‘How are you?’

It’s a question that’s ping-ponged around the social world with a dull, repetitive panache.

Every single day zillions of people in millions of countries ask this one question of one another.

Our parents taught us to say ‘I’m fine thank you’ in return.

But if AB of KBC asks you this question today, the sahi jawab would probably be ‘Not Too Bad.’

The. sunshine of the earlier ‘I’m fine’ stands a tad tinted by Covid-coloured dust devils.

In the changed social climes we’ve replaced ‘I’m fine thank you’ with. ‘Not too bad.’

Why?

Because ‘Not Too Bad’ is an all-purpose, all-season answer.

In good times it projects a decent pessimism. And when things are rough, really rough, it becomes a heroic understatement, says writer James Parker.

Whatever the circumstances, whatever the conditions, ‘Not too bad’ will get you through.

Three meaningless, monotoned syllables gently and effortlessly press the handbrake on further inquiry.

Civilized niceties such as Have a nice day, Cya around, or How’s life perform a valuable social task. They unite us in a momentary social contract that soothes the blazing void of unfamiliarity in our souls.

Without these tiny harmless fillers… these benign going-nowhere phrases… our social fabric would be riddled with linguistic holes… and our city streets would be dotted with drab, soulless puddles of indifference.

So guys ‘Have a nice day’ you all…as you read your copy of MOOD SWINGS, my anthology of seventy poems. 😊❤️

And if you haven’t ordered it yet, you can click on this link and order it on Amazon right away.

Happy reading! 😍

—Puja Bhakoo, author, MOOD SWINGS