Amidst the azure waters of the Bay of Bengal lies the captivating allure of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands - a tropical paradise for travellers seeking solace in its pristine beaches and diverse marine life.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic cast a shadow over this idyllic destination, plunging its vibrant tourism industry into turmoil. As the islands strive to emerge from the depths of the crisis, the journey towards revival presents both challenges and opportunities that demand concerted efforts and support.

She stood shaking hands with the mourners who had come for her husband’s funeral at the Parsi Tower of Silence.  I stood in line and watched as she solemnly held each person’s hand, tears glistening in her eyes. When I came to her, she lifted her eyes and looked at me, “Bob,” she sighed, “There was not a day he didn’t read your column! Sometimes if the newspaper man came late, he would walk down the road in his pajamas and shout to me that he couldn’t have breakfast before reading Bob!”

Here’s a story: One evening a man was addressing a workshop on the concept of work culture. One of the participants asked, "I am a senior manager of a materials department and joined an organization twenty five years ago as an engineer trainee and over the last 25 years I have gone through every experience in the organization."

"During the initial part of my career, the job was very challenging and interesting. However, all those exciting days are gone since I do not find my job any more interesting because there is nothing new. I am now feeling bored because I am doing a routine job."

Aunty Toto was not her real name, though strangely we all called her that! She had every kind of problem that you could think of, resting on her shoulders. Her husband had left her, her children had married wrong, her grandchildren were a source of worry and finally she found her body racked with cancer.

But she smiled.

There was never a day when the passengers on the local train she travelled to work every day, didn’t hear her voice, rising over the din and telling everybody a joke. There wasn’t a day when those in the office she worked in, at an age when most others retire, didn’t see the smile on her face.

‘Central government reduces petrol, diesel prices by Rs 2’…. India Today, 14th March

There was a burst of crackers downstairs, and thinking they were gunshots I ran to the window. It was my rich neighbour letting loose fireworks around his fancy Mercedes, “What’s the occasion?” I asked.

“I’m taking out the car today!” he said gleefully, sitting behind his smartly dressed chauffeur.