Mental Excursions

Phantoms in my head? Stills taken from Volkswagen ad video My post did not appear last Saturday because I did not write at all. It is true that I have granted myself the freedom of not being bound by subjects or specializations. I can babble about anything under the sun with almost equal enthusiasm, so there should be no dearth of topics for someone like me. Besides, I want to catch you on Saturday mornings Indian Standard Time before all of you get into the weekend mode. So, what happened? I am ashamed to admit that I got distracted. I wallowed in the distractions and by the time I came to my senses, it was too late. The irony is I watched videos (forwarded) on You tube about fighting distractions and how some people who have done great in life, are focused on the job at hand. I can see most of you doing eyerolls! So, I am not going to elaborate on that. Instead, I want to ask you about another distraction. Has anyone ever seen a ghost? Although one does get a spooky or eerie ...

Bride under repair ... on the road! Bumper stickers are a big thing in other countries, but in India, creativity flows in our veins. Therefore, it is not uncommon that even those who do not enjoy their time on the road, see something original written/painted on the back of a vehicle which brings a smile on their faces. (Top photo) How are they going to accomplish this on the road,  in full view of moving traffic? This auto driver seems to hate vehicles behind him honking, so he has a Kaun Banega Crorepati (Who’ll be a millionaire?) level question painted on the back. What happens when you honk in traffic? a.    The light turns to green sooner. b.    The road widens c.    The vehicle starts flying d.    None of the above Now we totally agree with that. Don’t we? Simple warning by BRO, not the brother kind, but the Border Roads Organisation. They chose not to mention that the result of not protecting any other part of the body a...

Hope I am never superstitious, touch wood! Her mother fell in the bathroom but touch wood, there were no serious injuries.   Touch wood , the play does well and the director can finally pay the artistes. We just got the house painted; touch wood , it does not rain now. I met my aunt in Ahmedabad and touch wood, for an 80-year-old she is doing very well. I was late to office but touch wood the boss had his back to the door when I crossed it to go to my cabin. Hope Covid has gone forever , touch wood. We might argue that we are not superstitious, but ‘ touch wood’ has become a part of speech, and at least once in a day most of us utter it and follow that with touching an object made of wood. We are aware that the expression is used (superstitiously) to ward off any imminent misfortune or to invite good luck so that whatever good happens, continues. If something favourable happens, you do not want the spirits to get jealous, do you? So, we say touch wood and actu...