Once upon a
time …
The Monarch
sat majestic on her polished granite takth (seat of power, royal bench) in the
evenings.
She was flanked by two of her
advisers sitting on either side of her. The fountain gushed silently behind her.
And the group of nobles all stood in a semicircle a respectable distance from
her.
Her closest
aide stood in one corner with her ferocious looking Boxer that had the famous English
bulldog blood running thru her veins. At times another of her trusted friend
would join with her pet black panther cub. Apparently Cleopatra had a pet
leopard named Arrow!
Discussion
would happen in all seriousness and earnestness and passing nobles would join
in from time to time to give their expert opinion. However, the spontaneous
eruption of laughter every now and then exposed the fact that even this serious
group of elders had a funny bone each and they had not forgotten their mischievous
pasts.
It’s been
many days..
The polished
granite ledge near the fountain is empty. There is no sign of any activity –
aptly described in Tamil as Eee Kakka Illai! (No Fly! No Crow!! No Nothing!!!)
The nobles
meet no more. The head of the council has gone on vacation.
The aides have
dispersed. Maybe they have found a different turf.
The Boxer
cum Bulldog does not come. Have not seen the panther cub for a long time.
The children
play no more. No surfboarding. Even the boisterous boys seem to have mellowed
down.
The air is chilly;
the weather, frigid. Even the fountain just trickles.
There is a
desolate silence all around and the constant overcast skies & incessant
drizzle from 6 to 9PM keeps the entire atmosphere dull, damp and gloomy.
People are
waiting.
And the only question in every one’s mind is
“When will the durbar resume??"
Krish..
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