CN & Heard

Hot client
“He was very hot when he disappeared your honour…he had a hot discussion with his partner before he disappeared My Lord”. These were the arguments of an advocate trying his best to argue his client’s case in English. Nervousness or sheer lack of command over the language,the advocate’s verbal acrobatics brought a smile to many faces. What put the icing on the cake was when the opposing counsel questioned,“How hot was your client ?”. Here’s the cherry on top — “O ji,very hot he was,very!”.

Bachchan revival
Its religious appeal apart,the number 786 has a special place in the consciousness of most Indians because of its association with superstar Amitabh Bachchan. In Deewar,regarded by many as the Big B’s best-ever performance,a badge with 786 inscribed played a very important role. It is supposed to be a harbinger of good luck. Hafiz Anwar ul Haq,the sole Muslim candidate from the city,seems religious and a big fan of the older Bachchan. He makes sure his own mobile numbers as well as those of his supporters have the combination 786 in it. He is sure putting it to a difficult test,given his chances to win.

Rallying at Press Club
Amarinder’s recent media interaction at the Chandigarh Press Club turned out to be a messy affair for the club. The conference fast turned into a public rally,with hundreds of Congress supporters descending at the venue. The crowd was everywhere,even on top of the tables where tea was to be served. White kurta pajama-clad supporters ran over everything,from potted plants to the hedge. For them,it was no less than a rally ground. Supporters brought with them barrels full of water and laddoos to serve at the end of the conference. Club officials were left fuming. The Congress later apologised,as was expected.

Public servants and their public holidays
It appears that public servants make it a point to work only on the working days of the government. The moment,a weekend or a holiday comes,they completely cut themselves off from the public and their official duties. When a reporter recently called up a senior UT official on Saturday for an official comment,the official,gave the stock reply,“It is a Saturday and I can’t answer your queries,as it is a holiday. Contact me on Monday”. And all she asked for was a customary,run-of-the-mill ‘quote’.

Is it the colour or is it just you?
Old-timers at the Indian Coffee House were not particularly pleased at seeing the colour of the walls change from a predominantly blue with older coats of paint peeping through (Modern Art,as some said),to an orange-meets-pink. While those too old to notice nodded in agreement when the relatively younger prodded the waiters over why it was changed,one member of the kaapi-cutlet brigade was particularly peeved at the absence of the poster of the southern filmstar Raagini. Though the waiters could not possibly peel off the allegedly hideous paint on the walls,one,Shankar was his name,rushed to the store-room and immediately restored the beauty (who,for the last 50 years,likes “nothing but delicious coffee”). The gentleman,pleased,changed tunes immediately. “Actually,the colour is not that bad,Shankar,” settling the issue.