Mobile menace - The ring tone that I hate

The lounge was packed with people - many with mobile phones wedged between their shoulder and ear-conveying and receiving positive messages.Positive vibes was evidently forced upon the bystanders of patients - by doctors, nurses and other visitors.Amidst the cacophony over phone,there seems to be a deliberate attempt at maintaining the decorum, ie, not to disturb others anxiously waiting. No phone rings more than twice.

It was in this scenario that a faint ring tone first caught my attention. The old Hindi number became louder and no one appeared to own it.Well, the ring was slowly hitting the peak and the already anxious lot now seem to be getting perturbed including myself. I was trying my luck to figure out the origin of this now ear-piercing ring tone, which obviously was inappropriate to the grim situation prevailing in the lounge. Just then it occurred to me that the crowd was staring at me. The most scornful expression ever trained at an innocent 'also anxious'
bystander, I thought. The person next to me couldn't resist and pointed to a bag next to me where I had left my Dad's phone. The phone was handed over to me while my brother went to collect medicines for Dad who was admitted at the CCU.Unfamiliar with the ring tone, my mind conveniently dismissed it as not mine.The next couple of seconds are best not recalled. All I remember is the thought of the floor just paving way for me to go down-away from the glare.

With Dad in the CCU and me being an unpardonable owner of a frivolous moment, the anxiety and embarrassed situation must have been obvious.Some of the bystanders proactively tried to strike a conversation-with an attempt to shield my embarrassment. This shall remain forever etched in my memory and obviously of several others.