Take it with a pinch of salt if you wish, but the snake bangle
had always been my lucky charm. On numerous occasions it had been a virtual
lifesaver. There was the time in India when I couldnt flag down a truck
for a lift as the snake bangle had encircled my wrist so tightly that I had to
use my other hand to prise it loose. When I did manage to get myself a ride, I
saw that truck on its side at the bottom of a ravine. Then there was the
incident in the London Underground. While trying to retrieve my ticket from my
bag, the snake bangle tightened so badly that my fingers became numb, thus
restraining me from passing through the barrier to take my tube; the one which
was attacked by terrorists. I could tell many such stories, so it is
understandable that when I saw the snake ring in the shop window in the High
Street, I didnt hesitate to buy it there and then.
The next episode involved an on-line booking of a holiday with
friends. When I was prevented from purchasing a ticket by the tightly clasped
bangle, I tried to dissuade my friends from going. Unconvinced by my
explanations, they went ahead with the trip and returned safely after having a
wonderful time.
It was the lottery ticket which served as the wake up call.
Trying to fill in my line, the constriction of my wrist caused a spasm that
resulted in the final number being a change from my usual choices and missing
out on a rollover jackpot.
It seemed as though my good fortune was changing and
superstitious or not, my choices were removing the bangle, the ring or both.
The decision was taken out of my hands, as it were. The bangle began to pinch
my wrist so forcefully I was afraid it would cut off the blood supply to my
hand. I had the snake bangle cut off me immediately and removed the snake ring
too for good measure.
From now on I will leave my destiny to chance with the
philosophy "you win some and lose some".