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subject: ONCE IN FIVE YEARS [print this page]

ONCE IN FIVE YEARS
ONCE IN FIVE YEARS

One fine morning

on my way to

office,

saw me the crater-filled

roads

being repaired and

maintained.

Craters being filled

with the hot mixture of

tar and gravel

by women carrying

them in large

blistering grimy plates

under the piercing sun.

The men on the other side

spreading the hot mixture

with shovels.

Red and green flags

waved as and when necessary

to the vehicles stopping

at either ends

flags red and green

serve as

signals to stop and let go

as and when necessary.

The smell of tar pervading

the ambience,

the atmosphere thick with

the voices of men, women

and engines

a driver astride a

road-roller

driving to and fro

pressing the mixture-filled

pot-holes

engine growling drowning

the shouts and talks of

men and women

sweating under the burning sun

literally roasting them

wondered me

why all through the last

five years

despite complaints

of the citizen's community

and representations to the

authorities

no rectification measures

being taken.

Asked I to my co-traveller

why all of these on a

fine morning'

any VIP coming'?

Enjoying my query

With a sarcastic smile

replied he:

five years

gone, my friend

elections are on the anvil

and before the model

code of conduct to

be declared

at least necessary patch-works

are the need of the hour

before the whirlwind

campaigns are to be

started on a war-footing

votes, my friend, votes'

-my co-traveller was

seen gritting teeth

no smile, no laughter,

instead anger

for taking the voters for

a ride

once in five years.

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