The other day I had an animated debate with a few friends about the next nation wide elections and prospects of the wide range of potential candidates likely to vie with one another to occupy the prime ministers chair.
When i fell asleep last night I dreamed about the same topic--The future Prime Minister of India;and the fact that there are ample choices to the leaders,as well as the possibilities for a Dark horse to emerge as the next CEO of the nation.
In this new addition to my running roll of fantasy dreams,I found myself in the parliament house.It was a hung Parliament and a hated debate was in progress . All of a sudden,I heard someone propose my name for the PMs Post!The entire house first fell silent and then raucously supported the proposal by loud thumping of tables and shouts of approval. I was escorted to the PMs seat,and in my appearance speech,I heard myself announce "Our Nation is a strong country!' a la Rajiv Gandhi.
My Walter Mesquite dream continued, and I was back home in Coorg to a rousing welcome.People were vyring with each-other to congratulate me.A huge civic reception was arranged in my honor in the town of Virajpet.My wife and I were seated in the dias put up near the Clock Tower in the center of Virajpet.Speaker after Speaker spoke about how proud they were that a local 'Mannina maga' (Son of the Soil) had been catapulted to the position of the PM of the country.I was Laden to massive garlands.My Wife stood beaming near to me, lapping up all the attention and adulation.We were thrilled to bits to say the least. Finally the Mayor of Virajpet(well,Forget,not I was dreaming)stood up to facilitate me. Replete in his elaborate mayoral robe,the worshipful first citizen of the town praised my achievements,and rattled off a long list of development projects for Virajpet for which he wanted my active support and patronage.The Mayor then went on to say that the people of Virajpet had decided to present me with a unique Memento.I Expected it to be the usual sandalwood carving of Krishna on the chariot giving his Advice to Arjuna.But to my utter surprise I heard the Mayor announce"I Am extremely happy to announce to present our honorable Prime minister the Clock Tour of Virajpet!'.There was thunderous applause and cheering. My wife and I were astounded. We could'nt believe what we heard . The Mayor then pointed to a truck onto which the Clock tower had already been loaded. It was a gift wrapped with a huge red ribbon tied round it.I then,stood up and addressed the huge gathering of people,all waving national flags of varous sizes .I told them how overwhelmed my wife and I were at the gesture of presenting me one of the best preserved monument Coorg,which was built way back in 1914 by the Mukkatira Family to commemorate the Delhi Coronation Durbar of King George V . As I sat down i heard the Clock start striking .On an Impulse,I askewd my Wife ''What time is it?'' Thats when I heard my wife yell :"Its well past 8'O Clock you better rise and shine''. I woke up and felt that awful feeling .It was indeed a wonderful dream while it lasted . Every time I pass by the Clock Tower at Virajpet,I smirk and kid myself,''Hey,That's My Clock Tower!'.
