New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- It had been borne in upon Bertie on countless occasions that a phone call from his winsome private banker Natasha was a prelude to poor investment decisions, and yet he always answered. Our man evidently lacked Odysseus's resolve to tie himself to his ship's mast in order not to fall prey to the sirens' song.

"Hello sir! How are you? Long time". Natasha began in her lilting sales voice. Bertie realised how scores of sailors who got shipwrecked on the island of the sirens must have felt. One knew that the song was pulling one towards one's certain demise but it was so alluring that one still steered towards it. "Am good, Natasha. How have you been?" Bertie attempted his formal voice.

"When can I come over, Bert? Let...