Watch
the TV to take pressure off work
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is all
this fuss about the rising cost of living?"
"Why, Bindu, we all thought the Reds and the Blues would bring
down the prices of essential items…" Bindu's father Percy
complained.
"Why did you think they could do that?" Bindu asked.
"Why,
Bindu, they promised they would do that just before the election…"
"But thaaththa, they have increased the price of almost everything
since they took office…"
"But they say they can't help it because world prices are rising…"
Percy suggested.
"But
Thaaththa, I think they are more confused than we are…"
Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa, at first they said they would be increasing
gas prices…"
"And they said they can't help it because of so many reasons…"
Percy recalled.
"And
now they are saying they have removed the tax on gas and therefore
the price is being reduced…"
"That's not the only occasion where they appear confused…"
Percy observed.
"Why, thaaththa, when was the other instance?" Bindu wanted
to know.
"Why,
first they announced over the state media that Satellite was not
interested in talking to the Tigers about the Interim Authority…"
"Yes," Bindu remembered, "and the state media announced
it as if Satellite was saving the nation from a great disaster…"
"And
the next day itself, Satellite says she never said anything of that
sort and that she is ever willing to talk to the Tigers about the
Interim Authority…"
"So, either the state media was lying or Satellite was..."
Bindu pointed out.
"You shouldn't say that, Bindu…" Percy said, "Satellite
never lies…"
"But
with all this going on, thaaththa," Bindu said, "it is
no wonder that she resigned from the leadership of the Alliance…"
"She says it is due to pressure of work…"
"So, what happens now, thaaththa?" Bindu queried.
"They
will have to appoint a successor, a new leader for the Alliance…"
"And malli has already said he is willing to do the job…"
"No one asked him whether he could, did they?" Percy said,
"I think Satellite has already proposed Ratne's name for the
job…"
"But thaaththa, if they appoint malli, Satellite will be killing
two birds with one stone…" Bindu said.
"Why
do you say that?"
"Why, she would be getting rid of a thankless task and at the
same time promoting Malli ahead of Mahinda…"
"With all these matters on her mind, it is no wonder she is
complaining of pressure of work…" Percy said.
"But thaaththa, she spends her evenings watching cricket matches
on television, so she must be quite relaxed…" Bindu said.
"How would you know how what she does in her evenings?"
Percy asked, surprised.
"Why,
thaaththa, seconds after we won the Asia Cup last week, they flashed
a message on TV saying she was sending her congratulations to the
team…" Bindu said.
"And she wasn't at the match herself…" Percy recalled.
"So, she must have been watching the match on television to
send out her greetings so soon…"
"And she is someone who is usually late for everything…"
"But
I just hope she hasn't got it wrong again…" Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa, just like with the gas prices and the Interim
Authority I hope that they won't tell us tomorrow that Satellite
has never resigned from the leadership of the Alliance…"
Percy did not know whether he would be happy or sad if that happened. |
