Technical support

"Sure I will ask her," dad was on phone speaking with someone while entering the room.

"When will you log off?" Dad asked me. I knew there was something out of ordinary in the store for me.

" 7:30 maybe, I am not sure," I responded and awaited what is going to happen next.

"Mr Gokhale wants to meet you," dad informed me that his friend from our complex will visit.

" Why would that be?" I could not see a reason why Mr Gokhale would want to meet me.

"He had some problem with his laptop and he wants to show it to you," dad revealing the reason for this visit.

"Why does he want to show his laptop to me? Does he know that I am a pharmacist and not an engineer? I work with an IT company, but does not make me an IT professional," I was explaining my position.

"Have a look at it once, he would feel better," dad being a marketing professional was trying to convince me.

"I would have a look at it but tell him that I won't be able to help him with anything. I use laptop but that does not mean I know what problems it may create or I would be able to solve them. I am not qualified to identify and resolve such problems. Besides isn't his own son Arjun an IT professional? He has the solution in his own house but he is turning it away?" My questions were absolutely valid.

"I don't know all about that. I will ask Mr Gokhale to visit at 8 o'clock, just take a look at his laptop" dad masterfully dodged all questions and brought my attention back to the original request.

"Fine but tell him that do not expect much from me. It is really not my domain," I was making my side safer.

Mr Gokhale punctually arrived at sharp 8 pm with his laptop. He showed it to me and explained the issue. I pretended to see the laptop and told him that he would need to visit the gallery to get the issue resolved. That what the best solution I could provide.

"Can you tell me why does this happen?" Mr Gokhale asked me politely with curiosity.

"Not really. I am not an engineer so this is not my area of work. Maybe Arjun would have an answer," I inserted his son Arjun into the conversation.

"Arjun does not have time to see my laptop. He will go around the town to solve everybody else's issues but not mine. Well it is completely up to him. I thought you would be able to guide me," Mr Gokhale said with a bit of sadness and frustration.

"As I said earlier it is not my domain. I am from medical field so my knowledge is limited in technology. I would suggest you better visit the gallery, they will be able to resolve this issue," I was repeating my suggestion so that this prolonged conversation will get over and I will be able to get back to the things that I have to do.

" I guess you are right I should take it to the gallery. Thank you anyway for your time," he said with a smile and left my home.

Mr Gokhale's visit to my home made me a little sad. It was really disheartening to see an elderly man trying to understand technical problems. It was distressing to hear that his own son is not giving enough attention. He came to me because he knew that at least I will pay some attention to him. It made me think that how wrong people are to think that their children would take care of them in old age when children have no interest in resolving minor issues.