Some days ago I saw my lady colleague, all glowing and happy-happy. The very next day I again bumped into her in the office elevator. This time she appeared very depressed. She narrated her sad story to me.

Not long back, she was very excited about dating an old classmate.

They had lost touch for a long time but a social networking site reconnected them.

Their first date began quite well. But soon the guy stood up, told her that she was rude and left the place halfway into their candlelit romantic dinner. Do you know why?

Apparently this stupid girl was busy texting on her mobile phone almost the entire time.

She daringly asked me, "What's wrong with doing this? I was just replying to some messages, not talking on the phone."

It's not uncommon to see many youngsters suffering from perpetually-checking-the-phone syndrome. I have seen couples sitting in a quiet bar, busy with their respective phones.

Try being on the receiving end and you will know how it feels when the other person, be it your spouse, friend or lover, is busy typing messages or reading what other contacts are doing while you are talking to them.

There are a few ways of dealing with people who have a mobile phone surgically attached to their hands.

Tell the person you are meeting that you would prefer a mobile phone-free chat unless that person is the president of the country or a doctor on emergency duty.

If someone sitting in front of you is busy reading messages or downloading a picture of his dog, please don't waste your words on him. Just keep quiet and unless the other person is shameless, he is bound to say, "Carry on, I'm listening." You should reply,  "It's fine. First finish whatever you are doing, maybe it's something very important."

In the worst-case scenario, pick up your phone and text the person sitting in front of you, saying, "Hi, waiting here for your full attention."

It may seem funny but can make others realize that their behavior is completely not acceptable.

So don't get addicted to responding every time your phone beeps.

Next time try ditching your phone instead of someone you don't want to lose.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.