Unlike many other capitals, New Delhi was not hitting panic stations as news of Donald Trump ’s victory to the White House poured in. If anything, there seems to be more excitement about reshaping the edifice of the relationship all over again, particularly when Trump himself comes to office with not many friends on the world map.His politics has tested traditional US allies and partners, a major concern that Trump will have to deal with when he takes over. India, on the other hand, has been neutral, less difficult and not exactly a target nation on Trump’s radar. It’s this relative advantage over Washington’s other key partner countries that New Delhi will look to drive home.Early harvest has to be the buzzword. India needs to move quickly, establish connect and look to host Trump in India in his first year in office. The earlier, the better. Immigration and visa concerns should not cloud the government’s judgment, especially when we know a large number of Indian Americans did back Trump just as they were split on Brexit in the United Kingdom.What’s important is to look beyond being transactional and find common ground in Trump’s disruptive political approach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has an inclination for challenging the status quo, a mindset that will only help in building a favourable chemistry at the highest levels. Which is why South Block must work out an early meeting soon.Trump’s line on Islamic terror and China open up a huge space for combining approaches. India, in particular, will look to translate this into a sort of new momentum for building a coalition of pressure on Pakistan.At the same time, Trump’s position on many key foreign policy issues are unclear, even contradictory and that’s why, again, it would be vital to engage fast. Say, on something like India’s quest for membership to the Nuclear Supplier Group, there’s no clarity. And that’s because Trump’s own call for pushing nuclear disarmament is contradicted by his line on strengthening US’s nuclear arsenal.But it’s important not to approach this the way bureaucracies would. And down the line when the Trump presidency acquires its own bureaucratic muscle, this roadblock is bound to reappear. Thus, all the more reason to strike a political deal --Trump style, also Modi style.Only such a deal can overlay such contradictions that will stare back at the Trump Administration through its initial years. This applies also to trade policy, which is forecast to witness a hurricane shift impacting entire global trade. And yet, ironically, India’s own difficulties with international trading systems will make it easier to shift to the bilateral track just as Trump probably prefers.Either way, the trick for India is to go for an early harvest. By the looks of it that may just be the best yield.