The Bridge To "Future"

Sandhya and Keshav were walking back home from school. Keshav was crying profusely for a sweet. Sandhya, the elder of two, promised to buy one for him after reaching home. Keshav knows that was a lie. She said the same for over a week but never kept her promise. It was not also Sandhya's heartlessness, it was just that their family had very little money to be buying sweets whenever they liked. She did the next best thing she can, Saved her pocket money over weeks, the 10 paisas now added up to 90p. One week more she can buy a sweet for her brother. She just had to convince Keshav a few more meters, after that his mother will give him a jaggery ball, to pacify him. They reached home, and she noticed a new set of chappals outside the entry door. She knew now how to make Keshav silent. She pointed to the chappal, which means guests. The rule of the house was to present yourself well in front of guests. Keshav stopped crying immediately and walked into the house like a cat. 

Walking past the guests, Sandhya noticed something on the table. A giant plate full of sweets. Keshav, however, did not see the sweets. He was busy hiding his tear-filled face from the guests, more importantly from his father. Sandhya was happy to note that his brother will get a few sweets today. As she walked past the guests and noticed her mother's face, she knew the dream was short-lived. 

"What is it this time?", asked Sandhya.

"That man transferred from a different village. No school was giving admissions to his children", started telling Sandhya's mother.

"So, Father got his kids admission into school?"

"Yes".

"They came to thank him with sweets and gifts".

"Yes".

"He was shouting them to take the 'bribe' away?", asked Sandhya

Her mother nodded hinting the answer was yes. The people left their home apologizing profusely to Duraisamy, with the plates of sweets they brought with them. Duraisamay called his wife to clear the glasses of water once the guests left.

"Why do you think it's a bribe. You can take it as respect.", asked respectfully, the mother of Duraisamy.

Duraisamy did not answer but had a piercing look at his wife, she left the room in absolute silence.

Sandhya went to her brother and asked him to close his eyes for a flavourful experience. She took something hidden in her hand and gave it to her brother. Keshav eagerly had it, and the burst of sweetness made him happy. Very little does he know it was the same old jaggery ball?

She walked to her mother and said, "No gift in the world spells respect. Respect that comes from the heart. It can never be bought in a store."

The application

Duraisamy was entering the taluk office. Seeing him, the officer got up from his chair in respect. Durai was the village teacher, and teachers were respected at par with god in those days. The officer asked him to sit down and respectfully asked what was that he wants from them. Duraisamy handed the application in his hand to the officer. The officer said he was not very good with English and asked him to explain. Samy asked the officer to turn the page around to see the details written in regional language. After a long read, the officer said he does not have the information with him. He said only the minister was supposed to know this information. 

"Not sure if the minister can give this information", said the officer.

"Who is the minister?" asked Duraisamy.

"It was Annamalai sir", said the officer.

Without further discussion, Samy left the place. The whole set of people in the office got up and gave way to Samy.

That was not the time of RTI or online requests. Now, Samy started thinking about how to get the information required. He went to the MLA of the town. The MLA was busy with many people visiting him with requests. There was a long line in front of MLA's house with their set of applications, few requesting farm subsidies, few requesting recommendations to get into degree colleges. That was the time MLA's acted as if they cared all the five years long. These days the action was limited to the election year. Giving respect to the process Samy stood at the end of the queue. It only took a few minutes before everyone realized who was in the line. Everyone requested Samy to go ahead and not wait in the queue. A principled man, he was, he said he was going to wait his turn. Even after multiple requests, he stood his ground. Very soon, the MLA came to know the teacher was waiting in line. He came walking and met Samy, who was waiting in the queue. 

"Sir, namaste. What is that you are here about?" asked the MLA.

"It is not my turn. You finish answering others before you come to me.", said Samy.

MLA knew Samy well. Samy was not going to change his answer. 

"Okay. I will take care of all others and come to your home. You handover your application and Kindly wait at home. We can discuss this later.", said the MLA.

Samy was not happy with that too. But he felt with all the discussions he was delaying the others waiting. So he headed home after handing his application to the secretary of the MLA. 

