Science can’t answer why people get the most important calls inside elevators

Science has been the prime source for answers ever since humans learned to remain silent about questions they couldn't answer. However, with one particular question, "why people get the most important calls while they are inside elevators?", science can only respond with silence time and again.

This question has been one of the most asked ones as people continue to observe that, during the short journey on a lift, many talk loudly into their mobile phones. This happens even though inside many elevators, the signal strength drops and one can barely hear the other person on the line.

Also, notices inside many elevators request people not to talk loudly or answer calls -- a request that seems to make sense as elevator rides in a country like Bangladesh, not known for towering skyscrapers, usually last less than a minute.

Considering all this, science has been working for decades to solve the mystery since the day cellphones were invented and people learned to talk on the phone inside elevators.

Scientists embarked on several projects to identify at least one reason for cellphones buzzing with the most important calls as soon as a person enters an elevator, and the owner cannot help answering. Every project has gone in vain, sources said, before scientists decided to go to the actual source and talk to some of those who talk regularly on the phone inside elevators. 

The country's most famous elevator-talkers, who talk inside lifts like they are delivering speeches at a political programme, were selected to help with the question even science can't answer.

Tausif, one such loud lift-talker, not to be confused with TikToker, said, "It's not that I get important calls only when I am inside an elevator, I actually get important calls all the time. A very important person like me has to deal exclusively with important calls. So, I don't care whether I am in a lift or on the summit of Everest."

Scientists thought they had finally gotten a glimpse of the answer -- that those who received calls inside elevators were actually very important people who could not let a single call go unanswered, or wait 31 seconds to step outside the lift and answer it.

But that changed when, Zubair, another lift-talker of a corporate office, said, "Look, I am such an unimportant person that nobody, neither mobile operator nor Chaldal, calls me during my office hours. So, right after the end of my working hours and the start of elevator-hour, as I rush to leave office, I eagerly receive a call whenever I get one."

So, both unimportant and important persons receive calls inside an elevator.

Then they confronted the third person, Foolkoli, who is famous not only for talking on the phone inside elevators but also for giving mock tests for IELTS speaking and singing in a low voice.

"It's my personal business whether or not I receive calls inside the lift. Who are you to ask me such a stupid question?"

Scientists reminded her of the notice attached on the wall of the elevator and asked if she would face a huge financial loss if she didn't answer the phone inside the lift.

"Sorry, I cannot answer you right now, you can call me once I'm in the elevator," she said as she walked towards the lift, and once inside, put her phone to her right ear, leaving the scientists scratching their heads.

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