On Board Air India One:
It was a different birthday for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who turned 79 on Monday.
Singh, for whom it was the fourth birthday On Board Air India One, cut a cake before the group of journalists accompanying him on his return from his trip to United Nations.
For a change, the scribes dropped their pens and there were no questions asked. Instead they warmly greeted him 'many happy returns of the day' and shook hands with him one by one.
First, a young woman journalist from Assam, the baby of the team of over 30 media persons, handed over a greeting card which had the signatures of all the scribes.
There was further surprise in store when a normally shy Prime Minister, who does not make a public show of celebrations, asked "where is the cake".
A chocolate cake arrived on the scene immediately, only to be cut by the birthday boy as journalists clapped and sang "happy birthday to you". This was the first time the cake was being cut in the media section.
Singh had a small piece for himself and journalists got their share.
Earlier, the Prime Minster had cut a cake in his cabin watched by his wife Gursharan Kaur, daughter Upinder, grandson and senior officials including National Security Advsier Shivshankar Menon and Principal Secretary T K A Nair.