discovery Channel which showed how in Korea (north or south I do not remember) kids especially teens, addicted to mobile phones and the video games are becoming mentally ill. A guy in his twenties died after playing non-stop video game for about 50 hours.

And they too have a Rehab center where the parents send their kids to help them return to normal life.

Now, does that ring a bell on your head? No? Yes, it didn’t mine either while I sat in the couch checking my Facebook updates on my phone beside him watching the show. But the same was not the case with him. After that day he has been intimidating any kid/teenager, usually my nephews and cousins by offering them some piece of advice or the other on the disadvantages of the mobile addiction. Previously I used to get away easily on the long hours on my laptop as my parents thought I was  working from home but not now. My father checks on me every 30 mins asking me to rest my eyes. And the arguments like “I am reading the news headlines on the mobile” doesn’t work anymore.

“You know in Korea….”, he would start while I had to cut him short by saying “Yes yes Dad, I watched it too but I am no kid anymore.”

Just like my parents kept an eye on me to check me from watching too much of TV, I think it’s  high time now to put a check on the excessive television and the content  they are watching. I think it would also be a good Idea to show a senior citizen disclaimer before some shows.

Few weeks ago  all of us were going out on a dinner and we were late. We were in a hurry and my father was locking the front door when he saw that the main door of the neighbor was half open and also the elevator collapsible gate was not closed properly. He stood there staring at the half open door and putting on his deducing hat while I kept reminding him the time. We had a new family moved into a vacant flat a day before and we had not had our introduction yet.

“Don’t you watch Crime Patrol”, he hissed, “they tell us to be alert at the end of each show!”. 

“Daddy, they must have just forgot to close the door!”,I sounded Irritated.

“Hushh..” And he started peeking into their flat!

My mother had unlocked our door by now and is searching something from the Diary kept beside the telephone. I was literally embarrassed and watch the whole thing jaws dropped.

My father knocks on the neighbors door and the Son of the family (who may b in his early twenties) comes out after taking longer time than usual wiping the beads of water droplets in from his face in a hand towel. I could sense his confusion looking into may fathers panicked expression by then.

“Ummm… Errrr.. I … Actually I saw your door half open.. And you know its better to be alert…and also we have not had our introduction So..”, my father is surely searching for words. My boy smiled re-assuringly and told that everything was OK and agreed that it had been careless of him as he returned from his class in a hurry. I was very embarrassed and rolled my eyes on my father and went inside our flat to see what my mother was up to.

"What are you doing Mom?”

“I had noted down the number and m not getting it now.”

“Whose number?”

“The Crime Patrol people…it was...”

“What!! ”

Just then my father entered after having our formal introduction with our neighbors and said “Its all fine….the kid…. He left the door open in a hurry…. Nice boy…”

“Shall we go now.. we are already late..”, I interrupted.

All through the dinner the topic of discussion was the crimes happening all around even in places we think that are very safe while I ate my food silently.

P.S.: I love them anyway.... :) :)