The verdict on giving in to the sin of temptation for the forbidden apple was clear. The Lord decided that humankind should atone by working in packages of six days, with the seventh, the Sabbath, to be spent in memory of the Holy Piety.

Humans, being humans, contrived to make the sixth day of the week left half-free for their own pleasure and indulgence. Next, the five-day week was formalised.

We all know that the devil can quote scripture for his purpose, and so there were further exceptions in the annual calendar for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.

Then, from an era of 'give us this day our daily bread' came the concept of the monthly salary. So the first of every month became the salary day.

But, surely, one can't keep fooling the divine endlessly. For further progress towards temptation and luxury, one began to put asterisks in his diary for the EMI days for the house, the car and the concubine.

The problem of being rich is that one is always short of money. So, there was one more devilish introduction — the credit card.

Mark another page in your calendar for payment or face a recovery gang in your bedroom. But, there are some good people too.

You can shift your arrears equally to two other credit card companies to stop these hooligans in their tracks. But now you have to block two convenient days in your cheque book.

Electricity, water supplies and expressway turnpikes have privatised, but that means that you will now have to pay for them.

The two mobiles and the broadband you have installed for the respectability of putting your e-mail address on your visiting card naturally have three different payment deadlines.

And with the IPL, you have to recharge your direct-to-home subscription. Indians today, depending on where they live, order as breakfast paranthas, idlis, Pao Bhaji, Nescophee, lassi and their cheque books.

They are considered to be living within their known sources of income if they manage to control it all one short of the renewal slip in the book.

The unknown sources of income anyway do not require a cheque book. After being so sincere to all the service providers, one could understand if people forgot their anniversaries or their wives' birthdays.

Alas, however, for that there is no provision for leniency in lieu of one's circumstances.