September 24. “Button, you’ll love this.”

“What is it?”

“How different people react to the same question.”

“What’s the question?”

“Why did the chicken cross the road? A kindergarten boy said—To get to the other side.”

“Fair enough.”

“Abdul Kalam, our ex-President said—Yes, why did the chickens cross the road? Please tell me why? They crossed to go to the other side of the road. Now repeat after me.”

“A teacher to the core.”

“Bill Gates of Microsoft said—The newly released Chicken 2003, will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook.”

“Who’s next?”

“Azharuddin, one of India’s ex-cricket captains said—I am totally innocent, you know. I’m unnecessarily being dragged into this, you know, because I’m from the minority… I neither know the chicken nor the road, you know…”

“Crazy!”

“L K Advani, the BJP supremo said—I see Pakistani hand in this …”

“Ridiculous.”

“Balasaab—Chickens crossing the roads is against our culture, my followers will stone all such chickens which cross the road.”

“Very funny!”

“Amitabh Bachchan—The chicken has crossed the road? Are you sure? Very sure?  Really sure?”

“Strange!”

“Mrs Maneka Gandhi said—Chicken crossed the road alone…!! If a vehicle had passed over it, we would have lost one of our dearest creatures. Ban all vehicles from using the road. Protect our chickens…”

“Why do you think the chicken crossed the road?”

“I would say— The chicken crossed the road because she wanted to make friends with another chicken she saw on the opposite side. And you?”

“I’d say— The chicken crossed the road because she wanted to eat in the new restaurant recently started on the other side.”

“They’re really funny.”