Man of the hour

On the front page of DNA (Sunday November 19), Ventakesan Vembu has a story about the upcoming visit to India by the Chinese Prime Minister, Hu Jintao. Called "Hu's sorrow is China's story", it begins with these sentences:

[N]ot many may get close to [Hu]. But the few who do may discern a lingering sadness in his eyes.

On page 8 of the same paper, Venkatesan Vembu has another story about the visit of Hu. This one is called "Jintao is the man of the hour", and it begins with this sentence:

[W]hen [Hu] steps onto the red carpet on Monday ... observers may well detect a jaunty spring in his step.

So there you have it. Hu will have both a "lingering sadness in his eyes" and "a jaunty spring in his step."

You know, I almost wish I could see the man.