NEW DELHI, May 6 -- At the JFK airport in New York, he stood in line like everybody else.

Getting into the aircraft, he moved aside to let a lady pass, even giving her a courteous nod.

At Paris, he arrived late and found the line to India lengthy, but here, instead of joining the queue he edged to my side a little ahead, pretending to look at his phone, as his wife and son, also pretended to look at theirs, and then in one swift deft motion, he moved into the space ahead.

"No!" I said politely, "Join the line!"

He smiled at me, let me pass, and then tried to move behind me. "No!" I told him firmly, "Go right to the back!"

"What is it to you? We have let you pass!" said his wife as she smiled and looked to the others for support, who ...