A Non-Political Party

About 600 people in their partying best had gathered for the last IPL afterparty in Delhi. A farewell tweet by Tharoor or what will happen to IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi now was the least of their concerns. “Political scandals keep happening. If the cricketers and the fans have no objection,I don’t see why people shouldn’t have any fun,” said model Noyonika Chatterjee,who choreographed the fashion show.

Stuti Gulati,a 22-year-old Delhi University student,was trussed up in the party uniform — purple tunic,glossed-up lips and black stockings — and she followed the code of not worrying too much about the goings-on in the political arena. “I did catch up with the news but right now my friends and I just want to party,” laughed Gulati. Businessman Aniruudha Khosla was engrossed in his single malt: “This is my first party and I don’t see how another cricket controversy can cloud it. Obviously,life has to go on.”

It was the driest IPL party in town: designer of the day,Malini Ramani,was missing from the scene; even the permanent party fixture Mandira Bedi was absent. Yet the IPL’s gloss wondrously covered the grime. The gimlet-eyed crowd was entertained by MTV VJ Bani in an indigo-blue shirt and black tights. “The rule is to start a fashion show with cricketers,who will come in around 1 am,” said an organiser. A few of the Partying XI finally trooped in. Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds of Deccan Chargers caused a flutter when they entered. Delhi Daredevils Ashish Nehra,Paul Collingwood and Daniel Vettori filed in later followed by 12 blonde cheerleaders,who danced in the cordoned-off private area.

“I try not to read negative stories these days,” Monique Ralph,a 22-year-old South African cheerleader who jigged for the losing team,leaned in and said. “So much has already been written about that I hardly care.” Ralph and the girls,as though to make the point,danced till early morning,to the latest Bollywood number All’s well. Definitely not Tharoor’s — or Modi’s — theme song.