Not offering a ride just got awkward

If you're a corporate or political leader who wants his or her own space before an important meeting, you may now face a peculiar problem: peer pressure to give a fellow leader a lift in your car. Worse, refusing such a ride if offered to you. Modi and Putin's travel in the same car along New Delhi's fair roads on Thursday has been deemed splendid 'car pool diplomacy' - or, as we call it realcarpoolitik. It's not exactly new. During the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska in August, the two shared a 10-min ride in the US presidential limousine before formal talks began. In September, Modi travelled with Putin in the latter's car in Tianjin for some 45 mins on their way to the SCO summit venue.

Away from prying eyes, cars serve as mobile bunkers of intimacy. No mics, press or ceremonial stiffness. Just the hum of engine, and a chauffeur (who's signed an NDA). Churchill and Roosevelt did it during WW2, as did Kennedy and Khrushchev at the 1961 Vienna Summit after the Bay of Pigs debacle. Reagan and Gorbachev did it in Geneva in 1985 before taking that famous walk together. Even if nothing important goes on in the back seat, realcarpoolitik's still imbued with an aura of mystery. But what happens now if you want to spread your legs, break some wind, take a power nap in your own vehicle before an important meeting? Raju, chup chaap gaadi le aao!