THIS ABOVE
ALL
Law of coincidences
Khushwant Singh

Khushwant SinghMany years ago on a visit to Bombay, I happened to stay in Hotel President overlooking the sea. The hotel authorities had given me a room on the top floor. From my window I could see the city’s coastline with ships and boats plying. One afternoon I decided to go down to the ground-floor to visit the hotel’s bookshop.

As I left my room to catch the elevator, I saw two elderly European women looking for something. One of them asked me: “Excuse me”, she said, “Do you know where the staircase going to the rooftop is? We want to see what the coastline looks like. From our room we can only see blocks of flats.”

“I don’t know if there is a staircase going to the roof, but you can get a view of coastline from my room’s window. Come and have a look.” I opened my door and invited the ladies to have dekho. After they had their fill of the seascape, we got talking.


Welwyn Garden City is a town in Hertfordshire, England

“Where are you from?” I asked. “England.” “Where in England?” “In Hertfordshire”. “Where in Hertfordshire?” “A new town named Welwyn Garden City. Have you heard of it?” “I be damned,” I exploded, “I lived there for three years when studying law in London.” “Were you a member of the Delcott Tennis Club?” “I was. I spent most of my summer evenings playing tennis there”. It was her turn to express surprise. “Would your name be Mr Singh?” “Yes, how do you know?” “I played tennis with you many evenings.”

I have never forgotten this encounter. It was more than a coincidence that she should have been in the same hotel and in the corridor outside my door just at the time I came out from my room. I can’t help feeling that there must be a hidden hand, which wanted me to know that there is more behind such encounters than we know.

Defining Taliban

Some interesting observations on the Taliban by that great American philosopher, Jeff Foxworthy:

“You may be a Taliban if…

1. You refine heroin for a living, but you have a moral objection to liquor.

2. You own a $3,000 machinegun and $5,000 rocket launcher, but you can’t afford shoes.

3. You have more wives than teeth.

4. You wipe your butt with your bare hand, but consider bacon “unclean”.

5. You think vests come in two styles: bullet-proof and suicide.

6. You can’t think of anyone you haven’t declared Jihad against.

7. You consider television dangerous, but routinely carry explosives in your clothing.

8. You were amazed to discover that cell phones have uses other than setting off roadside bombs.

9.You have nothing against women and think every man should own at least four.

10. You’ve always had a crush on your neighbour’s goat.

The bra definitions:

Q: Which is the striped BRA. Ans: zebra.

n Poisonous BRA? — coBRA.

n Mathematical BRA? — algeBRA.

n Sunsign BRA? — liBRA.

n Magical BRA? — aaBRA ka daBRA

n Metallic BRA? — BRAss.

n Anjelina Jolly’s BRA? —BRAd pit.

n Botany BRA ? — BRAnch.

n Marketing BRA ? — BRAnd !

n Punctuation ke liye BRA? — BRAcket.

n Scary BRA? — GhaBRAahat!

n Cricketers ka BRA? — BRAdd Hogg.

n How does donkey cry? —BRAAAAA!! Braaaa!! Braaaaaaa!!

n A room where BRAs are kept? — LiBRAry.

n BRA which became the American President and inspired the whole world? — aBRAham Lincoln!

n The BRA which holds the record for most number of T20 runs in an innings? — BRAndon McCullum.

n Which BRA is very important for any vehicle? — BRAke.

(Contributed by Vipin Buckshey, Delhi)






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