Irritants @ Work - 1

I was engrossed in analyzing a system problem when I heard someone's cell phone ring. Busy with my research, all that I noted subconsciously was that it wasn't my phone and I continued to work. As the cell phone rang incessantly, I got bugged, took off my headphones and turned towards the source of disturbance. It was X's cell phone that was creating the racket, X being my teammate and cubicle-mate. He had left his cell phone on his desk and presumably gone for a 'dum'. Actually, I didn't know for sure if it was his desire to acquire cancer that kept him away from the scene. Maybe he had just gone to the pantry. I didn't know and didn't care. All I knew was that the cell phone kept ringing on and on, with its owner nowhere in sight. Not only had he been considerate enough to leave the damn thing here, the angel had also been thoughtful enough to enable the 'ascending' option for the ring volume. I stared at the phone furious. It stopped ringing. It took me a few more seconds to cool down and I had hardly turned back to my monitor and reached for my headphones when the cell phone rang again. I sprang out of my chair exclaiming, 'Where the hell is he?' and realised to my surprise that it was not a solo performance. D and I had almost chorused that question. J and S also looked in, irritated. 'Throw it out of the window', suggested S solemnly and J seconded the idea. For a freak second, I seriously considered the suggestion but I somehow calmed myself enough to just cut the call. Taking several deep breaths, I stepped back to my chair and D peeped from the next cubicle – 'You cut the call?' 'Yes! And one more time the bloody thing rings, I'm turning it off!!' 'Good! Do it!' As I lowered myself into my seat, X walked in and I turned to him – 'Your cell phone rang –' 'Oh!' ' – and I cut the call.' 'Ohhh…' A pause. 'I had been in the pantry.' 'Good. Please take your cell phone with you the next time you go to the pantry.' Silence. Soon, I was back to work and I didn't hear his cell phone ring for the rest of the day. Peace! * * * * * I really want to know what the f*** people think cell phones are for. Amongst the numerous purposes they were designed to serve, I don’t quite think they were intended to be disturbances for the rest of the society. If you have to move out of your seat, pray, take your cell phone with you. If you don’t want to take it with you, for some vague reason beyond human levels of intelligence, well, at least change it to the 'silent' profile or something! The whole world does NOT need to know when you get a call.