MADHUDEEP
Translated from the Original Hindi by Kanwar Dinesh Singh
The evening fog had turned into the stillness of night. There was darkness in every street, every intersection of the village.
A little light of the petromax lamp lit in the village’s chaupal was also falling on the front footpath.
It was, indeed, a very fortunate village that the MLA of that constituency, who was also the power minister of the state, was coming to the chaupal that night.
He had to come there because the election campaign was in full swing, and the possibility of victory and defeat by a single vote due to cut-throat competition also increased the restlessness of the candidates.
An hour after the crowd joined the chaupal, the minister’s car, bedecked with a flag and red light, arrived there with a motorcade of three other cars and jeeps. Even before coming down to welcome the crowd, the whole team came up and got seated on the vacant cots.
After being presented with garlands and flowers by dignitaries, the minister was serving his waxed words in front of the crowd when the elderly Dinu Kaka stood up.
“What’s wrong, Kaka? Do you have something to say?” Honey dripped from the minister’s mouth.
“Yes, dear! Just take a look, Ramua. Has the minister brought electricity in his car?” As Dinu Kaka said this, there was a burst of laughter in the chaupal.
“What do you say, Kaka? Is electricity stuffed in the car?” Ramua said with a quiet laughter.
“It does, Ramua! During his last visit, the minister had assured us of bringing electricity the next time for sure. Now when the minister comes by car, how can electricity come on foot? Keep searching; electricity must be there in his car.”
Hearing Dinu Kaka’s words, the crowd immediately descended from the chaupal and surrounded the minister’s car from all around.
The minister was now ready to flee from there along with his team.
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Dr Kanar Dinesh Singh , Poet. Storyteller. Translator (English/Hindi) ,Associate Professor of English & Editor: Hyphen
Email: kanwardineshsingh@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 94186 26090