History

Fiction

Mr Padgaonkar was having his usual Scotch whisky on rocks when his mobile phone rang its calling tune of Rang de Basanti.  A call that cannot be ignored.  Not by the editor of the leading national newspaper.  A call from the PMO. 

“Cut it out,” ordered the speaker.

“I will,” said Mr Padgaonkar with the obedience of a defiant school student in front of his most favourite teacher.

The Prime Minister’s Office had taken note of a news item on the newspaper’s website announcing the rewriting of the country’s history by changing the heads of ICHR and NCERT.  The office didn’t want it to be news; it was a clandestine affair which was meant for today’s students and their teachers.

“All the advertisements...”

“... will be cancelled.  I know.  Cut out that shit,” asserted the editor.  “I know the business.”  He has been running the business for more years than the Prime Minister had run politics even in his own state as Chief Minister.  “The news won’t appear in tomorrow’s paper.”

“Carry the photo of Deepika showing her cleavage...,” ordered the PMO’s office.

Editor gulped down his whisky.  “What?”

PMO’s office gave him the details of where Deepika was partying "tonight" with a dress that revealed her cleavage. 

“Thank you,” Editor poured himself another drink with the Basanti flavour before calling up his trusted journalist with the latest camera.

“This is called creating history,” mused Mr Padgaonkar whose father had bought the best newspaper of the country when it became independent.