O n a cosy winter afternoon, I was enjoying my perfect cup of adrak wali chai while browsing social media. My plan to unwind was going perfectly until my phone rang. My heart sank, my chest felt heavy, and a wave of panic set in. Even though it was a dear friend calling, I couldn’t bring myself to answer. A gazillion emotions paralysed me as I watched the ringtone fade away.

The next two weeks were spent in mounting guilt, which grew each day as I postponed calling back. Exhausted by this loop of guilt and anxiety, I eventually sent a text with a false excuse. But why did a simple phone call trigger such an intense response? Why could I talk for hours in person or over texts and voice notes, but not on a call?

Like any modern youngster, I turned to the internet for answers. Turns out,

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