I start writing this week?s column after managing to avert a fairly major crisis. It all started in the morning. My car was pretty low on gas. Somehow I had missed the news about the oil tanker strike. This morning?s paper screamed at me. I hurriedly drove to my friendly neighbourhood petrol pump. Alas, I was 12 hours too late. They had run out of all petrol, premium and ordinary, last night. Eventually, on the seventh attempt, I found a gas station that was still in business. I filled up my tank and drove to work.

It is then that I remembered the Yuvraj Singh (picture above) ad. The one in which he is driving around with a pretty young thing and stops at a gas station for directions. The attendant tells them that the direction would depend on the brand of petrol they are using. If Yuvraj?s car was running on a particular brand of petrol then he should take a route, long and circuitous. The idea was to give the couple more legitimate driving time together. That was possible, the ad was trying to imply, because the advertised brand gave much better mileage. Our man at the gas station then proceeds to tell the couple that if they are not using the brand then the building they are looking for is the one just opposite the gas station.

In a crisis ? as it was for me a few hours earlier ? brand choice obviously takes a back seat. Yet, a couple of things struck me. I do not remember the brand of petrol I took in my car from the seventh petrol pump. Nor do I remember the company that sells the brand. I was worried about my failing memory. The next point was even more alarming. I could not recall the brand of petrol that my very own friendly neighbourhood petrol pump sells. Honestly, I cannot even tell you whether it sells Indian Oil or Bharat Petroleum. I promised to see my doctor as soon as I could.

In the meanwhile, this column had to be sent. In all fairness to the few who waste their time reading my column, I thought I must at least mention the brand of petrol in the Yuvraj ad. That is easy, I thought. I walked into my young colleague?s office next to mine. He is a laptop-using 100+ cc motorbike rider. I asked him which brand of petrol he uses. He said AAEI. I asked him whether he had seen the Yuvraj Singh ad in a petrol station. He said he had. Encouraged, I asked him if he remembered which brand it was for. He said TVS Centra.

I, however, was still worried about my memory. How could it be that I do not remember these simple things; something must be wrong. Fortunately, the doctor had a free slot in the afternoon. I reached on time. The doctor asked me what the problem was. As usual, he gave me a patient hearing. After which he looked visibly worried. I thought I must have exhibited symptoms of serious psychological disorder. The doctor was brooding. He suddenly rang the bell and asked for his driver. I said to myself, goodness, he is going to drive me to a nursing home for an immediate brain surgery.

The driver entered the doctor?s chamber. I stood up to go. The doctor looked nervous. He glanced at me and asked the driver: ?Amra roj shokale hashpatale jabar shomoy kon petrol ta ni (What brand of petrol do we take every morning)?? The driver said: ?Phoolbaganer morer (The one at the Phoolbagan crossing).?

I drove back to office to meet my deadline.