What a lovely coincidence this is… The auspicious festival of Navratri has begun and this is also the ninth chapter of my remembrance journey ‘Diary of a Greenman’. Isn’t this a good time to talk about the divinity of Ma Shakti? After all, what could be a holier day than this day for the honour of a woman or the full acceptance of a woman’s personality? I recall my college days when I was pursuing BCom in SPB College, Surat and was in my third year of my graduation. These were also the years in which I was undergoing a very conscious transformation in terms of my appearance and personality. And at that time, the film ‘Kaho na Pyar Hai’ was released. The transformation process started to have a good impact on my appearance and I also wore rimless glasses that time due to which people used to call me Hrithik Roshan. In those days I was popularly known as LK i.e. Lady Killer as well as Lord Krishna because the majority of my friends were females and I was very comfortable with them. Also some of them were my best friends. During that time celebration of Prominent days were most awaited by the students of the college. There was a special craze for the Rose and Chocolate day and I had earned the famous tag of the Chocolate and Rose Boy in college, as I used to get maximum cards, chocolates and Roses! So many times, I would get proposals in the form of expensive gifts or cards pasted on my bike and car. Because of my popularity, some of the boys in my college often teased me that you shouldn’t let this opportunity go! But I would ask them, Opportunity for what, brother? In this memoir I must admit that it’s not that I did not have any girlfriends at that time. I have had my share of girlfriends from time to time, but that friendship was also within certain limits. I never took advantage of that friendship. That’s why many girls used to feel protective with me. Given the current situation in the society, I am proud to share a personal incident from my own life. I feel even if one person is motivated by that case, then a woman will be honoured and I will think I have contributed a good deed! It so happened that once a girl who was hardly an acquaintance came down to my building and asked the watchmen to call me. The watchmen informed me and when I came downstairs I saw a girl Five or Six years younger than me standing there. I remembered she was from the same health club where I used to go. I was baffled by her sudden appearance near my building and later was even more shocked when she offered to date me! However, judging by the sensitivity of the time and situation, I promised to meet her again after which she left from there. I did meet her later as promised, but I explained to her that I was not a big model or that I wasn’t ruling the glamour industry. Also, that I am much older than you and you are too young for all these things. Even that day the girl was ready to surrender herself to me, but the only thing on my mind was that this young girl should pay attention to her studies. She seemed to understand this. But it is interesting to know what happened when a few days later she called me again to meet at her house. She gave the reason that she is very ill and there is no one to take her to the doctor. Her voice was so hoarse that I believed her and immediately left for her place. As soon as I reached her house her friend who was already present in the house locked the door from inside and both of them tried to convince me again. It occurred to me that if I stayed too long there would be a very big problem so I pretended that my head was very sore and dizzy and asked them to make me some lemonade and get me medicine. Those two innocent girls must really be worried about me so they immediately ran to the kitchen. I grabbed this opportunity and opened the door of their house and ran out! After that incident I informed the mother of the girl in a very sweet way of what all had happened. I remember even today how she became overwhelmed with emotions and blessed me with all her Heart. Even today, when I recall this incident, I think that I was young and vulnerable and also lacked the maturity. But even at that age, I had a strong belief and understanding that I had to respect women. Today it is natural for me as I am a father of a daughter myself, but back then too I believed that a woman is nature’s most powerful creation as only they can bear a child and a new life is born in them. Hence I always believed that Nature will never forgive us if we take advantage of women. As an entrepreneur or an experienced man, I would like to emphasize today that the progress or success of your life also depends on whether you respect women or not. If you disregard a woman or see her as an object, that mentality will also have a negative effect on your success. Don’t know why but even at that age I believed and lived by a principle. Whenever I came in contact with young girls or had close friendships with them, I always kept in mind that this girl is also someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, will become someone’s wife or someone’s mother and that Individual can be me! That was the single most important principle that lived by and which never let me perceive women as an object. After all, women are the closest to nature, which means that she has the same power as nature and that is the power of creation, hence nature is also known as Mother Nature! Today, I always pay special attention to the fact that the women around me, the women I’m associated with or the women who work with me always feel my protective warmth. I think this is the true identity of masculinity! That makes a woman feel protected. If a man worships a woman, does it then really make a difference if a man does not go to the temple? या देवी सर्वभुतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता । नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