Thou Shan't tell anybody

Try this psychological do-at-home experiment of mine. Pick up a girl who is the PA system of your college, school, colony etc ( there is always at least one everywhere) and one day in middle of conversation tell her, "Yaar there is something I wanted to tell specially to you. But please don't tell it to anybody." And then stop. She would make a serious face and somehow suppressing the charge and the excitement of a piece of news she would say, "Yeah, what's it about?" Then say, "leave it, I think it is not the right time......." And then watch her plead and beg for it. See I am not somebody desperately seeking for somebody's attention but you have no idea of the importance that you'll get from a person whom you might have rarely talked before.

Welcome to the oldest and the most common way of spreading news...gossip. Gossiping has been the most effective methodology of viral marketing before internet and it has been in our culture for years. Its a pity that the secret behind its success is that what journeys from one ear to another is never about the good of anybody. Its always about soiling somebody's image or something wrong that happenned, somebody's failure or stupidity. In short we love to hear bad.

For years gossiping has been majorly attached to women. I have never heard (or should I say overheard) my colony aunties speaking good about anybody else to each other and its worthless trying convincing anybody on this point. However now I feel that even men enjoy it a lot and never miss an oppurtunity to turn something into a gossip. Some time ago I was discussing with a friend, how another close common friend of our's had completely abandoned us the moment he got a girlfreind and how pathetic it was etc etc. and we went on and on till finally I realized the reason why women love gossiping so much. It is the ultimately satisfaction you can get from a conversation. Two people working towards a common purpose, adding bit by bit to a masterpiece . It is the World's most constructive, undebated converstation ever.

Another reason why I support gossiping is that it ultimately brings you in the circle of trust of another person. You gossip and everybody is all ears, something which brings gossip on an equivalent platform to conversation about girls or sex (in our men's world). Moreover I have seen people 'gossiping their way to the top'.Your gossip colleagues are part of your inner circle too. You never know the stingiest, cruelest face in your organization might have an eternal love for gossip. My school english teacher had such an apetite for cricket gossip that you just had to name a cricketer to take his mind off the textbook and make him talk for an entire period.

Moreover gossiping is an art and some people have a natural talent for it. A good gossiper leads a conversation and is welcomed everywhere. Gossip sells, be it in the form of Aaj Tak ( Dr. Armaan ki akad, Dawn ki chahhat) or delhi times. Unfortunately I suck at gossiping and I hate the look on the person's face who is getting bored when I try to gossip. So lately I decided to remain at the receiving end. But some people like my mom and sis are really good at it. They would tell me they find neighbourhood women peeking into other's houses through their windows in search of fresh news. I want to ask them what are they doing when they find those people peeking into other's house. But then what's the use spoiling your source of information. Afterall everybody loves gossips.