MLA came to the house Samy later that evening. He removed his chappal outside Samy's home before entering. He said his Namasthes and started to talk to the teacher.

"Guruji, we don't know anything about the bridge", said MLA.

"But the bridge was sanctioned for our village", said Samy a little angry.

"You are correct guruji. The bridge was one of the poll promises by the minister. I was not involved in the discussions."

"How can you be so ignorant. You cannot be MLA if you are that blind."

That was still the time every MLA, and every small vote counted. An MLA was not happy meant the government was in trouble. But what Duraisamy Ji learns soon was things were changing. The changes were for betterment, the betterment of who was still a question unanswered.

"I don't know how to get the information about this. I tried with all the officers of the village. No one has any info.", said the MLA.

"You have one option. Go to the assembly and request for the information.", said Samy Ji.

MLA who was not aware of such a provision until that point. He, however, did not agree to the request confidently. The teacher knew the hesitation. He typed out an application the MLA needs to submit. Samy handed the application to MLA along with all the support documents to present in assembly to get the required information.

Question Hour?

The assembly was more chaotic than usual that day. The MLA presented his application to the chair. The chair was surprised to see such a request coming from a remote village. He immediately sent that to CM to take a look. It was not ordinary for the speaker to send an application to CM. The next thing that happened was even weird. The CM signaled something to the speaker, and the speaker kept the application aside. The speaker has only two options, to request the minister to give the details requested or list the application for another day. It was almost like the request was never presented.

Post the session, the CM room was full of chaos. They were all waiting for the MLA to come. On hearing that they asked him in CM chambers, the MLA started to worry. It was all new for him, he did not know if he did something wrong. Add to all this he still did not have an answer to Duraisamy. As he walked in, he saw many people waiting in the office. He too sat down, waiting his turn. But he was asked to come in immediately. He could not believe what was going on. The CM asked everyone to clear the room except his secretary and his third wife. Once everyone left the room, he started to speak to the MLA.

"You want something to eat or drink?" 

"No, sir." replied the MLA.

"Have tea." said the CM.

"No, sir." 

"Okay, coming to the point. What is the problem with the bridge?"

"I don't have any problem, sir."

"Then, what is this application."

"The school teacher wanted to know about the bridge, sir."

"Is he having trouble reaching school?"

"No, sir. The school is very close to his house. He walks to the school without trouble."

"Do you need the bridge to go to the next town for higher education?"

"No, nothing like that. We use the bus for that."

"Then I don't understand why the teacher wants to know about the bridge?"

MLA had no answer, so he kept quiet. The CM started thinking. If it was a common man, he would have ignored the request. A teacher was not to let go of the issue, he might try digging further. So he needed to come up with an answer that stops it for now. He asked the MLA to wait outside. Discussed in length with his secretary and prepared a letter in reply. He called the MLA back to his room, doubtfully handed him the letter. He wanted to tell what has happened in reality but thought it was above MLA's pay grade and ignored. 

The Answer

The MLA came back to the village the next evening and went directly to Duraisamy's house. He handed the response he received from CM to Duraisamy Ji.

"Did you know what I asked for in the application?", asked Duraisamy.

"It was about the bridge that was promised."

"What exactly about the bridge?"

MLA kept silent, and Duraisamy understood MLA has no clue. 

He then asked, "Did you read the response?"

"I had no time. As soon as I received it, I came to you. I haven't even met my secretary yet."

"Did you want this form back?", asked Samy Ji.

"No", said the MLA.

Duraisamy thanked MLA for following up, and MLA left for his home. 

Duraisamy opened the letter and handed it to his daughter Sandhya. 

"Did you read this?", asked Sandhya.

"Yes." 

"Here they are saying they could not construct the bridge due to the soil condition and water chemical balance."

"Yes, I read that."

"They are also saying all the budget for the bridge went into the research of the land around."

"Yes."

"But they never answered the point why does a village without any rivers or canals need a bridge."

"Welcome to Kaliyuga."

P.S: Inspired by real events that happened 30 years ago. Minor details changed for dramatic effect.