The phone number.
Especially the cell phone number. Those ten digits that can get you through to any person at any time.
One my closest friends called me from her land line and whilst punching in the numbers realised that this number had remained the same for the past six years or so.
It was second semester of first year. Cell phones were banned in Stella, which obviously meant that everyone had it. After convincing my parents, my mother actually, of the need for a girl to have a cell phone when she was away from home, and that their arguments like your brother did not have cell phone in college did not hold since the times had changed, I arrived in hostel with a brand new Samsung phone.A navy blue R220. Samsung, because my family were anti-Nokia and hence so was I.
After the initial ooh-aahs, and the hiding it in the cupboard so that the warden does not snoop upon it, I dragged the same afore mentioned friend to the Hutch Shop to get the SIM.
Now the Hutch Shop at TTK Road, at that time, was just brand new, so it was all swanky and cool. It was populated by nice looking chaps, who were more commonly referred to as birds. Starring at them birds was a good way to pass time, when one had to go there. Had forgotten to take my ID card, so went back to hostel, got it and came back. and soon, had my first cell phone number. I remember choosing the number cause there were no zeros in it , and is sounded nice to say it.
Then proceeded to tell the whole world about it.
Time flew. Three years completed. Friends moved to newer places and hence had newer phone numbers.I remained in Chennai, for another two years.
Then, friends again moved to newer places. New phone numbers again. Some lost phones, some lost faith in their network service providers. Again new phone numbers.
These people got to mark every new beginning with a new phone number. Some because it was a new city, some because it was a new college, some because it was a new job, and some because of a new relationship.
Where was I? Two years went and I remained in Chennai. Got the connection converted to Post paid. Paid a nominal amount and retained my number.
Though I did use other numbers when at home, I lost the SIM cards and don't even remember the numbers now.
My other four members of my family, have the same last 5 digits of their cell phone numbers.
So the Vodafone guy looks in disbelief when I tell him, that I have had the same number for more than 5 years.
This is another thing that makes me realise, how I like to cling onto things. How I hate throwing away the smallest of stuff, I still cry whenever I think of all my favourite T-Shirts that I had to give away and how rooted and quite unwilling to change unless absolutely required I am.
Maybe you can actually tell a lot from a number.
