Graham's bell rings in every walk of life

LUCKNOW: Graham Bell could hardly have imagined that the device he invented would play such an important role in people''s lives.
Today, all your needs are just a phone call away. Welcome to the era of "phone-in" services. Just dial. Everything, from pins to plane tickets, will reach you in a jiffy. Groceries, food, medicines, movie tickets, doctors, pathology services and even barbers are available at your doorstep.
The days of "ghisna" and "peesna" to look beautiful are passe.Make a call and the parlour reaches your home. Choose a flower for your loved one, just call the florist. Your plane or railway ticket will ‘travel'' to you. Just punch the telephone buttons and place the order.
Housewives need not go to grocery stores. Make a call, dictate the list. And presto, the goods are delivered.
Free home delivery packages have added to the importance of phone-in. A grocery store in Kaiser Bagh delivers stuff through phone calls. "Ever since the phone-in culture has arrived, we have been benefiting. People now demand more. They do not have to carry the entire stuff back home," said Lakhanlal, a grocer. Shrawani Paul, a housewife, said, "At times it is difficult to leave household chores and go shopping. Phone-in comes in handy at such times."
A leading restaurant in Hazratganj has been offering phone-in services for the past 25 years. "The trend has increased manifold today. We get lunch and dinner orders. But most are for dinner," says the owner.
Sunita Shukla, a housewife, said, "At times one doesn''t feel like cooking or going out to have food. Phone-in solves both the problems.�
"We started our branch recently. But the orders over phone have taken a quantum leap in a short span of time. We give special offers on home delivery," said Anurag of a leading fast-food centre. "What can be more convenient than getting good food at home and enjoying it with your friend?" Yash Gupta, a student, remarked.
Pathologists have jumped on to the phone-in bandwagon. They reach the house, collect the sample and send the report back. "My father-in-law had a leg fracture. Phone-in services were a boon at that time," said Madhu Verma, a housewife.
Medicine stores have caught up too. "We started the facility for convenience of customers as it saves time and is useful during any emergency," said Sukhwinder owner of a drug outlet. Shahid a florist in Gomtinagar said people order flowers through phone.
"Most orders placed over phones are big ones relating to bouquets for marriages or such big celebrations," he said. Mohan Chaudhary, a customer said, "One is busy making other preparations for any celebration. It is convenient to have some things arranged over phone."
One can get a hair cut or a massage by calling up beauty parlours or saloons. "It is convenient for us as well as customers. We get to devote proper time on each customer as there is no rush," said Maya, a beauty parlour owner in Gomtinagar. Ritu, another beauty professional, finds it convenient too. Quality of work is not affected by people waiting in line, she said.