India, Oct. 8 -- Walking toward the dais at the college alumni meet, I suddenly lost half my stature. While my right foot smartly strode forward, the left shoe sole got left behind! How I salvaged the situation and my lost dignity, is another story. At that moment, I decided that before adversity struck again, my shoe stock needed replenishment.

On the next visit to Delhi, I took a big empty 'shopping suitcase' with me, on the Shatabdi. And the fun began. Strolling comfortably with an empty suitcase, I walked confidently into the train. As I was about to lift my suitcase and place it on the overhead luggage loft, a gentleman gallantly offered to help. I politely declined. But he was adamant and perhaps with a mental 'Bole So Nihal', he l...