Gautam Nadkami
Mumbai, India

Voter’s Rights

You know how it is sometimes. You're sitting curled up in your favourite armchair immersed in a combat thriller when you hear the ominous buzz of a menace which would make even commandos cringe. I am alluding, of course, to the mosquito. Something akin to this must have happened to our municipal chief because he declared war on the winged critters.

Much to my chagrin the municipality decided on chemical warfare. Corporation employees went about fumigating the pests with a vengeance. They were seen everywhere blowing clouds of gas into every nook and crevice intent on insect-ocide.

Now a year has passed. I’ve come out of coma. All the doctors and medics are singing praises to the municipal corporation and showering it with blessings. Small wonder since the human population has dwindled considerably because of the fumes while the mosquito population, according to a recent census, has increased a hundredfold.

It’s only a matter of time before they stand in line to vote.

prognosis —
the doctor first examines
my bank passbook