Hello Dinakar, Burrell speaking

The phone rang precisely at 7 am in the home of former DGP C Dinakar in Indiranagar.
He wasn''t surprised. After all it was he who had opened Pandora''s Box.
"Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna? Can''t be. He claims he doesn''t know anything about my book..." he mused.
"Hello," he said.
"Mr Din-aa-kaar? This is Paul Burrell, Princess D''s former butler. You must have read about me, watched me on satellite television...?"
"Yes, yes," said Dinakar."What can I do for you?"
"Well, real gutsy of you, old chap. Taking on the might of government and all. I got the royals squirming and made plenty of money too. No more hand-me- downs from Prince Charles."
"How dare you, a mere butler, compare yourself with me a decorated IPS officer who fought the political establishment in the highest courts to wrest my honour?" thundered Dinakar.
"Beg your pardon sir, me comparing myself with you? No, no, no. I called only because you are such a courageous man. I am revealing all only because Princess D isn''t around. You are doing so when all the dramatis personae involved in the continuing Veerappan saga are alive and kicking...."
"Hmmm," said Dinakar. "I''m brave, but not foolhardy. I have sought police protection from the very government I have shoved into a crisis. Guess what, they have posted a battalion of armed policemen outside my home to protect me!"
"Wonderful," said Burrell. "It''s just that I''m planning to found a club of butlers, secretaries, police officers, army generals... and others who have written books or sold stories revealing salacious details about their former bosses."
"Nonsense. I''m not like you. I have written my book for God and country. To uphold the truth and put all those lying politicians in the dock."
"Ha," said Burrell. "We did leave India five decades ago, but you guys have turned doublespeak into a fine art."
Indeed! All one has to do is read MO Mathai''s My Days With Nehru. Makes Burrell sound like an amateur.
allenmendonca1@indiatimes.com