Mocked & Blocked

Try as consumers and authorities might, unsolicited callers remain as mentally indigent as ever. A flustered TRAI is preparing to sock them with all its powers

- RAJEEV NARAYAN

"I won't curse you, I won't wish you well. I wish you nothing. May our lives never touch again. Be happy or be sad. Be whatever you want. Just be far away from me." -Shi Collantes

Given my profession, my social circle and my extra-curricular activities, my phone rings more than that of most. My fast-approaching 'Senior Citizen' status be damned, I am still a budding youngster at heart, just about beginning to discover the wonders that life has to offer. Forget my limbs which have begun emitting sporadic, creaking sounds, or my vision which seems fuzzier than it used to be, I can still and very clearly see that which really matters. Therefore, I refuse to accept I am at the crossroads where life comes full circle and Gulab Jamuns again become more enticing than adventures in the Himalayas or tête-à-têtes with members of the fairer sex. Abhi toh main jawaan hoon.

But brash and youthful as I am, I have to admit that the week just gone by was trying and frustrating. In five days, I received 248 unsolicited calls. Add to this number the calls that I did solicit, or deviously stage-manage, and the 'workload' was nearly too much to cope with (given my resolve to avoid all stimulants mental and physical). I suffered through the week, and that led my thoughts to coincide with the quote above, from Collantes.

Despite DNC ('Do Not Call') and DND (Do Not Disturb) registers maintained by telecom companies, there is just no stopping the annoying people who call to sell insurance, investment plans, the latest cars and getaway homes in the hills, apart from myriad other things. We can be polite and thank them, rude and use profanities, or delve into sarcasm and innuendo. Nothing works.

TRAI Back in Rescue Mode