New Delhi: America's First Lady Laura Bush is not really over the Moon, visiting India for the first time.
One thing she is definitely missing on this trip is the Taj.
President Bush doesn't plan to visit the monument most other World leaders make a point of going to. That, says Laura Bush's husband, is for their next visit.
In fact, President Bush himself is reported to be disappointed for non-inclusion of a trip to the Taj in his itinerary.
"I am disappointed with that (not visiting Taj). People who have seen the Taj Mahal say that pictures don't do justice. It's one of the great magnificent sites of the world," the US President told Indian journalists in Washington hours before he left for India.
In a lighter vein, Bush blamed the miss on the scheduler. "Look, if I were the scheduler, perhaps I would be doing things differently. But you want me doing one thing. I'll be the President, we've got the scheduler being the scheduler."
Bush says while he has not broken a promise to First Lady Laura Bush, he may have to come back to India, 'hopefully on invitation' to visit the world famous monument.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did understand the regret of America's First Family.
"I am truly sorry that the President is not taking you to Taj Mahal this time! I hope he will be more chivalrous the next time you are here!" the Prime Minister told the First Lady during his welcome address to a luncheon hosted by him at Hotel Taj in their honour.
Voicing the hope that Bush will return to India to spend time with students and teachers and discover a new India in the making, Singh said he was 'truly sorry' that the US President and his wife were not being taken to Taj Mahal this time.
"I am sorry. May be next time."
This is what President George W Bush promised to his wife about paying a visit to the Taj Mahal.
"I am sorry for not making it to the Taj Mahal. I have been hearing about it from Laura for several years now. We
will come back ... and we will be able to see the magnificent Taj Mahal," Bush said in response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks.
The Bush's did fulfil one of their wishes: A date with Gandhi.
On Thursday morning, the US First Couple drove down to Rajghat and on barefoot they laid a wreath and showered flower petals on the Gandhi memorial as hymns played in the background.
"Gandhi. It's my first memory as I think about India. A person who was so spiritual that he captured the imagination of the entire world. He is proof that throughout history there have been individuals that have had the capacity to shape thought and influence and beyond border. And he did that." That's what Bush says of Gandhi.
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