What “I’m Just a Call Away” Means and why its important
There’s a reason why Charlie Puth songs, especially the lyrics, resonate with listeners, right? Go figure.
Visiting my hometown and running into so many people who have been a part of my life here is fun, and overwhelming. I moved out only early this year and have visited twice so far. There’s a whole bunch of people, and relationships, you leave when you move out. And its only wise to never cut off ties with them. Because there are things only they can help you with.
Get Neha Jha’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
Yesterday, while returning to my desk from the washroom, I ran into my mentor. The moment I was sure it was him indeed, I called out — “Sir”. He was surprised to see me, asked me how Delhi was, I told him its the same. And he said, “I think I had told you, that city is a gas chamber.”
And then he asked me if I was doing alright otherwise. I knew what he meant. It took me a second to say, “Yeah”. What he said next has characterized our relationship since 2012 — the beginning of my career. “You know I’m just a phone call away, right?”
I have been miles away in a different city and haven’t talked to him even once since I began my life there. Yet, he knew something was up with me. The last few months were terrible for me in every which way. There was no support system, a lot of insecurity and a deep sense of alienation from everyone around me. Most of the times, I wasn’t able to understand what was happening to me. I was desperate to come home.
In case you don’t know, anxious, overwhelmed minds are in need of consistent reassurance. The fact that he could reassure me meant the world to me. And also because, you don’t get to hear these words very often. At least, not in earnestness. The only person in Delhi who said that to me, and meant it, was my friend and co-worker when I was going through anxiety attacks while trying to live alone in a 2bhk apartment. And he kept it all through.
There’s not much that you should expect from people. ‘Cos every time you do, you end up placing too much pressure on a person/persons who can’t possibly know what exactly you need, unless they connect with you on that level. It creates more distress. We need only a few we can connect with, and who can tell us, genuinely and honestly, “I’m only a call away.”
