Salian did not let the dry world of Law kill her childhood passion for pencil sketching. She has recently sketched the building her workplace since 1982 is situated in -- the City, Civil and Sessions Court. The sketch, done with a micro tip pen, has been printed on the cover page of the souvenier to commemorate the 50 years of the Indian possession of the Sessions Court building which used to be the Britishers' Old Secretariate, the building for the officers of the government of Bombay. The sketch has also been embossed on the gold coin which has been released to celebrate the 50 years. ``It is difficult to photograph this building.Sketching, I thought, was the only way to get it down on paper,'' Salian told Express Newsline, after a long day's J J shootout trial.

The City, Civil and Sessions Court building was erected between September 29, 1865 and June 16, 1866 by Captain Clair Wilkins. The cost sanctioned for its construction was Rs 12,80,731 but the construction was completed in Rs 12,60,844, a cost lesser than what was sanctioned. ``Is anything of the sort possible now? Hum bhi khayenge tum bhi khao, the costs would triple now,'' she said. But sketching the structure was not an easy job. Salian took time off from her vacations, posted herself on the pavement opposite the Sessions court building and began sketching it in portions. The different portions were then put together and a reduced image was printed on the cover page.

``Art always helps one to be sensitive to beauty and to ugliness as well. It has not only given me an outlet to reduce the stress which this profession subjects one to but has also helped mebe sensitive to the witnesses I question everyday. One cannot get anything out of people if there is no rapport,'' said Salian, who is also the elected secretary of The Bar Association. The outlet has helped the Special PP counter the frustration that could possibly step in when key witnesses of such an important case as a J J Hospital shootout turn hostile consistently, one after another.

``It has also helped me be very practicle to witnesses turning hostile. I have no interests in the case. The people should ensure that they get justice from the court. If they turn hostile it is their problem,'' she said.

Salian wishes to sketch other historical structures in the Fort vicinity. ``I have planned to spend most of my retired life sketching. That's the only time when I really will be free,'' she said. For now, the Special PP is keeping the skill confined to her court notepads.