A VERY SHORT STORY--- SELF TRAP

SELF-TRAP (Flash Fiction)! Sep 1 2008  | Views 1179 |  Comments  (36)  | Report Abuse Tags: politics political ambition. flashfiction SELF-TRAP           The crowd outside was getting restless. A person was giving minute to minute commentary on the deteriorating condition of the great leader. It seemed he had kept a regular diary on his health. The crowd was shouting slogans:-         “NETAJI, SANGHARSH KARO; HAM TUMHAARE SAATH HAI” (Dear Leader! Continue your fight against injustice, we are with you.) Or   “YEH SARKAAR HIL JAYEGI; TUMHARI QURBANI RANG LAYEGI” (This government will not stay; your sacrifice will have its say.) ************************************************************************************************************************************************           Ram Singh Yadav had been on hunger strike for the last 43 days. Medical diary kept by his wife, Anamika, revealed that his condition was fast deteriorating. The medical record suggested to her to ask for immediate medical help.  Today, her husband had become incoherent in his speech. But he was time and again gesturing to her by crossing his forearm, suggesting her to get him arrested, so that he can get out of this self-laid trap. However, the raging sea of humanity out side the rest house prevented the police from reaching him. Suddenly, he began to close his eyes.           Mrs. Anamika rushed outside. She shouted at the announcer to fetch the doctor. But the announcer resumed his commentary, “Bhayion aur Behno! Apne netaji ki tabiyat aur bhi dheeli ho gayi hai. Doctor Sahib ko bulaya jaa raha hai.  Bas lagta hai voh swarg sidharne hi waale hai.” (Brothers and Sisters! The condition of our dear leader has further worsened. Doctor has been summoned. It seems our dear leader will soon depart for his heavenly abode.” He then shouted, “Netaji Zindabad” (Long Live our leader!)         Mrs. Anamika was cursing herself to have allowed her husband to do this. On July 7, 2008, when he had gone for the routine medical check up, doctor diagnosed him with high blood pressure and excessive weight. He was advised immediate reduction of his weight by about 20-25 kg.         His party gave him a noble idea to hike his popularity. It was suggested to him to go on hunger strike for CANCELLATION OF GOVERNMENT ORDER ON THE ALLOTMENT OF LAND FOR AMARNATH SHRINE. It appealed to him because it meant KILLING TWO BIRDS with one stone.         Anamika was against such a misadventure. She reminded him as to what had happened to AKALI DAL leader DASHAN SINGH PHERUMAN. He had died while on fast. Today, no one remembers him. But Ram’s party bosses had given him the assurance that they would step in if his health went bad.            However, as the party popularity went up, the party leaders had other ideas. They realized his martyrdom could push the party to the top in the prospects for coming elections. So, a human ring was created around the venue. Police and medical persons could not reach Ram Singh Yadav. ************************************************************************                   August 31, 2008. Time 4.20PM. Star News reporter, Naina Shahoo, was breaking the news:          “At 4 PM, this afternoon doctors pronounced Shri Ram Singh dead. Lakhs of people have been collected outside the venue---------------------” Words Count: 496 NOTE:  This is my THIRD ENTRY for the FLASH FICTION CONTEST. The other two are:        IS HE UNGRATEFUL?                        &                         WHO BETRAYED?    © rajee kushwaha., all rights reserved. Bookmark this pageEdit this blog