The party secrets.

[Text and photos by Mayank Austen Soofi]

One evening The Delhi Walla attended two parties, one after the other.

The Iftar dinner at the Oberoi Hotel was hosted by Herro Mustafa of the American embassy. The reception to mark the French National Day was hosted by ambassador François Richier at his residence on Nyay Marg.

The Iftar dinner offered veiled heads. The National Day reception offered bare shoulders.

The Iftar dinner had some of the Muslim guests dressed in ceremonial drapes and sherwanis. The National Day reception was also formal but the dresses leaned towards European sensibilities; accessories included hats and cigars. (A new attaché scandalized everyone by greeting the first councilor before the minister councilor.)

The Iftar dinner served chicken biryani and kebabs etc. The National Day reception served wines and cheeses etc.

Some of the attendees at the Iftar dinner looked so muscular that they were probably secret service agents. Some of the attendees at the National Day reception looked so bored that they were probably teetotalers.

Overheard at the Iftar party: “That bearded man! He is very close to (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi. Stop me from digging out his eyes.”

Overheard at the National Day reception: “Fraternity is the door to violence!”

Party with a difference

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