City Life – Sabiha’s WhatsApp Circle, Old Delhi
A woman’s cellphone world.
[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]
Like many women in Old Delhi, Sabiha Jhinjhanvi feels obliged to maintain a smoothly running household.
And so she does. But then there’s her WhatsApp group, keeping her glued to the cellphone day and night. Consisting of 11 sisters and cousins, their chat is ongoing during Ms Jhinjhanvi’s waking hours, and even during mandatory Islamic prayers.
“We got started just two months ago,” she explains, briefly placing her mobile to one side. The conversations continue at bedtime when “we recite shayris (Urdu verses) to each other.”
This evening the 45-year-old housewife is animatedly chatting away while reading the holy Quran, a daily exercise. And the relatives keep tab on one another throughout waking hours. “Sometimes you suddenly hear one or another group member interfering in a conversation I’m having with my husband or sons.”
The interference is taken kindly and Ms Jhinjhanvi returns the favour every now and then.
Recently there was a crisis due to a rift between “Sabuhi Baaji and Aamir Bhai for leaking our private gossip to relatives outside the WhatsApp group.”
This group of nine women and two men do get together in real life. Recently they met for a picnic on the India Gate grounds, with each member contributing a homemade dish. And Ms Jhinjhanvi not long ago hosted dinner for the lot—who all tend to be musically inclined. They often sing film songs to each other and also play antakshri on phone.
At this very moment Ms Jhinjhanvi is sprawled across the carpet, mobile switched on, listening to Ruhi Baaji singing that fine old Hindi film song Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai.
WhatsApp addict
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Hi Mayank, all your articles really align to my ever since childhood imaginations of day to day life activities of people around… I could not contain myself from writing to you after just reading your -The Flyover’s homely views…
Ever since childhood passing through the flyovers and busy roads, I have been fascinated with the ordinary homes.. and keep wondering how their lives would be….
Small joys and tough circumstances is what wud define their lives aptly.. .
Am so very Happy and really appreciate your thoughts on this celebrity less world which the so called paps do not often cover…
Thank you for celebrating the lives of these very very ordinary people not able to enjoy half of privileges what we have been blessed for…
I really wish our economy thrives and each person of our country is able to live a life in which they can fulfill their wishes and desires..
Wish you much more great work ahead…
Deep gratitude once again
Best regards