Where Are You?

Somebody calls me up and asks, "where are you?"; I am tempted to reply, "in your address book!" or something else, depending on who is asking. Because we have multiple levels of identity. We can be at different places for different people. Certain people would let you intrude up to certain level in their R-space - relationship. Here's my take on kind of people and where they can find you.

Rough contacts. These people will find you somewhere scribbled in their scratchpads. For them you don’t hold much significance other than ‘hi’ and ‘bye’. So more than remembering you, they forget you.

Casual contacts. For them, you hold a few days’ attention. They would oblige you with some space in their daily notes. As soon as they are done with the business, you will be dumped in their brain's dustbin.

Business contacts. You can rest assured these people will keep you at least in their e-mail address book. You enjoy their attention depending on how good (or bad) you perform in the job assigned to you. For them you are an obligation, not a necessity. Once you finish (or farce) your task and part the way, chances are high you don’t want to come back!

Friends. Depending on the level of friendship, you occupy their private space. These liberal group of species keep you in their email address book, in phone address book, in their scrapbook etc. And if you are lucky, you will be privileged to occupy some of their grey cells; they remember you.

Family. They care for you. You are not only in their heads but also in hearts. And you are assured to be there, forever.

Loved ones. This category includes all those who truly love you. A rough contact can go on to become a casual one, and may end up being your friend. And friends often become part of the family. All these people form a very important part of your life. It’s the people who love you care for you. And the one who cares, keeps you in his/her heart-disk. You enjoy a permanent storage there.

Life is too short. The journey is too long. We need the people who can keep us going. Therefore, I want to be, and to be kept, in the last category. Almost.