Invariably every year I get a lot of new year greetings. Most of them are something like this,
'May the new year bring peace and prosperity to you and your friends and family!' or something to that effect.

In return I too sent out some new year cards, phone calls and letters to the respective well wishers.
Soon I realized that my wishing helped only the companies that print the cards and may be the postal department. I have to be a bit more specific about the postal department. The department makes some money out of this greeting business. It is equally possible that the department is losing some money with this annual mass hysteria. Whether the department makes a profit or not the post man is not a happy man. He knows that the card is of no particular value and will be promptly thrown into the waste paper basket. If he pulls a long face I will not blame him.
Once I asked my good friends Sidhan and Radhakrishnan if my new year wishes made any difference to their financial years.
They both looked at their accounts and declared that it had not.
I have my wife's testimony to prove that all the new year wishes have not made any effect on my life. I have remained just the same old budhoose and kanjoose.
If at all it has badly affected my pocket.
I used to buy three cards every year, one each for sidhan and radhakrishnan and the last one for myself. The third card needs some explanation. If ever there is one who genuinely wants to wish a prosperous new year to me, it is me. That is the reason I sent one card to myself.
I was losing money on the three cards. So I stopped buying them. But I continue to greet Sidhan and Radhakrishnan when I meet them on the road.
I am yet to come across some one who has been benefited by this annual ritual -- of course not counting the guy who makes and sells the cards.
Wishing you all on this rediffiland does not cost me any substantial money. So let me

WISH YOU ALL VERY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR