E-Paper
Living the American dream
Nikhil Abbot
As you wake-up one morning, there is a chauffeur-driven limousine waiting outside your door - and it takes you to the private jet of former US president Bill Clinton! And before you get over the warm welcome, Clinton gifts you a signed copy of his red-hot autobiography My Life.
The sequel of this dream continues on day two as you see your face splashed in the New York Post next morning!
Twenty-six-year old Nikhil Abbot, a fashion design student at Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, is still get over this dream.
"I lost my voice for a few days attending to my phone that would not stop ringing. The clipping from the New York Post has been put up on the bulletin boards on campus at FIT," says Abbot.
Abbot won this privilege by entering NYP's "Bill Clinton's Autographed Book Sweepstakes" in June this year.
Talking about his meeting with Clinton, Abbot says, "He was very warm and friendly. We spoke about the official trip he made to India during his presidency"
Meanwhile, Abbot's parents, who stay in Delhi, couldn't believe that their son had spent time with Clinton.
However, a little probing in Abbot's stay in US reveals that winning contests, complete with limousines and celebrities and comes naturally to this NIFT graduate.
Apart from the Clinton's autobiography contest, Abbot also won two other competitions this summer - a business-class round-trip air tickets for two from New York to Los Angeles for the premiere of the Matt Damon-starrer Bourne Supremacy. The grand prize package included stay at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel and access to the after party with the Hollywood stars. Again Abbot had a limousine pick up and drop off service from the airport to the event venues.
And the third contest was an all-expenses paid weekend getaway to the Hamptons where Abbot was taken to a fund raising comedy festival.
Giving away the magic mantra of winning contests, Abbot says, "It is my good Karma. I'm currently taking a course on Art & Civilization of India. After studying the Indian Philosophy from the international point of view, I now appreciate my background more than ever and have strong belief in our society."
And the magic of Abbot's belief in Indian values cast its spell on the US president too as Abbot was the only winner who had brought a 'return-gift' for Clinton - a traditional Radha and Krishna painting.
