A SEAT AT THE HIGH TABLE

The Deputy Secretary, (DS), gathered up his papers and followed his seniors out of the room in Kota Collectorate where the CM, (Chief Minister), had just concluded a district review.

- Anirban Mukhopadhaya

He could barely suppress his elation. Why, the CM, while walking past, had kindly nodded in his direction and asked him to accompany the headquarters party back to Jaipur in the State aircraft;, high recognition and honour indeed. His senior Secretary, following the CM, smiled as he passed the young man. "Welcome to the High Table," he said. His cup of joy was indeed running over.

It was all he could do not to preen and look disdainfully at other fellow mortals as the DS filed into the small aircraft that served as the State plane. He was, as seniority dictated, the last of those who clambered on using the short stairs leading into the fuselage. The propellers were already a hazy whirl and their deep humming filled the air. This is where the dream run received a nasty jolt.