On passing the metal detectors and scans at Gate 2, we were informed that the House had been adjourned and all the galleries cleared. The officers wouldn’t say why, they just looked very awkward and embarrassed.

I went to meet Vinod in Central Hall, an MP’s spouse’s privilege. On the way I called to Rajdeep Sardesai who was speeding along the corridor. He just smiled and said — not now, later. Central Hall was unusually packed, but without the usual banter. Everyone was extremely sombre. It felt as though a black cloud hung above. Vinod explained why the House had been adjourned. I was shell shocked. I asked friends in the UPA what they thought would happen, and was surprised to hear that they thought the vote would go ahead as planned. My instinct as a lawyer made me feel that with such serious allegations made on the floor of the House, they needed to be first investigated by the House. If any action was required to be taken against any MPs, I thought this should be taken before the members vote. After all, if any MP had committed a criminal act which would lead to his or her being expelled, it seemed logical to me that the MP should be first expelled and not allowed to vote, especially when the vote was so close.

Later, as I tried to explain to Shraddha and Radhika that the House was adjourned because of the commotion when some MPs had alleged that they had been paid to vote a particular way, they just couldn’t comprehend my words. When they finally did, they said, with eyes full of shock and in total innocence, “But that is like selling the country.” And I thought to myself, yes, it is.

... contd.