'The gods we pray to, stayed away from politics in their time. If we truly want to
follow our gods, we must keep our religion separate from politics. Religion is
private, politics public,' Ali's dad said.
'You a party member?' someone asked me. I shook my head. I guessed he was
Hindu.
'How about you?' I said.
'Yes, tor generations,' he said.
Ali's father invited the main candidate, Ghulam Zian, on stage.
As the septuagenarian began to talk, the microphones turned silent and the
pedestal fans conked off. Murmurs ran along the crowd. Was it a power failure?
No, as the event had its own generators.
it's sabotage. The Hindu party did it,' said one person in the crowd. Tension
filled the air. People talked about raiding the Hindu rally.
'Let's teach those guys a lesson,' a muscular man led the pack and lifted his
chair. I wondered if I should run back and warn Mama.
'It's back. Ladies and gentlemen, please sit down. The power is back,' Ali's
father came to the stage with folded hands. The fans whirred again.
1 remembered the kissing chimpanzees and reconciliation mechanisms. But
right now, there were no kisses. Only chairs that could be thrown everytime the
power went off.
I stepped outside. I called a travel agent. 'We want to apply for four passports
and visas to Australia. And don't give me a crazy price.'
I returned to Ghulam Zian's speech. Ali's dad spotted me and came over,
inaayat, Govind bhai. What brings you here? Welcome, welcome.'
'You speak well. You know Ish's plans to take Ali to Australia?' I said.
'He told me, Inshallah, you will go. Ali mentions Ishaan bhai's name at least
ten times everyday. Sometimes I feel Ishaan bhai is more his father than me. Goa,
Australia, I never say no to him. Why isn't he here?'
'Well he and Omi are...'
'At the other rally, isn't it? Don't worry, I understand. Your choice.'
i am a businessman. I have no interest in politics,' I said, in fact, I'll go now.'
He fell into step with me. 'I'll come and say hello to Ishaan
bhai.'
I wanted to tell him it was a terrible idea for him to come to Mama's rally.
Politics may be his pastime, but for Mama it was lift and death. I kept quiet as we
walked back to Mama's rally. Hasmukh-bhai was still on, with lots of hand
gestures. 'Put your hand on your heart. Don't you feel wronged as Hindus? And if
we had the best culture and administration thousands of years ago, why not
now?'
Mama saw us from the stage and pointed a finger. A few people in the crowd
looked at me and Ali's father.
'Hey, who is that?' a party worker said.
The crowd booed at us. Ali's dad's beard looked extremely out of place.
'Get lost, you traitor,' said a person from the crowd. 'Let's teach him a lesson,'
said another. Hasmukh-ji stopped talking. Luckily, he kept quiet. Ali's abba
raised his hand to wave to Mama and Hasmukh-ji.
'Go away, Ali's abba,' I murmured without looking at him.
Omi came running to me and grabbed my hand. 'What the hell are you doing? I
sent you to spy and you bring back another spy?'
avery
(avery)
#1