Red carpet welcome

There was a buzz in the corridors of North Block last week. And just to make sure that nobody missed the point, the powers-that-be had made sure there were visible signs that something important was happening. As the Union Home Ministry organised the Indo-Pak Home Secretary-level talks, there was a none-too-subtle change in the look and feel of the place. This despite the meeting being held at a luxury hotel nearby. It was a new bright red carpet that welcomed visitors to the ministry. The corridors8212;swept clean8212;were lined with gleaming metal flower pots. Gone were the rickety old chairs placed outside important offices, these had been replaced with comfortable cushioned seats. And there were guards in ceremonial attire. Needless to say, visitors were pleasantly surprised.