Fobbing them off

Ray disliked attending public ceremonies, especially where he was invited to be present as president or chief guest. One morning, as he was working in his study, the doorbell rang. Partha Basu, a close companion of Ray's, answered the bell. He had instructions not to admit unknown visitors when Ray was at work. The callers were a group of young people who said they had come to invite Ray to inaugurate a swimming pool. Basu said Ray would be away in Mumbai the day the swimming pool was to be inaugurated. The callers asked for another date. Basu replied Ray was supposed to leave for a trip abroad from Mumbai. Though disappointed, the callers pressed the matter no more. When Ray inquired who had come to see him, Basu told him how he had cleverly fobbed the callers off. “They wanted you to inaugurate a swimming pool,” he said. “Did they want me to dive into the swimming pool in trunks?” asked Ray.