About today's politics |
It was summer afternoon on a lawn on the slope of a hill in a small village. The sky was cloudy, it was slightly windy, and the hawks hovered in the sky. Everybody was waiting for the show. There was a small queue of 40 people—kids, students, middle aged people, all in front of the counter. There is also an old couple and a lady standing at the end of the queue. They continued to chit chat. A 45 year old politician, Peter, stood in front of that queue and asked the person behind him, “Hey buddy, what happened to your head?” The person replied, “It’s a very serious head injury. Yesterday I led a riot against the government. A person thrashed me with a steel rod, and I fled to this place. The Government stamped me as a traitorous rebel. Moreover, the police force now follows me. Political power is like alcohol for me”. Then another person in the queue joined the heated conversation and said, “We undertake several clandestine operations for some terrorist groups. We are just making money through politics”. Suddenly a voice rose arrogantly, “that’s correct. I’m a student leader of our party. But I enjoy and love my political power, which helps me to be acquitted in adultery and murder cases. Peter replied, “Hey! Don’t speak in a haughty voice. You will have a time in your life to regenerate.” The conversation seemed on the verge of a fight after Peter’s reply. Meanwhile, the police arrived; the head-injured person was trying to hide from them. Peter continued, “You people are so cruel”. After a bit silence peter asked the 8 year old boy his name. Suddenly the boy glared at him and yelled, “Shut up, who are you to ask my name?” Embarrassed, Peter replied, “See how the shades of politics darken the future of this generation. Good leaders no longer exist. Our kids also follow the corrupted ones”. Then Peter sighed, “When I look at you people I exactly feel you all as a mirror. I feel regret now because I know what I did. Oh God! Blood spills out of my head. Suddenly, a person came to the ticket counter and gave Peter a ticket. Then he closed the counter and said, “Only one ticket for today’s show and I’m sorry”. As soon as Peter got the ticket he looked back to say goodbye, but he was shocked because he could see only the old couple and that lady in the queue. He wondered where the people who were left standing in between him and the old couple were. After a moment he reconciled himself to his destiny. Then, the ticket agent said to that lady and the old couple, “Don’t cry. Let’s pray for him to take rest in peace”. And he grumbled, “How sad is Peter’s past? Today politicians do nothing for the people and the country. I think being a barber is better than being a corrupted politician”. |