Waiting for the unexpected

"That is because diesel prices have gone up" Bindu's father Percy explained. 

"And why have diesel prices gone up?" Bindu wanted to know. 

"They say it is because the world market prices of diesel have increased" 

"But thaaththa, these world market prices must have been rising all these days" 

"And they say that the government was paying them money to balance those losses" 

"So, why can't the government pay them some more money?" Bindu asked. 

"Because, Bindu, it needs money to fight the war" 

"Ah, that sounds familiar" 

"Yes, it is," Percy said, "they said the same thing when they increased gas prices" 

"Yes," Bindu recalled, "then they said world gas prices were also rising" "And that the government could not afford to pay money to the local company to cover the rising prices" 

"But thaaththa, why is everyone so worried about the diesel prices?" 

"That is because the prices of all the goods rise when you increase diesel prices" Percy explained. 

"But isn't that what they want, thaaththa?" Bindu asked. 

"What makes you say that?" Percy queried. 

"Why, they have already increased the charges for electricity, water and telephones" 

"Maybe," Percy suggested, "the world prices of water have also gone up" 

"And the world rates for electricity and telephones too" Bindu wondered. 

"But Bindu, we can't blame the government for all that" Percy argued. 

"Why do you say that?"

"They say that they are trying to find money for the war"

"But thaaththa, " Bindu said, "they are not trying to win the war, are they?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, everyone wants them to come to a negotiated settlement" 

"But Bindu, we can't do what everyone else wants us to do" 

"But thaaththa, if the government keeps on increasing prices like this, won't it become unpopular" 

"It will" Percy agreed. 

"And then, won't there be elections in the near future?" 

"There will be" Percy assured. 

"Then, thaaththa, won't they run the risk of losing the elections, thaaththa?" 

Bindu queried. 

"They might not, Bindu" Percy said. 

"Why do you say that?" 

"This is a country where the unexpected happens all the time, Bindu" Percy observed. 

"What do you mean by that?" 

"Why, Bindu, this is where TV stations give advance publicity to the movements of politicians who are obvious targets. Then we have tobacco companies launching anti-smoking campaigns, book-makers being elected to run cricket when the entire world is trying to get rid of them, and then of course, we have a war and cricket matches going on at the same time" 

"So, you think all these rising prices will not bother the government?" Bindu asked.

"So long as there is a censorship on, so long as we have the same opposition and so long as we win our cricket matches, it won't be a problem" Percy declared. 

Bindu didn't disagree. 

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column 

Editorial/ Opinion Contents