A prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary observes strict fast during the nine days of navaratra. Not just that the leader sticks to a strict diet comprising only fruits, he also observes maun vrat, or a vow of silence. This results in piquant situations at the BJP headquarters at 11, Ashoka Road, where the leader sits during the day. The leader’s phone, both his cell phone and landline, either goes unanswered or an assistant conveys to the caller that they should either call at the end of the navaratra or text the leader. It is also a blessing in disguise for the workers who queue up to meet the leader. They return satisfied that the leader has heard them out, but there is a tinge of skepticism since they haven’t received any oral assurance.