DIARY

 DIARY

‘’PRAHLAD HAS SHOT THE PRESIDENT’’

The buzz had started spreading.

It initially started in London and was slowly spreading across the www networks -- implying the Whole World WhatsApp groups more than The World Wide Web.

Confirmation was not available so this one line was the initial point of news.

Questions were being asked on the www — Was it a good shot ?

There were no accompanying immediate images or further descriptions.

There was also no mention of this on any Reuters official release.

Please don't believe this news in its entirety as it is not fully true.

Please believe me.

He ’is’ not the President.

He ’was’ the President.

Yes - He was once POTUS

He ’was’ the President of the United States of America.

He was out in the open.

Opportunity came my way -- I could not let it go and I had to take the SHOT.

I TOOK IT!!

His name -

William !!

William Jefferson !!

Born

William Jefferson Blythe III

on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas

now

William Jefferson Clinton !!

Known to all of you as

BILL CLINTON.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON.

Ex Attorney General of Arkansa from 1977–1979

Ex Governor of Arkansas from 1979–1981 and 1983–1992

And —

42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

I, Prahlad Shridhar Hegde would now like to clarify.

Lend me your ears !!

I am innocent.

I submit the photographic image and page of October 2017 from my DIARY as evidence.

Exhibit A -- A4 size leather bound Black Diary of Prahlad Hegde - pages describing events on date of 20th October 2017

Exhibit B -- Colour photograph which was found, stuck in the dairy, sitting in pages describing events on date of 20th October 2017

I rest my case.

The jury is open.

I leave it now for your judgement.

WAS IT A GOOD SHOT ?

Exhibit A -- Black Leather Bound Diary

20/10/2017 SHOOTING OF A PRESIDENT

It was 0835 hours this crisp cold dreary October 2017 morning in Central London.

Getting off the tube at Green Park Underground station I was walking to my meeting destination.

A big Diwali party was being organised.

We were in final planning stage for this event.

The host had requested for to meet at the function venue at 9am.

The venue was the world famous auction house Sotheby’s

One of the world's largest brokers of Fine and decorative art jewellery, Real Estate and collectables, Sotheby's is named after one of its cofounders, John Sothebys.

Sotheby's predecessor, Baker and Leigh, was founded in London on 11 March 1744

Sotheby's relocated in 1917 from 13 Wellington Street to 34–35 New Bond Street, which remains as its London base to this day and soon came to rival Christie's as leaders of the London auction market, which capitalised on the arts.

It all started as I did not want to drive to Central London for this meeting - what with the heavy rush hour traffic and congestion zone restrictions - I had decided to take the tube.

It would be convenient.

Parking my car, my onward train journey started as I wizzed through the automatic barriers at Gloucester Road station.

The flashed Oyster Card recognising me as a fare paying passenger, slid in the gates and opened its magical arms to welcome me into the station.

Using the lifts at the street level, it took me down to the intermediate level.

Using the next 27 steps down on foot got me into the bowels of the earth where the Piccadilly line platforms awaited the tube carriages shuttling passengers around.

A packed platform indicated trains were running late this morning.

I would be just on time for my meeting or worse a few minutes late.

I could not afford to be late

Squeezing into the mass of humanity with apologetic ‘Excuse Me’ I grabbing my meeting folder tightly against my chest somehow managed to get into the newly introduced cars of the spick and span trains as the automatic verbal warnings of ‘Mind the Gap’ blared from the station and train loud speakers.

This followed with the automatic double car doors sliding to close amidst few passengers trying a final push of luck to get in.

As I had got this train my Time scale would be OK.

The journey was not pleasant as the packed office goers had packed the trains to the brim.

I had to bear the inconvenience.

Stopping at South Kensington, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner the train was offloading its passengers slowly at the next few stations as the train approached the heart of the business metropolis.

Hearing ‘Next station Green Park’ I started sliding from middle of the car towards the doors and got ready to alight.

I jumped out as soon as the sliding doors opened along with the verbal recorded announcement ‘’Green Park Station - please mind the gap’’

Heard a ‘’Please mind the closing doors’’ as I fleeted away from the train towards the steps and escalators leading to the exits.

Traversing up the levels I came out into the concourse as the closed turnstiles opened up on flashing my Oyster card again and led me onto the street level.

The time was 8.35 am

The exit was the A4 Piccadilly.

Just a short walk now would bring me to my destination.

The shortest walk from here would take me 10 minutes maximum.

7 minutes if I walked briskly.

I would be in time for the meeting.

I had to take a left into Old Bond Street which led straight into New Bond Street.

Walking the stretch of this long street passing elite Jewellery shops and other high level brand showrooms would take me to 34–35 New Bond Street — ie Sotheby’s -- my destination.

As I passed the shop sign boards and shop openings of De Beers, Cartier, Mason Pearson Bros, Gucci, Rolex, Alexandra McQueen, Saint Laurent, Tiffany my pace increased to keep up to time.

There were just sprinkles of pedestrians. This street surprisingly was not busy as it was still early for shoppers —all these shops had not yet opened.

As I approached Cartier and BVLGARI I saw him.

I stopped in my tracks .

He was there right in front of me in flesh and blood.

White haired 6’2’’tall, smartly dressed in a grey suit with light pink shaded shirt and a knotted designed blue tie he looked Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed this morning.

He was all smiles.

I remembered what I had recently read.

From 1965 to 1996, former presidents of USA were entitled to lifetime secret service protection, for themselves, spouses, and children under 16.

A 1994 statute, limited post-presidential protection to ten years for presidents inaugurated after January 1, 1997.

So under this statute, Bill Clinton would still be entitled to lifetime protection, and all subsequent presidents would have been entitled to ten years of protection.

The former President is constantly surrounded by an entourage of more than 20 bodyguards. So when he attends even a book signing in London, he brings a crowd of his own.

My eyes took in the scene.

I assessed the information.

From the corner of my peripheral visual I gauged he was flanked by about at least 6 secret service gentleman.

They were at safe distances away.

I noticed special service eyes on me.

They had assessed and made their decision. I would get just a few sacred minutes.

The job had to be done in this time frame.

I regretted that I did not carry the regular stuff to do the job.

As the opportunity was unexpected I had to make do with what I had.

I checked my pocket by visually feeling it.

I could feel the hard cold metal against my palm.

I had read somewhere that it's base metals included iron, copper, nickel, and tin.

I approached him confident and full of grit.

Introducing myself to him I made the request.

Mr Clinton nodded to me in agreement and at the same time I think a private signal must have been passed to his detail.

They relaxed.

My hands were shaking and I felt myself shiver.

I had to steady my brain and my shaking hand.

Reaching into my pocket I withdrew and adjusted the equipment as it fitted snugly in my palm.

Focussed it and aimed.

This was the time to take the SHOT.

I TOOK IT.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !!

With a leap in my heart and a spring in my step I continued onwards to Sotheby’s

I reached my meeting on time.

Getting an opportunity I texted the news of SHOOTING a selfie with President Clinton to my family.

I also texted a WhatsApp school friends group who are spread all over the globe. This had started the WhatsApp buzz.

I was pleased by what I had done.

I did not have a traditional camera so I had to make do with what I had ——I had taken it on my metallic bodied Apple iPhone.

Selfie’s had just become the vogue and unlike the modern generation I had struggled taking selfie’s before.

This selfie was the first I had taken with a celebrity -- I would be nervous.

I personally judge it as a brilliant selfie.

After all, in the first shot celebrity selfie -- I had just ’SHOT A POTUS’