Evenings some days, I take a walk by the sea. A shortcut through a quaint East Indian village on the edge of the coast takes me there. The people here are friendly. They don’t mind me using their village as a thoroughfare. They live in colorful little bungalows whose windows open onto the narrow and twisting cobbled village lane. And on whose porches the man of the house has his sundowner. When I pass by, I sometimes hear the piano playing. Or the bell in the church around the corner pealing. And I get the arresting aromas of dinner on the stove while the women meet in the village square to gossip. There’s an old-world charm about the place and a lazy sense of tranquility. The village has two cafes. A dressmaker. A grocer, baker, and haircutting saloon. A man with a cart and a sizzling tava comes and makes Masala Dosas here. That’s about all the commercial activity in the village. It has Crossed into nooks and crannies where the faithful gather for the evening prayers. And the village has cats. So many of them. One is a handsome jet-black bugger with the greenest eyes I have seen. It sleeps behind a Cross. And occasionally, it crosses the village lane before me. That’s when the excitement begins.
If there is anybody else on the lane when this shiny little panther crosses our path, that
the person will stop and wait for me to pass first. That’s because a black cat crossing before you is a bad omen. It is considered inauspicious in India and signifies bad luck. The popular belief is that Lord Shani, the embodiment of the planet Saturn, is angrily creating hurdles in your day. Whatever work you might have set out to do will remain incomplete or have an unfavorable result if a black cat crosses your path. So the wise thing to do is to let somebody else pass by first. That way, the jinx is broken. And that unsuspecting person
shoulders the misfortune that was meant for you. I’m not surprised. Black cats are a symbol of Halloween and witchcraft in many countries. In America, Belgium, and Spain, black cats are said to bring disaster and tragedy. But Britain, Ireland, Germany, and Japan believe that coming across a black cat on the road is lucky. This is all superstition and I have no belief in it. A black cat just happens to be a cat with black fur. There is nothing evil about it. Evenings the black cat crosses my path are most fulfilling. I come home, have a drink, smoke a cigar, and watch the IPL match on TV. And the team my money and prayers are on invariably
wins.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have been featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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