Idling is fun

Isn’t that enough to convert you to idling? Then how about the fact that as a child, Albert Einstein was invariably late for dinner. He dawdled and when his dad drew his attention to the time, Einstein Junior was more interested in the compass on the watch chain. One question led to another, ultimately making the kid grow up to become the greatest scientist who ever lived.

By now, you must have guessed it. There’s nothing that gives more pleasure than doing nothing. When you idle, you go off on your own track. End result — it gives you an insight into yourself as well as the world. All the world’s a stage, and you the prima donna.

I’m running a few errands when I begin thinking of things I like best. The traffic light glows red. That reminds me. Red roses. Number one, definitely. A cup of hot coffee (no malai on top please). The cool breeze in the night. If it blows over the salty sea, nothing like it. Kishore Kumar songs. Casablanca. Chatting into the night with my sister. Pyjama parties. Hmm. Let me think. What else? Candlelight. Puppies with noses so wet you can feel the chill as they nestle against you. A plant in bloom.

But I’ve meandered too long. The traffic light’s gone green, and the man in the car behind me is honking away furiously. Hell, what does he think I want to do? Grow roots and set up home at this signal? I catch his eye in the rear-view mirror, give him a glare, get ahead with the gear and vroom off.

On my way, my eye falls on the latest Colgate hoarding. A cherub grins out, displaying Mera Waala Colgate teeth. My mom tells me I used to look like that once upon a time. And that I wasn’t too troublesome as a kid. How troublesome is troublesome, I wonder. I like babies who grin and gurgle all the time. They smell nice too. See what I mean about meandering. Even a river couldn’t have so many bends and curves!

It’s like playing a game of trivial pursuits. Or maybe hits and misses. Whatever it is, it’s infinitely enjoyable. Something that you have to do to know. And as far as that idle mind, devil workshop theory goes, it’s pure bunkum. For if you aren’t going to idle, you aren’t going to think. And if you aren’t going to think… well, I needn’t say more. For had I not been thinking, how would this piece have ever been penned?