Guys, the 'good news' stories out of Pune will have to wait. This is breaking news - Rahul Gandhi made a respectable debut as the Anointed One this morning. It was his official coming out party and he delighted his admirers with a carefully orchestrated press conference which he handled deftly, even shrewdly. His candour and easy charm not just floored his worst critics but sent the opponents scrambling for cover. Their weak comebacks later in the day made their combined heightened nervousness that much more evident - let's see who or what they pull out of the hat now that the Rahul Factor has entered the picture. I am not sure whether the heir apparent went in cold or was tutored. But he won several brownie points by playing the ingenue to perfection.All eyes are now on Rahul Baba , as India enters Phase 4 of the month long elections.
Obama's Bangalore Bomb was another big one. Nobody saw that one coming. Just as I was about to switch off, came an sms asking whether Balasaheb Thackeray had passed away. Now, all that was needed was to hear yet another ghastly rumour about the BSE building being attacked ( there was a terror warning this morning). Not a dull day in India ever! Kasab's demands are as outrageous as they are amusing. The guy wants his favourite ittar, flavoured toothpaste, and permission to stroll in the balcony outside his cell. Hello?? Has someone forgotten to tell him what he stands accused of? Or is his lawyer Kazmi upto tricks?? That Kazmi guy looks like he is acting all the time - I get the feeling he has missed his true calling. This is Kazmi's only opportunity to hog the limelight and ham away to glory. I suspect he wears stage make up before every court appearance.
The other nasty rumour doing the rounds is that the Gerard Butler dude was being treated like visiting royalty by Bollywood Biggies for reasons that are very hush hush. It is not our Priyanka Chopra alone who fancied him.The asli suitor was someone else. And he was playing it coy and safe by keeping Priyanka as a decoy. You go figure...
Just to end on a happy and healthy note, Pune's best kept foodie secret may turn out to be an unpretentious restaurant called 'Mayur' - the vegetarian thali place that serves Marwari specialities like Daal Batti. I always but always stop off at Mayur's for lunch, and did so this time as well. I skipped the Daal Batti, and had 'aam ras' instead. My next stop was Fab India (another favourite), from where I bought a bitter orange facial spray. I tell you, it saved me from getting a heat stroke! It is so utterly divine, especially straight out of the 'fridge, I spray it on each time I enter the kitchen. This is my big summer discovery to beat the wretched heat. Okie...kal ki baat kal. adios..