Figure it out

Numbers have left me bewildered a number of times. All of which added up to my decision to leave Mathematics when I left school. Except that...

Numbers have left me bewildered a number of times. All of which added up to my decision to leave Mathematics when I left school. Except that I did not calculate that in today8217;s age of rapid communication you are only known by the numbers you keep 8212; be it birth date, bank account, cell phone or credit card. Human values may diminish but the numbers in your life only multiply.

Life constantly throws up difficult to solve problems. Like all those bank statements that come in with sheets of data that usually leaves unanswered my singular query of what my balance looks like. Whatever happened to the good old pass book? It was somewhere in these unopened envelopes that I also sealed the fate of my mobile phone by tucking away its bill in the stack marked Pretend Do Not Exist. Till I got an SMS saying Bill Overdue. Dial 24365 for details or face disconnection.

I dialled. 8216;8216;Welcome,8217;8217; said the voice at the other end. Press 1 for Hindi, 2 for English, 3 for Marathi. I pressed 2. I was now asked to select amongst: 1 for complaint booking, 2 for existing plan, 3 for billing enquiries, 4 for roaming information, 5 for value added service and 6 for call service executive. Obediently I chose 3. 8216;8216;Enter your mobile number8217;8217;. I did that too. But the number repeated was not the number I dialed. Press 1 to confirm, 2 to re-enter, the voice consoled me. I pressed 2 and reentered.

Eureka! This time the number was repeated correctly. But is life so easy? 8216;8216;Please give your date of birth in DD MM and YY format,8217;8217; Pure guesswork told me what to do. I gave the six numbers. But the voice had doubts. So it repeated itself and asked me to press 1 if it was correct and 2 to re-enter. I pressed one. Only hitch 8212; by now I had lost track of what I was searching for. But the efficient voice at the other end knew what I wanted and came back with the final answer 8216;8216;Your bill information is not available!8217;8217;

I started all over again. This time right at the beginning I pressed 6 8212; for the call service executive. A more human voice came on line and asked me my problem. I used the ancient form of communication 8212; speech. It took him less than a minute to inform me of my due charges.

My faith in human contact renewed, I decided to leg it to the bank to get information on my credit card account. The lady at the counter was polite till she learnt of my request. 8216;8216;But for that you need to dial our 24 hours helpline,8217;8217; she protested. My value in flesh and blood was zilch. I was put through to the helpline. A voice said: 8216;8216;If you are an existing customer press one, for enquiries on new accounts press8230;8217;8217; I gave up. I was tempted to press one but wasn8217;t sure if I was existing. At least not without my credit card number. Or telephone customer identity number.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More