Colleague thanked for not submitting a paper!

The last weekly meeting of the top team which had to go Zoom given the Covid situation had gotten protracted due to the discussion straying to the crises relating to electricity and fuel as well. It was well past ten in the night when the proceedings ended, they say. 

At the conclusion of the proceedings, the purohita Panchaudha had sought permission from the Big Boss in the chair to make a special statement. When the permission was granted, he had said: “ Today’s meeting got protracted so much we all are rather tired! However, I am feeling very much happy today because of a special reason...!”

Asked to state the reason, he had said: “ It is a matter for gratification that the today’s meeting could be concluded sooner than expected thanks to our … amatituma ( he mentions the name) not submitting a paper today! But had he submitted a paper, the proceedings would have dragged on till 6 pm tomorrow …! Therefore, I wish to place on record my gratitude and respect to  … amatituma for not submitting a paper today!”  All had greeted this statement with guffaws and the meeting had ended on this happy note.