Vaishali Protests At Pali Hill, writes Twinkle Khanna

Dear Mr Editor,

Today is the first time that I am writing a letter to a newspaper. Sunoji, my husband, (I call him that because I don't like his name, Ranjeet... like that olden-days movie villain) says that I should not write anything but... uh... I forgot what I wanted to write, but never mind, I will write something else.

So, a few hours ago, I saw that everyone was protesting against hawkers in my area, Pali Hill.

It was very exciting and I decided that I was also going to be part of this protest. I didn't wait for Sunoji, but went running down to Zig Zag Road where all the people were gathered for the rally.

I saw Ranbir Kapoor's daddy, Rishi Kapoor uncle and he was looking very angry. I wanted to know what beef he had with this issue, so I started walking towards him but suddenly four-five cows came from somewhere and started attacking him. No baba, not real cows, just some Plump Punjabi Aunty types, who started troubling him for autographs, so I quickly crossed over to the other side.

A few people were lying down on the road to protest and I also went to lie down next to them. When I got up, my pink kurta had all white patches. I thought it would become brown with all the dirt, but it was white! I saw another lady, next to me, saying that her hair had become white also.

I told her, 'See, God is also in our favour and has made us white to prove we are right!' But Prem Chopra uncle was standing there and he said, "Silly girl, you were lying down on our freshly -painted signboard, that's white paint and not any miracle. You people have gone and smudged it. Now, what are we going to do with a sign that says MY PA ILL?"

Yes, when I looked down properly it was a signboard and not a sign from God. But okay, these things happen.

My kurta was spoilt, but my luck was not because I suddenly saw Manish Malhotra standing there with another signboard. I went over to him and said, "Hellooo Manish! So nice to see you here. I wanted to contact you because I also wanted a nice lehenga choli like all those you make for Karan Johar." He looked shocked and said, "I don't make lehengas for Karan!" I giggled and said, "No! No! Not for him! For all Karan Johar movies. Is Karan also here? I will take him to my house and give him coffee then I can tell everyone that I had Koffee with Karan."

But Manish didn't answer me because he started talking to Neelam. Wow! She was carrying such a nice Louis Vuitton handbag. I wish I could also get a bag like that someday. I went right up to her and said, "I am a big fan of yours and also of your bag. I remember you in those famous Govinda movies. You danced so well in Hero No 1 and Coolie No 1. You are my favorite. Is Govinda also coming here?"

She sweetly replied, "Thank you, but that was Karisma Kapoor and no, Govinda is not coming because he is not from this area." I like that Neelam, such a polite girl and pretty also. Oof, some white paint had come off from my kurta onto her bag, I hope she didn't notice. It's all Prem Chopra uncle's fault! After all, who gets a wet signboard to a protest rally?

Nothing much was happening but suddenly the MLA from Bandra, Ashish Shelar informed us that he would make sure Pali Hill does not have any hawkers. Everyone clapped very loudly.

Then all the famous people went away, all the camera people went away and all the other people gathered also went away. All, except me.

I was alone, so I sat on a fence on the side of the road and I just kept wondering what was right and whose rights were being crushed? The rights of the hawkers to earn an honest living? The rights of the residents of Pali hill who have paid very high prices per square feet to live in this area, more than they would have paid for any other part of Mumbai, just for their peaceful, quiet and plush surroundings? Which right has the right? And can one person's right be righter than another person's right and so on.

After half an hour, I had a headache and I was still sitting on the fence, so I got off, went home and wrote this letter.

Thank you,
Vaishali Dadlani.
Not related to Vishal Dadlani.
Shiv Sena Rocks.
I love Fadnavis.
Pali Hill Resident.