Twenty-minute walk to and from my office is an enforced habit. From the point of view of environment preservation and health grounds, this walking habit is a good habit. This has been advantageous from another point of view, too. Thinking while walking! I have doubt, whether my thoughts too are gradually addicted to the habit of waking up only while I am walking up to or down from my office.  

Addiction is a slow process, but at a fast pace! Like life! Life for me is an additional addiction! And also to learn from life. You start as a small time smoker to become a chain-smoker. You start to drink in pegs and turn into a sot. Not without your knowledge, but with your acknowledgement.  That is the way one nurtures his second nature. Thank God! I am away from these habits!  

Sometimes the pressures press down the thoughts, decelerating the speed of my walking. On such days, my pals are good face-readers. "Hi, Iyer, you seem to be worried. What's the matter? Everything will be okay! Cheer up!" So I try to cheer up.  

"Hi, do you want to be dropped?", a well-combed, clean shaved face showed out of the window. Without waiting for my answer, he continued, "Get in. I'll drop you." 

I have been walking since last two years or so, without any such hindrance of helpful humans. This was a new experience. There are people who really care. Hitherto my opinion about those who drive was that most of them were not so helpful. Also I had second thoughts. Why must they give lift to unknown people? And, after all, they are not running taxis. Yes. Every thought has two sides. One can think this way or that way. Or it would be apt to say that thoughts are free to move this way or that way! 

"It's all right. My destination is only a few minutes away. Thank you for your offer." 

"Oh, it's okay. Come in." And he opened the door.  I thought, I must not disrespect his good thoughts. I did not. And in two minutes I was dropped near my office. And, of course, with a thanks and smile, we parted our way.  

There is always someone who cares! The world revolves around these caring people!  

I had not even a faintest idea that I would meet him for a third time. You can read other's face. Not other's mind. My mind was looking for the car, as I was approaching the usual(?) spot. A change of habit? After all it is mind. Mind is always of tilting nature. I was nearing the spot, where my new friend and I used to meet. I just turned my head and looked back. Yes. The car was on its way! 

As usual he stopped near me. And without any verbal welcome, he opened the door.  And like an automated doll, I slipped in, with a smile on my face.  

"Iyer, nice to see you! How're you?" 

"Fine, thank you." 

"You know, life is full of risk!" 

"Wow!", I thought, "His thought is similar to mine!" 

"Hi, your thought is similar to mine! You know, without risk there is no life. I would say, life itself is a risk. What's your opinion?", I asked him. 

"Yeah, you're correct". 

By that time, the car reached my stop and I was about to open the door. 

"Please wait. I have something for you. Let me cut it short. I have a personal insurance business. And you must take out a policy…." 

He made a rapid-fire speech and at the end gave me a proposal form to complete and return the next day.  

"No. I am not interested. 'Cause I already have three of them and find it difficult to pay the premiums. I can't help you. Very sorry my friend. You can use this form for someone else."  And we parted, but without the enthusiasm we had the previous day. 

I never saw him thereafter. But I had a feeling for the next few days that I missed something. Yeah! My habit of thinking while walking!