What is your mobile number?

It’s amazing to see the so-called modern countries like the United States, Japan and China being superstitious about numbers. Chinese and Japanese people are scared of the number four as the word for this number sounds like the word for ‘death’ in their languages. As a result, many buildings in China and Japan don’t list the fourth floor. Regarding 13 as unlucky, many hotels and office buildings in Europe and the United States do not have a room number 13.

Comparatively, we Indians are probably less superstitious about numbers. But there are many people in the City who view numbers in a different perception. Whether it may be a firm belief or a mere superstition or even a co-incidence, many people agree that numbers do play a vital role in their lives.

Shamsundar, an employee in a multinational company, regards three and its multiples as lucky. “I think I am closely associated with these numbers in some way or the other. The numbers three, six and nine are very much connected to my life,” he says. “My dad’s scooter number was 4693, my college register number was 25693, my old company ID was 025369, my bike’s register number is 5693, my mobile numbers too have 5693 and my house number is also 369. So I feel very connected to these numbers,” he adds. “Though I haven’t benefited so far, I feel very confident when it comes to these numbers,” he beams.

Sharath, a BCA student in PESIT, has a fascination for nine. “Number nine is Sai Baba’s lucky number and being his disciple, I regard nine as my lucky number as well. We got our car delivered on the ninth of a month and till today, it has never given any trouble,” he utters. “He is so passionate about numbers that he calculates cricket scores and tells the exact result of a match. He is right most of the time and that’s really interesting,” exclaims one of his friends.

Archana, a degree student never goes on expedition on the seventh of any month. “I love travelling and keep on visiting new places. But whenever I have started my journey on the seventh, I have ended up meeting with an accident. It has happened thrice in my life, fortunately without much injury. Hence, I avoid roaming around on that particular date,” she explains. 

Harshith, an engineering student, regards one and 13 as his lucky and unlucky numbers respectively. “My birth date is ten and even according to numerology, one is my lucky number. While studying diploma, my register number was 19, and the sum of these digits is one. I got a distinction there and hence, got admission in a prestigious engineering college. But during SSLC and PUC, my register number was 13 and I didn’t do well there. In engineering too, 13 is my register number,” he laments. “My logic may look funny, but repeated instances forced me to think so,” he concludes.