Gerald D'Cunha

I had been having only one problem with this, otherwise smart young-man: he doesn’t communicate with me whenever he is unable to attend his class, or reach in time. Now, it is not only with me, his friends, too, tell the same thing to me: “Sir, he is bad in communicating.” My brief to my students is very simple: “Please pick up your phone and talk to me; or text me. At least, inform me through one of your friends.” No, this young-man – and there are many more like him – just do not realize how important such a communication is. They just ignore, take it for granted. And, then, when they surface, after some days, they get one more long-nasty-sermon from me! “Thrilled and Proud!!!” this boy’s FB Status read the other day, “Got the best b’day-gift of my life – ‘ iPhone 5’!!!!” I smiled in my heart… “Happy b’day, dear,” I wished him in my heart, “hope, your ‘best gift’ will make some difference!!!” Your iPhone...

For the last two days, I have been having a very bad cold. My head was heavy and eyes were sleepy. So, after taking a strong doze of medicines, last night, I went into a deep sleep. My son stayed late to study for his board exams; my wife had to leave early this morning, and hence, went off to sleep early, too. At 11 in the night, the SMSes stared flashing. "There has been firing at several places in Mumbai by the terrorists," our son knocked on our bed-room door to break the news. But, my sleep wasn't broken. After he left, my wife hit the bed again. But then, she struggled to catch sleep after that. At 1.30 am, my mobile phone rang; she picked up. My younger brother from Navi Mumbai spent the next half-an-hour giving her the 'live coverage' of the going-ons. This time, she tried to wake me up. "Listen. It seems, they are showing on TV the live coverage of the terror attack on Mumbai," she somewhat succeeded in breaking her husband's unusual snooze....