I...shall meet my Cosmic Master with my head held high. Clean I came into the world. Clean I shall depart—Natwar Singh

Natwar Singh, Stephanian, Plenipotentiary, MP, Congress Advisor, Minister, finally—as all humans must—came face to face with his Cosmic Master. He found Him poring over the Celestial Logbook. This, I believe, is a slightly abridged version of what transpired....

Cosmic Master (looking up from an enormous volume): Ah-ha, who do we have here, a former minister of India, no less.

Natwar: I may add, your holiness, that I am a product of St Stephen’s and also had the honour to advise the highest authorities of my country.

Cosmic Master (if there was one thing he disliked, it was false superiority): Quite. Now please present your case.

Natwar (pulling out several sheets of paper): I beg leave to present my case for admittance to this Celestial Abode of the Truly Greats of Humanity.

Cosmic Master: Before you proceed, I must tell you that we have a rule here. Brevity is the soul of the heavenly spirit.

Natwar: You may rest assured, Celestial Holiness, that I shall endeavour to be brief, but you must understand that some beings, like Yours Truly, have a slightly more extended Curriculum Vitae than others.

Cosmic Master (stifling a yawn): Please carry on.

Natwar: To begin at the beginning. I was given admittance into St Stephen’s. As they say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for an undeserving fellow to enter into its portals. Cosmic Master: I am afraid we have different criteria here, Mr Singh.

... contd.