Meanwhile in a parallel universe

Nights have been too noisy these days.  Rallies mostly. And some woo hoo –ing about   Maithri- Mahinda politics on streets and what not. Dogs barking. Horns. Chatter near the handiye kade. Viren stepped out of the veranda.  A dark shadow moved outside. That was Erath .  This happened just two days ago.  Erath  had a cup of milk. And Viren had his coffee.  9.00 pm from their time .They ditched dinner. Instead talked talked  and talked. This time it was different. They didn’t exactly talk about  University   stuff Neither aboutThaththa’s loku akka   , Amma or Nangi. Just got the transcript from Chandare, who had suddenly broken into Viren’s house for some invitation. In a parallel universe.

‘Oh darling! See how we’ve lost democracy’. Viren sighed.

‘ You mean that Demo bugger who works for Demo cars?’

‘What?’

‘I mean that Demo fellow. Our funny cheeky mate. He is crazy. Always!  Good to have him around for a hearty laugh.’

‘We need democracy back!’ Viren affirmed.

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‘You mean you need some crazy time with Demo?’ Erath chuckled.

‘He’s alive man! Good and well. Why you saw him dying in dreams?  I can take you over there. Let’s go in the noon. Tomorrow for sure. We haven’t been to his for a long time. ‘

‘No boy. I’m not talking about that Demo.  You know what I mean. It’s D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y. That funny kind of Government. Where there are Free Elections, Civil Liberties, so called Political participation and all other nonsense. Don’t tell me you didn’t know these.’ Viren groaned.

‘Oh I see. That Democracy. Wait. I learned it years back. So why suddenly a democracy?’

‘Hmm. By the way, how you see all these? I mean these elections and all drama queens and kings? ‘

‘Why on earth you should bother about all those? You’ve got a roof for sun and rain. You’ve got your kirikiththa’s plot of land for dowry. Enough money to fill your stomach. Two kids. A wife. What more are you looking for? Why? this ain’t enough for you? Well, you have enough space in the house. May be you can get some stray dogs in. How ethnic!’

‘This is no joking. You know. ‘The man was serious.

‘This is what I feel. Whoever comes in, all are the same brother. We never know which is worse. Until the devil comes and play all nadagam. We share this country with gullible coots. Morons everywhere. Especially those who run campaigns. All candidates are crooks after elections. They fall on others feet. Feed their families. And we are just dumb lambs that vote them for lunch. Simple thing. We just got to be blind. ‘

‘So   is it your achchi who is going to feed you rice and dhal every day? May be I’ll also join someday’.

What? Erath retorted.

‘Well doesn’t that mean you and your family has enough to spend? Money won’t win the day. Sorry for the bad news. But then, are we supposed to be puppets and let them dance their ball? Huh? They say its people and peoples’ government. Tell me what they do?’

‘Everyone wants to hang on the line. Save their chair for the next day.  So they will bring manifestos made by the candidates that the people are left to choose from... So, the authority is still with the politicos and not with the people because those are just options that the people get to choose from and not the assortment of things they really want to see taking place in their country. When there is election , this is what happens everywhere.’

‘Greed! Greed! Viren pointed out. That won’t do any good. A change is good. But the sad story is they bring a change for their dead father or to regain military powers. Half way through most of them forgets what they say. Look at them! Are we here to choose the most creative manifesto?’

‘Ok.It won’t happen this time. A change is sure. If you just browse up and down on Facebook, you ‘d trust me! Everyone believes a system change.’

‘Rubbish! Facebook politics is just a waste of cyber space. The only good thing it does is letting people share ideas. That majority in Facebook will not even clean their gutters to prevent spreading dengue. And want to see a change in the country. Especially the young ones. Like you. They are trying to be cardboard weerayo. They just go with the trend. Viren went on with a grin.’

Erath was confident. ‘At least we shout out what people need, let’s say’.

‘Shouting and screaming don’t work. It’s simple as this. You guys clean one side while dirtying the other. I’m beginning to realize this. We are no different from the USA. The crooks and games we play are same as theirs.’

So that’s good news?

‘No, but at least they are our saviors. They wish nothing but our wellbeing!’ Viren relieved Erath.