Our home phone in Hyderabad was a grey push button set on a table by the door, with
a lace cover. I can still say that number without thinking. We gave it up around 2008 and I
haven't dialled it since. My wife's mobile number, which I've had for 9 years? No idea. I'd have
to check my phone. She found this out last month when my phone died and I couldn't call her
from a colleague's phone. She wasn't happy. I tried explaining that the old number was different, I had
to say it out loud all the time. Giving it to the milkman, the tailor, every relative in Kurnool.
Writing it on every school form. Nobody says a number out loud anymore. You tap a
name and that's it, so the number never goes in. At some point the landline also
got an extra digit at the front and I had to relearn it. Still remember both versions.
I've asked a few people my age at work here in Khobar, and every single one could recite theirs
instantly. One guy even remembered his neighbour's number, because they used to take calls there before they got a phone.
Do you still remember yours? Try it now, I bet
it comes out in 2 seconds. Wife's number is now written
on a paper in my wallet, by the way. Her idea.