It was a big event, in fact the biggest event of the year. Everyone claiming a VIP status of any sort was there. As the cars along with their retinue of security vehicles continued to pour in, a fog of dust and smoke enveloped the whole area. All the cars had a ‘no pollution check required’ status. A special waiver had been announced some years back for vehicles belonging to those who were important for protecting the ‘national interest’. Accordingly, the VIP vehicles were exempted from any sort of pollution check.
A separate Ministry of Development had been set up some years’ back which had really modernized most of the tourist spots and heritage sites beyond recognition! It was a big day for the party and particularly for this Development Ministry and why not! The most ambitious project of the ministry was being inaugurated today.
The Chief Guest arrived finally, after a long wait, during which many people had developed breathlessness and even fainted due to the heavily polluted air. (There were some VIPs who had the capacity to turn the air fetid by their very presence even without the help of their smoke-spewing vehicles!). This episode of breathlessness and fainting, etc. was promptly condemned as an anti-national activity aimed at sabotaging the grand event and of course ultimately the peace process by some reactionary elements!
As is usual of such events, the poor Chief Guest had no idea what all the fuss and fanfare was about. The Development Minister had taken upon himself the task of explaining the whole project to him as well as the other guests, and the media of course. He took the Chief Guest and all the rest for a guided tour around the renovated and transformed lake.
“This seemed to be an altogether impossible task but we managed to make it possible”, the Development Minister told the august gathering. “As you may be aware this Lake had become a sore point now, what with all sorts of groups meddling into affairs that don’t really concern them and the Honourable Court breathing heavily down our necks. When I took over as the concerned minister, things were a complete mess! I took one look at the whole situation and proposed my plan! It was about giving the lake an entirely new, modern look. For years a losing battle was being fought between man, machine and the weeds in this lake. De-weeding machines had been imported from outside. These provided employment to a lot of people and made quite a few households quite prosperous by some mysterious process (the vigilance department is still trying to puzzle out their rags-to-riches story!). However, very little was accomplished on the lake itself! It was a waste of time as I could gather. Then I thought of this simple solution!” the Minister paused dramatically.
“I decided to get the lake filled-up! Of course, some retrogressive elements tried to prevent this development work. There were the usual demonstrations, roadblocks etc. but that didn’t deter us. First of all I rubbished that order banning polythene (it was irking many of my business-men friends as well!). We have been using polythene for years altogether now for making banners and buntings, and I instructed my party men to make sure that after every rally all that stuff gets dumped into this lake. We even circulated vehicles in the whole city to collect polythene and other rubbish to be dropped into the lake. I believe in speedy action, so I even used my constituency development funds to purchase rubbish from our neighboring states at rock bottom prices. Once the lake was filled up with soil and rubbish there was this problem that no vegetation could be made to grow on it. So-called experts blamed it all on the polythene beneath, but that is just negative thinking! Anyway who wants these slow growing plants and trees in this age of technology and speed!
“I myself went to China and got these huge plastic Chinar trees made. They are maintenance free with five years free service, and have a lot of exciting features. Like, at the touch of a button, the leaves change colour. Now that too is not limited to green and reddish brown; we can have pink, red, magenta, purple, black whatever colour you choose. For additional effect, they have even added these nests to the trees, with musical electronic birds.
“See those boats? Since people used to come to this lake for a boat ride I got these boats-on-rails installed. There is no risk of stormy winds and it is safe for children as well. We have had no drownings so far!” He laughed at his own joke and then continued, “We are tying up with a foreign firm which will install musical fountains. We already have a light and sound show installed to give an appearance of water and waves!”
By now darkness had set in. On a cue, the lights were switched on. The whole place lit up and the colourful Chinar leaves twinkled in different colours. The musical birds sang out their electronic hearts. Giant fans gave a semblance of breeze. The boats whizzed past on their rails…
(Truth is mostly unpalatable…but truth cannot be ignored! Here we serve the truth, seasoned with salt and pepper and a dash of sauce (iness!). You can record your burps, belches and indigestion, if any, at snp_ajazbaba@yahoo.com)