Can I call you back??

I have this habit of pondering over the usage of some phrases commonly used in casual communication whether over the phone or in writing. I have already dealt with "Take Care", but of late, the phrase which has been stalking me happens to be "Can I call you back?". I am not challenging the English language but once again I would say that this phrase is senseless as far as it concerns me.

"Can I call you back?". It is well and good if two people are having an official / business conversation but between friends, it is not something of significance. What would the person, who puts up this question, do or say if the person at the other end bluntly replies "No!!". I dont think anyone would've faced this situation but I guess it would be fun to try it out, just to find out what impact it has on the user of "Can I...".

I have been tormented by this phrase almost each time I call up a friend. At times I do understand that my friend might be busy, but then he / she can plainly say "I'm busy. Will call you back later." or not pick up the phone at all (thats what I do). Its not that I wouldn't answer their call or something if they call me some other time. But they use "Can I...." as a substitute for conveying that they are busy or it may be even to tell me, in an indirect way, that my calls will not be enteratained.

The crux of this whole article is that even though the person asks me whether he / she can call me back and I do give a positive reply, more often than not, the call that I await, never comes.

It is just out of this sheer irritation / frustration, whatever you call it, that I come up with these kind of vague / wierd articles. But I know, the way I potray these things, people might have a feeling that I want the whole to live my way or something, which is untrue. Blame my writing but not me!!