Former US president Bill Clinton can swing the moods in his favour. He checked into a city five-star after a two-and-a-half hour delay on Wednesday. In the meantime, guests and visitors to the hotel had to cool their heels, provoking them to burst out into slogans of “Clinton hai, hai” when the lovable ex-prez did arrive. Into this maelstrom of heightened passions rode Bill.

And boy, was he a charmer. He sensed the mood, broke into a broad smile, eyes twinkling, “Thank you so much. I’ve had a long flight to India but it was worth it.” The mood softened. Someone mentioned that his autobiography was taking too long to read. Pat came the reply, “I know, I’m planning to come up with a shorter version.” Are you well now, Mr Clinton, asked an onlooker. “I am extremely well. More than I should be,” he smiled.

If you thought only women were capable of shopping till they dropped, think again. Clinton spent close to an hour shopping for Indian artifacts and jewellery at the Maurya Sheraton arcade immediately after a gruelling flight. But shopping ain’t Bill’s mission—he was in the Capital en route to South India to help in tsunami relief operations. Casually dressed in blue denims and a matching shirt, the former US Prez took his time meeting and greeting the waiting crowd—shaking hands with everyone he met, listening to what they had to say, pausing while excited kids fumbled with their cameras.

Shortly after he was whisked away to his 16th floor Presidential suite, Clinton came down to the specially set-up designer bazaar and set off on his whirlwind shopping spree. On his list—seven silk ties (burgundy, navy blue and rose pink) worth Rs 6,500, intricately carved wall-panels and brackets from the South for Rs 10,000, a 22 carat Ladakhi gold necklace studded with rubies worth Rs 24,000, two silk-pashmina scarves worth Rs 1,700, 15 Kashmiri papier mache boxes worth Rs 5,000, a semi-precious stone-studded necklace and cufflinks worth Rs 21,500, two small cushions with maroon covers worth Rs 1,500 and a pink silk skirt worth Rs 3,900.

While checking out jewellery for his daughter Chelsea, Clinton took his time, carefully choosing what she would like. “She’s very particular about what jewellery she likes. I’ll take this and let her choose the rest when she comes to India,’’ he said picking up the semi-precious stone-studded necklace. An India-AIDS Partners reception in the evening was followed by dinner hosted by agriculture mantri Sharad Pawar.

The dinner menu featured baby tandoor pomfret, anar and mint sorbet, gosht sadgi korma , degi murgh , dal qureshi , chicken yakhni pulao and alphonso mangoes served with pista ice-cream. Bill Clinton’s presence albeit late, did not fail to enthuse the young and old alike at the Maurya Sheraton. “I’m such a huge Bill fan,” said an excited housewife who had come to the hotel for a kitty party. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me,” added an 82-year-old grandfather. “My India trip has been worth it,” offered a young mother from Finland.

<I>Source: Times of India</I>