It is difficult to express oneself normally after mention of the above mishap, but really what can one do in situations such as these. Life is full of so many uncertainties and surprises that if would be a folly to ever imagine that things would work out the way we want it to. Somewhere beyond our comprehension, belief and standing there is a world or some divine force that conducts itself with the freedom that we cannot ever experience. We bear the consequences, but are never able to judge or establish the who or where or what of it. Belief then in an unknown force guides us into submission, and that is what we all tend to respect.

The gym at 6 am was more energized than most days. Why I would not know. Most of the normal routines of the day previously, had been the same. It wasn’t as though something different was undertaken to bring about this change. But with someone that has a medical history such as mine it is not improbable that an occurrence like this takes place. Some juices somewhere in the system, that may have lain dormant, decided to get up and contribute to the body I guess. My grateful thanks to them and hope that they remain activated and as energized as before.

Mani Ratnam and Shaad Ali dropped by for lunch and we discussed cinema and subjects and films, seen and unseen. Invigorating I thought. And then Mani showed us the first teaser for ‘Raavan’. What can one say about a genius that keeps changing his concepts for cinema by his excellence. It was incredible, in just those 30 seconds !! It releases in June and I just cannot wait to see the first copy.

Later in the day between IPL’s I did some creative meets ; fresh ideas for subjects, fresh scripts for film. Laughed at some, lauded some, suggested some. All in all most constructive and satisfactory.

I was also, during the course of the day, attracted by some worthy sayings. And one that caught my eye instantly was a short and compelling dialogue by a poet or a writer as follows -

” Civility costs nothing and buys everything ”

Apt, concise and most telling. We destroy our own minds when we do not become civil, irrespective of what the circumstances may be. Greater damage is conceived when we deconstruct our own culture, upbringing and temperament. An ugly thought would, I imagine, physically harm our system. Why would we want to do that and for what purpose. But despite the knowledge that these impediments exist, we still indulge in them. Little realizing, that the ultimate truth lies in the truth itself. No amount of cajoling or camouflaging shall ever be able to hide it. And the sooner we can have knowledge of it the better.

Having thus the understanding of a civil context, do we not automatically remove the evil within us ? I certainly feel so. And am happy that my countenance was constructed in such a manner that I never did need a helping hand.

It never costs much to remain in civil mode. And it shall never be able to have the capacity to buy off everything. When fame and tranquility can never be bed fellows, why insist that they can ; why be not considerately civil about the whole matter, than the other.

I have found it to pay all the time - the civility of it all - in all aspects and manners of our conduct. And I can of course, only be able to speak for myself. But if I were given the liberty to expand, to include, to involve, I would have been the first off the blocks. In a most civil manner !!

And if ever civility were to be challenged, then I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Our ancestors left us with such stunning thoughts. What would we have been, really, without them. They were the best.

Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes, they were the easiest for his feet. You may possess millions of them of different shapes and sizes and colors, but the ones that are easiest on the feet are the ones that are old.

Give me my old friends any day. Today’s are there and fill our lives with enthusiasm and love, but there is something about meeting an old friend. Something indescribable.

I wish and hope that I remain with you as my oldest friends ..

Amitabh Bachchan