``Coming, coming,'' He answered. And appeared the next moment. ``I was here twice last fortnight but couldn't find you,'' I complained.

``I was busy with Clinton,'' He said. ``With Clinton?'' I was amazed. ``Yes, with Clinton. Monica Lewinsky's Clinton. Perhaps so many other girls' Clinton. Yes. Paula Jones' Clinton too. Don't you know of him,'' He asked, rather surprised.

``As if I have a choice! But I thought you would have nothing to do with that man,'' I exclaimed. ``Don't you know that God dwells even in the dumbest of the dumb,'' He asked.

I waited. So He reluctantly continued: ``Whether I like it or not, the US and this Clinton represent the world order that I have evolved. Today they lead not just the freeworld but the world of ideas and the imagination as well. If they are threatened, I have to step in.''

``So what did you do,'' I asked. ``Didn't you see the results?'' He was miffed. ``I organised the nation-wide surveys, manipulated the random samples, made the inner voice of the people contacted say that they were still for Clinton and that the US was the greatest civilisation ever to rule the planet. ``As a matter of fact, it was I who asked Al Gore to support the President. Gore went right ahead and said he was proud of the President. I can't imagine precisely what there was to be proud of. I also persuaded Hillary to lie about her continued commitment to the First Marriage. She did it hilariously, going to the extent of saying she still loved the man and respected him. God! I was busy all right.''

``All that may be true,'' I said, ``but still, how could you possibly defend that man?''

``Come to think of it,'' mused God, more to Himself than for my benefit. ``What is so wrong with the fellow? Lookat the US today. Every citizen is laughing his or her head off. A boom in creative humour is sweeping the planet. Across the wide world, people are chuckling. They have never been entertained like this before. And there can't be two opinions about the chap's leadership and administrative acumen. All the surveys prove it.''``God,'' I said, ``It's universally believed that man, more so the ruler, is made in the image of God. Is that true?'' He looked at me hard, then avoided my gaze. ``You shouldn't ask me questions that I can't answer truthfully,'' he said.

``Did you also tell Clinton to start the bombing raids in Afghanistan and Sudan,'' I asked. ``No. That act bears the obvious stamp of man. Specifically, a man in a tight spot,'' He said.

``But then who arranged the meeting of the terrorist groups in Afghanistan at that very convenient moment,'' I wished to know. ``I don't know,'' he said. ``Was there any such meeting?'' he grinned. ``Oh,'' I said.Obviously, God had had too hectic a schedule to botherabout the vicissitudes which were being visited upon Atal Behari Vajpayee. ``God,'' I said. ``Yes,'' He waited. His tone showed that he knew I was coming up with a request. ``Why don't you do a good turn to our poor Atalji? You know, he has had an uninterrupted record of impeccable behaviour. In spite of being a bachelor,'' I said.

And God replied: ``I can't. I am as helpless with Jayalalitha as Atalji is with Advaniji and everyone else.''