The Senior Congress minister was toggling with the remote and watching the TV news when I went to meet him. Giving me a weak and depressed smile he signaled me to sit down. “Just give me a few minutes and I will give you the interview” he said.
As he was watching the TV, his wife brought something to eat in two plates and placed it on the table. The minister without looking at the plates took it in hand and put it in his mouth . The moment he chewed it , he yelled and spat the stuff out. “What the hell have you given me? These are certainly not the pakodas that I asked” he said grimacing.
His wife told him ” These are not pakodas. These are sabudana wadas . You will have to manage with these . If you still feel hungry, then you can have two bananas” she added.
“This is horrendous. You know I hate sabudana wadas. Why don’t you bring some chicken legs” he asked still keeping his eyes riveted on the television.
” No. You will not get any of those stuff. Don’t you know today is “Shravan Somwar”, his wife asked him with a rasp in her voice.
His wife told him ” These are not pakodas. These are sabudana wadas . You will have to manage with these . If you still feel hungry, then you can have two bananas” she added.
“This is horrendous. You know I hate sabudana wadas. Why don’t you bring some chicken legs” he asked still keeping his eyes riveted on the television.
” No. You will not get any of those stuff. Don’t you know today is “Shravan Somwar”, his wife asked him with a rasp in her voice.
” So what”? the minister asked petulantly.
“Well ,we have to observe a fast today” she said.
The moment she uttered the word “fast” , the minister got startled and the tea spilled over his spotless white shirt and pajamas.
“Please don’t ever utter that word in this house” , the minister pleaded in a hushed voice.
“Which word? Sabudana wadas?” she asked him.
” No! The word “Fast”. It increases my blood pressure. In fact the whole Congress party gets goose bumps just hearing that word “, he said in a whisper.
“This is ridiculous. All the saints, sadhus and religious leaders extol the virtues of fasting as a means of self- purification. In fact you should go on a fast for one whole week. It will do wonders on your bloating paunch” she said.
” Don’t be rude. You don’t have to pass comments about my eating habits and my paunch” he said wryly.
” I not being rude. I am just stating the fact. You should not only fast but also do some exercises like bahya , anulom, vilom and brhamari”.
“What are they” the minister asked scratching his head
“What sort of minister are you.? Bahya, anulom, vilom and brahmari are yoga exercise which Baba Ramdev advises to people in the Astha Channel.
” Please don’t ever take his name in our house. Next time if you mention him, I will give up eating food completely” the minister said.
” Oh, you mean. You will resort to indefinite fast like Anna Hazare?” she said.
” For God’s sake. Stop taking his name in the house” the minister whined with tears in his eyes.
As he was clearing his throat , a teenage girl came to the room and began to talk loudly in her cellphone. “Of course he is a he-man. I am just crazy about him. I am told he is also a bachelor. I want to meet him and take his autograph. Look at the way he was tackling the whole lot of cops so calmly” she said giggling on the phone.
“Are you talking about Ajay Devgn in Singham?” asked the minister to the girl.
” No uncle. Ajay is a married buddha with two kids. I was talking about Anna Hazare” she replied with a smile and left the room.
The minister looked even more crestfallen. I took one of the sabudana wada lying on the plate and walked away. I knew I will not get any interview.
