PARTLY FACETIOUS: You say tomato the US way I say tomaato the UK way
“So who started the war?”
“I don’t think there is any ambiguity about who started it. US and Israel ….”
“Sorry for not making my question clear I meant the war of words.”
“The war of words between the US and Iran or between the Gulf countries and Iran or between Israel ….”
“Nope.”
“Did you mean the Europeans war of words with Russia ….”
“Don’t think Russia is responding with any regularity and …”
“For your information newspapers in Europe have warned Russia that they are preparing a massive force to police Ukraine and …”
“The number cited is 3000 armed personnel.”
“You say tomato the US way I say Tomaato the UK way.”
“OKaaay, anyway the war of words I was referring to was between the Maulana and the ….the …the …”
“Other side?”
“Right so what is your take on that?”
“Well my take is that a relationship forged in the smithy of marriage is more powerful than a relationship by birth.”
“If you are referring to the slush fund allegations against Jared Kushner ….”
“Sons- in-law are powerful as are fathers-in-law of one’s daughter, Jared’s dad is the US Ambassador to France.”
“Indeed he is, but he ain’t the Deputy Prime Minister.”
“No and our values in the Subcontinent relating especially to relationship by marriage are much more, infinitely more, powerful I reckon that in the US.”
“Right anyway I wasn’t referring to the Dars and the Sharifs when is asked who started the war.”
“I don’t get you.”
“Chief minister Punjab’s detractor federal minister Salik Hussain is said to be related by marriage to the wandering albatross and maybe, just maybe …”
“But Chief Minister Punjab is related to the Prime Minister by blood and ….and …uh oh I got you.”
“Is it about toe the line? Is it as serious as ….as …as the proposed clauses in the alleged twenty-eighth amendment?”
“I gotta run, you made your bed now lie in it.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026