I had been to Pantaloons over the weekend to check out the sale. At the entrance stood a guard in uniform who was folding his hands and saying "Namaste" as people walked in. I noticed that almost everyone was ignoring him. When it was my turn to walk in, I folded my hands awkwardly but instead of "Namaste" I said "Hello" by mistake. I don't think he noticed because I guess he is used to people not replying.

But as I walked on, I wondered why it was so difficult for me to fold my hands in the gesture that we Indians have used traditionally to greet each other. And why the hell couldn't I say "Namaste"? :-(