Episode 305 : Only superstition

What if cards don't go my way?
Then it's sure to spoil my day.
But in voices loud and clear,
you say to me it's only superstition.

How does an educated, well-read person with a scientific approach towards things that deal with astrological predictions? Or superstitions?

We know the answer.

* * * * *

An India-Pakistan game (funny how I have never heard of it being called Pakistan-India game) is something we have grown up hearing and seeing. From that time when the game was played out at Sharjah in 1986. I was just 8 years old then. The image of Javed Miandad running like a crazed madman remains etched.

It is the game of the year, the game of the decade till the next bigger contest comes our way. Many in the office have taken the day off, some of them worked till lunch and left for home. Of the remaining, most are glued to their seats in the auditorium while a miniscule few, like me, are at work.

Either following updates online, or actually working.

Or in my case, drafting this post.

* * * * *

A friend calls and asks for updates because she cannot see the match nor has access to the Internet.

I am unable to believe what I just heard. Am I to follow the match and put aside my superstitions? Instead of finding out which superstition works today and faithfully sticking to it till the match ends, favourably or otherwise?

Like the one in the India-Australia quarter-final match where every time I checked the score and then closed the browser window, an Australian wicket would fall? I tried it a little too often just to stop Ricky Ponting from scoring a century but it wasn't enough.

Or like the one where I telepathically informed Zaheer Khan how to bowl that wicket-taking ball against the Irish? It got him two and would have gotten their captain too if that slip catch was held...

As I typed this out, I checked the score just to update the friend. The page refreshed and 48/0 turned to 48/1. I do not know if it was my imagination, but I noticed a drop in office chatter for the next minutes.

It was followed by people chorusing "Oh no!"

I think I have discovered my superstition for the Indian innings. I should refrain from refreshing the page to get the latest score while updating my friend.

I hope this works today.

So much for being educated and well-read with a scientific approach toward things.

It's only superstition, only your imagination.
It's only superstition, only superstition