We often say ‘touch wood’ when good things happen to us. But do we all know the origin of this word?

I didn’t know either until I thought of writing this blog. Ya, Google baba has answers to all our queries.

Here’s a brief insight into the origin of the word. (I am sure you do have 3 minutes more to read this short interesting piece of information.)

So, what about it? Why am I giving you unnecessary gyan? (Thinking out loud, hm.)

A few months back, I had this sudden realization: I am still alive. And I said to myself- ‘touch wood’.

It’s over a period of one year and on one fine day I realized that I was still breathing. (And I am still breathing.) Many times, of course, I had to breathe deep – breathe in and breathe out. But, at that moment, I felt so blessed and proud that the deadly virus had not been able to combat my petite body and strong will till this date. The virus has not been able to deprive me of my privilege to write this blog. If he is deadly, it seems I am deadlier. ‘Knock on wood’.

However, his relentless attempts to defeat me in the past (guys, he is still alive) reminds me of my friend’s philosophy of life: ‘live in today’, to which I had always retorted – ‘easier said than done’. But this virus seems to have won at least on this front. It has eventually forced me to live life as it comes. It reminds me of one of my favorite songs by Kishore Kumar – आने वाला पल जाने वाला हैं…

I do feel grateful that I still exist. My family has also sailed through and is sailing through these challenging times healthily. Touch wood. Nevertheless, my heart aches when I read and hear about the misfortunes of others. We all have been witness to people suffering or dying because of the virus. We have heard about tragic incidents in our neighborhood, about our friends and relatives. Not only the plight of Indians, but even distressing stories of people around the globe has shaken us to the core. Many of us must have cried as well. Many of us must have had sleepless nights. Many of us must have felt helpless. Undesirable thoughts must have given way to panic and anxiety. This vulnerability is what makes us human.

Now that we are heading towards some normalcy, let’s recommence our journey by sharing some ‘touch wood’ moments of our life. We have shared common disquietude, now let’s savour our individual quietude.

In your restfulness, reminisce those days when you were still alien to the dread of an uninvited guest in the form of a virus who barged in your life without knocking at the wooden door and share your ‘touch wood’ or ‘knock on wood’ experiences in the reply.

Nikita Jhaveri