Smriti Irani has an uncanny knack of giving it back as good as she gets. Last month, in parliament's central hall as her fellow-MPs gathered around to wish her on her birthday, I too stepped up with a mischievous smile: 'Happy birthday ma'am. I won't of course ask your age today!' Pat came the reply: 'thanks, but don't worry, I am 42 today. Unlike journalists, I have nothing to hide!'