The summer gravy train

A member of Parliament is busy fielding the media these days on the ongoing spot-fixing controversy at the Indian Premier League. Even as a steady stream of journalists heads to his office-cum-home, to get his bytes filled with cliched idioms, his staff members are busy with something more interesting. One of them is writing letters addressed to the Railways' commercial department, recommending the release of emergency quota for the minister's friends and followers embarking on long journeys in the summer rush. "Chotu, call that aunty and ask her what name she has given on the ticket and her destination," an order flies across as journalists wait.