I read a lot too. I have read all Sidney Sheldon books.

I am experiencing a strange phenomenon in Chandigarh. Here everyone has started to believe that they know more about everything than you do. You could be anyone, been anywhere but they still know more about it than you do. They don't bother to confirm with you, they just know. It happens everywhere and all the time, and now I have stopped reasoning with people here. I let them stroke their ego and lecture me, while I laugh at them in my head. The problem of course, is that you are the only one in on this joke, and it stops being funny after a while.

In the last few weeks, I have been given instructions on; how to do online trading (I have been trading for the last 5 years), how to work out in the gym (the trainer assumed I had never seen the inside of a gym and talked to me like a 5 year old), what jeans to wear for my body (after I had specifically asked for a certain Levi style which the sales person condescendingly told me is not right for me), use of a sunscreen (every time I visit a beautician) and many more. One time someone at the airport started telling me how airports at other countries were better than in India. It was not a discussion or a statement, but a education for me on what facilities are provided at international airports. The person didn't bother to check if I had ever been to one, before making a fool of himself. Another time a salesperson tried to sell me baby wipes when I was looking for a pack for tissues, convincing me that it was the same thing.

While I try to attribute most of it to the know-it-all attitude of the people here in general, but I have to wonder if I look particularly stupid that everyone feels the need to educate me. No amount of self-confidence can withstand this onslaught of unsolicited advice. So after being told everytime that my skin is a mess and so ugly, I do find myself booking an appointment for an expensive facial against my better judgement. Or take that stupid fitness test in the gym, that only made way for more lecturing on how I have let my body go to waste.

Now I mention specifically the people of Chandigarh for this behaviour based on my own experience. It might have spread to (or from) Punjab, but hey! what do I know?