“Salaam Saab”

Hearing those two words in a fumbled voice made me look up from my phone screen to the world I was a part of. The guard of the building I stay in was looking at me in anticipation. As our eyes met, he quickly performed a salute pose with an incidental smile. Bit confused, I smiled back and murmured — “good evening, kaise ho (how’re you)?” while making my way towards the corridor. Neither he told how he was, nor I waited to listen. Maybe he knows that words are often said, rarely meant.

Entering the lift, I couldn’t help but ask myself what I have done to earn that highest order of respect. I mean, wasn’t…