It was just another morning and I was standing opposite the old derelict bus stand. Except the new luxury buses parked in its premises everything remained the same. It seemed the bus stand had resisted change.

All of a sudden there was a flurry of activity in the neglected bus stand. A group assembled, while men in uniform got hyperactive in cordoning off a select area of the bus stand. Soon several OB vans converged at the bus stand and the crew from the electronic media clamoured to get vantage points.

My curiosity got the better of me and I crossed the street to see what’s going on. Politely I enquired what it is all about to the person who seemed to wield some authority and was overseeing the entire operations.

“Don’t you know that a senior minister is coming here today,” the man replied brusquely. Before I could carry on with the conversation, the man started yelling at his juniors. “Chase off the cows, chase them off before Sir arrives. Sir is very allergic to cattle and he doesn’t want to offend the holy cows!”

I started the conversation once again. “Why has Sir chosen this particular bus stand? There are so many other dilapidated bus stands doting the State.”

“After giving much thought our Sir has selected this particular stand to acquaint him with the woes of the masses. He wants to drive home the message loud and clear that he too cares for the people.”

Unable to restrain myself, I asked, “what’s so great about this particular stand?”

“Oh your questions are getting on my nerves,” the man thundered. “But if you are so keen to know about it listen. This is going to be a historic spot as our Sir is going to be the first VVIP of his stature to come down from his highly fortified hilltop tower to avail the facilities of this worn down bus stand.”

“But why?”

“To get the first hand feeling of the sufferings the people are enduring over the years, which he possibly can’t get either in his AC office chamber, bulletproof cars, or opulent residence.”

“Really!”

“Yes, by this great act Sir wants to express his solidarity with the masses,” disclosed the man now getting carried on. “Sir’s action will definitely help to boost the sagging morale of the people who are groping hard to find a way out from the vice-like grip of numerous civic problems.”

“I see...”

“Not only that, visiting the bus stand will help Sir to correctly assess the problems. It will also help him to seek funds from the Centre to modernize the bus stand.”

“Interesting...”

“The experience will also help Sir in addressing meetings, seminars, symposiums, on the plight of the bus commuters. Without the help of aides or speech writers he will be able to give a comprehensive account on travelling on a city bus or a long distance omni bus. His action will also help him to impress the High Command.”

As we were talking a decorated omni bus makes its way to the bus stand. With no sign of the minister, I asked “When is your Sir going to arrive?”

“Now don’t get impatient. Sir is waiting for all the preparations to be complete.”

“Well, now I fully understand about Sir’s visit. But what is the TV crew doing here?”

“Don’t be silly. They are patiently waiting to cover Sir’s epoch-making event for posterity.”

At that moment with a shrill siren a convoy of cars arrived. Flanked by a posse of gun-totting securitymen the minister walked near the decorated bus. Waving at the crowd which had by now gathered, the minister confidently said: “Friends, passengers and countrymen, I am just carrying forward the austerity drive set in motion by our High Command. As a part of the drive our High Command travelled on the economy class. I am going to use the omni bus and you all can opt for the cattle class on the bullock carts.”

Manish Goswami