Further small talk followed. I mentioned that I had met him once earlier at Lucknow at a common friend’s home. He acknowledged the acquaintance and went on to add he was the managing director of the The National Herald — a post his father-in-law had bequeathed on him. This, he went on to say, meant that he had to stay in Lucknow. As if to justify his being away from his wife, he volunteered to add that Indira was required in Delhi to look after her father. So he shuttled between Lucknow and Delhi frequently. He thought it fit to mention that he had a separate house in Delhi. In turn, he asked me what I was doing. I replied suitably and he tried to show some interest. It was soon time to retire. As I attempted climbing on to the upper berth, he signed to me that I could take the lower berth and then swiftly clambered on to the upper bunk. I had heard of him being arrogant and hardly expected this consideration.

Later, at Delhi, we were saying good-bye to each other when I saw Indira Gandhi walking up towards him. She looked at me and asked him, “Who is she?” With an impish smile, he replied, “A fellow passenger!”