Romil's Online Box...

The American president-elect Barack Obama is said to have called 15 world leaders so far, including presidents or prime ministers or kings of Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Egypt, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Poland and Pakistan.

Surprisingly, president-elect Obama has not called India's leaders yet.

The truth is Obama has tried calling Mr. Singh. And a few times, he did connect as well. For various reasons though, the call did not seem to progress into a productive telephonic conversation.

Here are ten reasons why that happened:

1. The first time Obama called the Indian Prime Minister's office, Mr. Singh's chief secretary
picked up the phone and said, "who is speaking.."

Hearing that, Obama kept the phone down and told his secretary that by mistake, they had connected to the Chinese president's office.

2. Obama tried again a little later.

Once again, Singh's secretary picked up the phone.

Obama thought that he should let the guy know who he was speaking with.

So before the Indian secretary had a chance to say anything, Obama said, "This is Barack Obama speaking..".

"Yeah right", said the chief secretary, "and I am Mahatma Gandhi here".

3. A bit upset, Obama told his secretary to look up the Indian leader's number again. So they gave him another number to try.

"This is Barack Obama speaking", he said.

"Oh, Mr. Obama, congratulations, what a great victory", said the voice on the other line.

"Yeah, it was a blast", said Obama.

"A blast? Wait we will find out who is behind it..", said the voice, "and now I have to go and change my suit".

"Can't you get me Mr. Singh's correct number?

That was the Indian home minister, you moron", the usually unruffled Obama blasted his secretary.

4. So Obama's secretary gave him another number to try.

He called and decided to make sure that he was speaking to the right person.

"Is this Mr. Singh?", he asked.

"Yes, it is", said the voice.

"This is Barack Obama", he said.

"Oh hello Mr. Obama, how is the election shaping up so far?"

"Well, I won mine you know..and we will soon have about 60 seats in the senate", said Obama with palpable joy in his voice.

"Well, you know I can give you another 40 to make it an absolute majority", said the voice.

"Darn it!", said Obama, putting the phone down, "you gave me Amar Singh's number".

5. Once again, the secretary handed him another phone number.

"This is Barack Obama. Is Mr. Singh home?", he asked.

"Yes, but he's relaxing", said the voice.

"Darn it!", said Obama putting the phone down, "you gave me Milkha Singh's number."

6. Once again, the secretary handed him another phone number.

"This is Barack Obama. Is Mr. Singh home?", he asked.

"Yes, this is he", said the voice.

"Ah, finally", thought Obama. "Mr. Singh, what do you think of my victory"?

"Well, what can I say? A great victory for minorities and scheduled castes and the affirmative action..actually, your country should reserve 50% of senate and congress seats for black people."

"Darn it!", said Obama putting the phone down, "this is that old fool Arjun Singh."

7. Once again, the secretary handed him another phone number.

"This is Barack Obama. Is Mr. Singh home?", he asked.

"Yes, this is he", said Mr. Singh.

"Mr. Singh, I hope your country, too, will see the light at the end of the tunnel as the Americans have now seen.."

"Ya Obamaji, there is light at the end of the tunnel for India, but it's that of an oncoming train which will run them over.."

"What do you mean", asked Obama.

"What I meant was experience is like a comb that life gives you when you are bald..", replied Mr. Singh.

"Darn it!", said Obama putting the phone down, "this is that Navjot Singh."

8. "You may not have the right city code. Try another one..", Obama told his secretary. So she found him another number to try.

"This is Barack Obama speaking", he said.

"Wow, this is fantastic", said the voice.

"So, what do you think of my victory", asked Obama, beaming with pride.

"What can I say? it's outstanding, mindblowing, fantastic. history", said the voice.

"Darn it!", said Obama putting the phone down, "I did not ask for Himesh Reshammiya's number"

9. Once again, the secretary handed Obama another number.

"This is Barack Obama", he said.

"Congrats Mr Obama", said the voice.

"You know I have decided to give some key positions in my cabinet to Indians", said Obama.

"Indians? Why don't you give them to Maharashtrians? ", retorted the voice on the other end.

"Darn it!", said Obama putting the phone down,

"I know how to deal with Chicago mafia, but I'm sure I can't handle Mumbai's godfathers".

10. "Are these all the Indian numbers you have? One last time, try another one", said Obama.

"This is Obama from America", said Obama.

This time Laloo Yadav answered:

"Haan Obamabhai, Laloo speaking, Hum make America another Bihar".

A frightened Obama puts down receiver, never to ring again!