Josh Harnet of the CNN was just about to announce the result of last baseball match, when he suddenly switched to a totally different news. As breaking news splashed brightly at the bottom of the screen, Josh blurted…
“We have just received information that the Air Force One has just landed at the Geneva International Airport. Our correspondent Samantha is present there. So over to you Samantha…”
“Thank you Josh. I am standing here at the Geneva Cointrin International Airport where the Air Force One has just landed carrying along in it President Zachary Stephens and the first lady Adrianne Stephens. The President of United States is the last one of the Head of States to reach Geneva for the International Council for World Peace organised by the United Nations Peace Program. The Council is being considered as a great step taken in the process of combating terrorism. The head of States of over fifty six nations have assembled here, including the Prime Minister of Britain, Japan, India and Pakistan. There has also been some royal presence since the arrival of the King and Queen of Jordan, who arrived earlier this morning. The arrival of President Stephens was greatly awaited. His approach towards fighting terror, which is very much different from his other counterparts, has earned him great fame. And now we can see President Stephen’s descending along with the first lady. They are waving out to the crowd of reporters….blah… blah…blah…
*****
The International Council for World Peace was like any other event organised under the flag of the United Nation. It gave a platform for the extremely powerful people in the world to exhibit how masterful speech writers they all had. It was one of those places where words such as “condemn”, “I stand strictly against it”, “Human Rights”, “We stand together” and some more political nonsene could be heard most frequently. The less powerful but more active people like the secretaries, counsels, advisors, generals, and other officers of various nations used this chance to tour the lovely country with their entire family. It was all “official” after all! And yes, most importantly it gave the wives of these men to flaunt an ensemble of haute couture and jewellery, which they would otherwise hardly ever wear. After all, there plenty of reporters around and you never knew if you could manage to get a glimpse of yourself in the papers. Even if it may just be in one corner of a photograph focussing on some President or apparently more important person! You could always take that picture home and say,” see. That’s me. There. In the corner. Yes. That one!”
But… President Stephens was kinda different person. Did not make too many speeches, which reduced his chances of showing how little he knew! Though it wasn’t that he was ill informed. He was well proficient in all the daily happenings of his nation and the world in general. He could say ‘hello’ in seven languages (which had impressed the Japanese Prime Minister greatly) and loved Metallica and Opeth! (Strange, huh?) Usually a silent man, but when ever he spoke, his words silenced everyone around. He was what the old men described as “more into action than words.” His wife, First Lady Adrianne Stephens was one strange woman for her rank. The reason being that she was hardly visible anywhere. No no. I don’t mean that she was one of those size sub zero ladies. It was just that she never usually stepped out of the White House unlike her predecessors. Kept her at home, spending so much time in gardening that most of the common Americans couldn’t even recognise her if they saw her alone, without her more popular husband. Even the cabinet members often mistook her as a gardener who was rather too beautiful and had a classic sense of dressing. So much unlike the other dirt clad gardeners!
During this summit, the men and the women who held important posts left to attend meetings and sessions during the day. So, the wives of such powerful men would as a result easily get bored. So, to keep them busy, various programs would be organised. Like, they would be taken to some art exhibition where they would pretend to observe modern paintings or they would go to some orphanage and play with the children and later complain that their hands got dirty. The best way that they enjoyed was during those little tea parties which were often organised. It was in these tea parties that one saw the wife of the British Prime Minister talking most animatedly with the wife of the Chinese President, each trying to explain most amicably to the other the different ways of making tea, without realising that neither of them was actually interested the conversation.
It was during on of those tea parties…
Two ladies were talking in the most sweetest of voices. The first one had a long pointed nose and was dressed in sky blue silk dress with pearls around her neck. The other was rather pretty and was dressed in a simple white cotton shirt and baby pink skirt and a printed silk scarf round her neck.
They first lady greeted the second one most politely without having any idea who she was. The second one replied most courteously.
First lady – “Geneva is indeed a lovely place.”
Second lady – “Oh yes! I love coming around here.”
First – “So, Is your husband attending the meeting too?”
Of course he is attending? Why do you think I am here otherwise?
This was most stupid thing to ever ask. But this was how the elite ladies broke the ice!
Second – “He is. He is usually very busy throughout the day. So I came over here.”
First – “Yes these men! How come they all forget they have wives? But we have to understand their positions too. You see, I never let my husband realise how angry I am. He is in such an important post, you see. So he keeps busy.”
Second – “Of course. Of course”
First – “Sometimes he gets home all tired. So many decisions to make. Gets on his nerve. But I always soothe him down. He is an important man, you see.”
Second – “Indeed. So what does he do?”
First – “He is the Junior Secretary in the Department of Agricultural. But that is very important post you see. Especially if you are in America. He takes most of the decision because the Secretary is so busy attending stupid meetings.”
Second – “America? So you are an American too. It’s good meet some one from back home. Usually I have to spend time with some Spanish or Arabian lady. I’m from America too.
First – “Wow. Well… Glad to meet you. You are right. Last day I was talking to some delegate’s wife from Japan and I couldn’t understand a single thing she said. She could not utter a word of English. And the translator had such a horrible accent that it did not help either. And by the way, I’m Lynette Brook”
Second – “I’m Adrianne.”
Lynette – “Funny. Our First Lady too has the same name.”
Adrianne – “Yes. Indeed I share my name with the First Lady. Funny coincidence indeed.”
Lynette – “So what does your husband do in America?”
Adrianne – “He works for the Oval Office.”
Lynette – “The President’s Office! Great! So what does he exactly do their? Some Secretary?”
Adrianne – “Oh no! He is not a Secretary.”
Lynette – “Since he works at the White House, I’m sure he gets to meet the first family pretty often. Does he work directly under the President? Has he seen the First Lady? I have never seen her at all. May be I got a glimpse of her when the President took his oath. But I don’t remember her face at all. Funny though, she never steps out of the White House. Must be having some problem. Some women can’t take duties at all. Look at me now. I can carry it all. But everyone is not like me. Are they? I’ve even heard that she may be slightly mad.”
Adrianne – “My Husband has never mentioned anything like that. I’m sure these are all rumours. Better not listen to them.”
Lynette – “Whatever! So what does your husband do exactly? Is he an advisor?”
Adrianne – “No.”
Lynette – “Must be some kind of assistant?”
Adrianne – “He is not. He is just a busy man. Not any assistant”
Lynette – “So what exactly does he do? Does he work for the defence that you can’t speak about it. Is he in the President’s bodyguard? The Secret Service?”
Adrianne – “No dear. Can you imagine the wife of a secret service agent to be present in this party?”
Lynette – “Then what exactly does he do in the President’s office?”
Adrianne smiled. She stood up. Lynette followed suite expecting that they would go for a walk and she would finally get to know what Adrianne’s husband did. Whatever it was, she knew that it could be a position of higher power than his husband. He must be some of silly worker in the President’s office, she said to herself. Adrianne took the last sip from her tea cup and placed it on the table.
Then she turned to Lynette…
“Since you are so inclined to know… My husband is the President of United States. It was a pleasure talking to you. Hope we meet again”
As she stepped to walk out, the secret service agents flanked her. One of them said, “Ma’am the President has left a message for you.”
“Yes George, I’ll Take it.”
Lady Stephens walked out on a rather flushed Lynette, who hoped that she never gets to meet Adrianne or her husband in her life! the only thing she was wondering was What's with these Diplomats and their wives???!!!!
Labels: America, Humour, Sattire, United Nations
