Our Life 10 Saturday October 9, 2010 Hindustan Times Lajpat Nagar Connect P. Khurrana has written 22 books on Astrology, Numerology, Tarot, Vaastu, Mantra, Yantra, Dreams and Moles. Write to him at [email protected] THE TAROT CANCER (Jun 23-Jul 21): Spend time with your family.If possible go out on a vacation with them. Real estate transactions will progress smoothly. Wednesday is favorable day for buying a vehicle ASTRO-ADVICE: Seek the blessings of elders LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): A lucky week for you. Both financial as well as matters of the heart will keep you in a good mood. Students will get good news. Family life will be blissful. Avoid land deals on Tuesday. ASTRO-ADVICE: Meditate on Fridays. CAPRICORN (Dec 23- Jan 20): Cash is likely to roll in from unexpected sources. Do not drive too hard. Women entrepre- neurs should take care of business. ASTRO-ADVICE: Donate a silver flute on Friday at a Krishna temple. TAURUS (Apr 21-May 20): You will shine spectacu- larly, when it comes to creative work. Tuesday will prove fulfilling when it comes to academics. ASTRO-ADVICE: Light a black lamp on Saturday under a Peepal tree. ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20): All your plans seem likely to fall into place. You must not jump to conclusions soon about anything. Be more realis- tic. A Taurean friend will prove to be helpful. ASTRO-ADVICE: Offer water to rising Sun. LEO (Jul 22-Aug 23): Family members will be most co-operative. Make sure you listen to your inner voice when it comes to making decisions. Take care of your finances. ASTRO-ADVICE: Visit a temple every Tuesday SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22): A slow week for business folks. Health of your spouse or children might need attention on Wednesday. ASTRO-ADVICE: Keep your head towards the West side of your bed while sleeping. AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb 19): You will have to watch your emotions on Tuesday. An easy going week for students. Health requires careful watching. ASTRO-ADVICE: Offer grass to Cow on Wednesday. GEMINI (May 21-Jun 22): Venus favours domestic bliss. Try to keep your business plans secret. Be cautious when it comes to finances. Students should study hard. ASTRO-ADVICE: Avoid Blue clothes on Thursday. VIRGO (Aug 24-Sep 22): Short trips may have to be taken at very short notice. A good time for legal matters. No need to worry on health front. Neither lend nor borrow money this week. ASTRO-ADVICE: Donate sarson oil on Saturday. SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23- Dec 22): Beauty and ease are the theme for the week. A wish comes true on Tuesday. Keep a distance with new acquaintance. ASTRO-ADVICE: Keep a money-plant in your bedroom. PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20): The focus this week is on travel. A particularly good period for romance. Health troubles may worry you, so take care while eating out. ASTRO-ADVICE: Meditate on Mondays. Your Stars My office is a divided house these days having taken up a debate from the streets. The girls are elated with the separate ladies compartment introduced by Delhi Metro, some boyz- to-men are happy for them, while some others are not entirely in agreement of the situation. They cannot fathom the need or fuss over women for reasons — spanning from missing their company while commuting to being disal- lowed to venture anywhere close to the compartment — as the case may be. They do not like being shown away by the station guards, and they do believe that the space is wasted when there are fewer women and too many men -to-be-accommo- dated crunched in the rest of the train. So do you think it's a gender issue? Worth a debate? Women being granted certain privi- leges as is the case, doesn't seem to have gone down too well with some gentlemen. Their take — in these times of gender equality, such provisions and rules reek of hypocrisy. It's an argument I have heard even as a teenager while travelling in buses... one that men would use while keeping their macho backsides firmly glued to a ladies seat. I am not be prej- udiced in the issue as I be- lieve these men had a point, and women must not expect special concessions when they had been fighting for an equal treatment in all spheres of life. But really, is this about women's expectations? Or is it about civil courtesies that the global society extends to women and elders, the same that makes a 'civil society' in the first place. While I have seen hearten- ing scenes of not only men vacating seats for senior citizens but also young women doing the same, there are lesser and lesser such courtesies being extended to women. Separate queues for women in many places is long gone, while those that still manage to form alongside the men's queue are tolerated impatiently. 'No courtesy' is a rule rather than the exception in public transport. But then again, is it about courtesy only? I asked a young colleague how exactly had the women's compartment made a difference to her life, and she went gung ho describing the hassle free commuting in an all-women's section. And when I pressed on and questioned her, what was wrong with commuting in a mixed bogie, she promptly replied, "Because I don't like to be felt up?" "Have you?" I asked and she replied in a strong affirma- tive, even as some other girls piped in to lend evidence and thrust to the confession. I am not sure if all men would understand this as a matter of "displeasure" especially those who are guilty of inflicting such for their own pleasure. In the four days that the city women have been extended the privilege of travelling with dignity, despite guards, checks and volunteers, that sect of men who just don't get it have continued to barge in when they can, where they can. These are the men who pounce on a seat with complete disregard to women, look away or pre- tend to sleep if they catch a woman's eye and even go to the extent of squeezing in next to a woman much to her discomfort. Beats me how they are themselves anything else but uncom- fortable with barely inches of space to sit on and their knees jutting out at ninety degrees. Okay this goes out for the men who have forgotten to be men. Understand women's equality is not about women competing with men in the quest of being men or like them. Women's equality is about women not being discrimi- nated against and being treated with respect in all realms of life. It's about them having as much a right to live with dignity as men. It's about being acknowledged for their skills and hard work as much as men. It's about having the right to a mouthful of sky and two feet of space to stand with pride. So, there is no reason why men should get indignant or obnoxious and lose their courtesies, simply because according to them, they are meting out equal treatment as requested. Civic sense and courte- sies shown by men towards women need an overhaul. 'Ladies first' are a far cry, too romantic an expectation probably. And romance, as you know, is a legacy that we lost along the way. Sapna Khanna The columnist is the editor of HT Connect sapna.khanna@ hindustantimes.com Travel in times of gender equality LIGHTS my city No courtesy' is a rule rather than the exception in public transport